Tie Rod rubbing on steering arm

[FlatheadTed]

What do you thinks going on here ,

[2manycars]

It looks like you have a reversed eye spring on there. If the front spring is weak, or reversed eyes are used, the front axle rides so close to the frame that the drag link can rub the tie rod. The axle is closer to the frame, but the steering box is in the same location, causing the interference.

[d.j. moordigian]

The steering arm, the one that the drag link is tied to, is bent down under. The rest
looks OK.
Sorry about that, Dudley

[Bruce of MN]

Too much driving on the wrong side of the road?

[quickchange]

Ted you going to the meet in Vancover? Derek , from Nelson where the sun always shines.

[Mitch//pa]

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if the front spring is weak the rods will rub each other. had 2 cars do that and the spring fixed it

[FlatheadTed]

Thanks for all the answers so far ,No reverse eyes ,
Derick were the sun all ways shines Nelson ,wish I was there (My home town .When is the Vancouver meet ? )

Originally Posted by quickchange

Ted you going to the meet in Vancover? Derek , from Nelson where the sun always shines.

[FlatheadTed]

Picture 2

[d.j. moordigian]

I also agree about the front spring now, the brake rod is close to the shock, do you
have a pic of the front of the car?

[Kahuna]

Is there a dropped axle on that front end?

[Tony S,Fl.]

The short Pitman Arm might work. Tony

[J Franklin]

Frame sag? The parts that are rubbing are both attached to the spindle arm so the spring would not cause that problem. Bent spindle arm?

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by J Franklin

Frame sag? The parts that are rubbing are both attached to the spindle arm so the spring would not cause that problem. Bent spindle arm?

The lower the frame sets due to a weak front spring, the lower the pitman sets and then it will lower the drag link.

[Purdy Swoft]

My bet is a sagging front spring. I've seen a lot of model A's that way. A shortened pitman arm would probably get the drag link off the tie rod but wouldn't help the other problems that a sagging front spring cause. I wouldn't rule out the possibility of the frame sagging at the rear motor mounts, though I have never seen a sagging frame cause the drag link to rub the tie rod.

[Roger V]

I had the tie rod and drag link rub apparently on some bumps due to being close to each other (not in the stationary position). Thought it was the front spring not holding the frame and therefore pitman arm high enough. After replacing the front spring, it still had the same amount of clearance. As mentioned in another string, it turned out to be the rear spring which controlled the lighter front spring. Replaced the rear spring with a new one. Now all is well...............

[V4F]

sagging front spring ................ steve

[Dennis/CT]

Hi Ted,did you change the steering arms? I put rebuilt one's on my car and had the same problem,had to bend the arm up a little.Seems the replacement arm was bent when the rebuilder got it and did'nt notice the bend. Good Luck

[Bob A.]

Check your front spring. I had the same problem, I asked the model A wizard and he told me my front spring was sagging. I took his advise and changed the front spring. Cured the problem.

[MikeK]

[QUOTE=FlatheadTed;40302]Thanks for all the answers so far ,No reverse eyes ,

Ted, OK, some of us are looking at things upside down. Here's the pix you posted. Yesterday 2manycars said he saw a reversed eye spring, and that's what I see too. That's the problem. The bottom leaf should wrap over the top of the upper shackle bolt, not under then over it. That accounts for about an inch of drop. Look at another A spring in a catalog.

If you like where the vehicle sits and want to keep that spring you will need to make a custom drop drag link or elevated tie rod to give at least 1" clearance. The way it is, one good pot hole slam and the tie rod will pop the drag link off of the axle steering arm ball, leaving you with NO STEERING.

[RonC]

common problem. sagging front spring.......

[Purdy Swoft]

After looking at the picture that mike K posted it is obvious that you have a reversed eye spring. This is at least most of the problem. A shortened pitman arm would give an additional one and a half inch clearance. it will also make steering easier.

[quickchange]

Ted 1st week of August , we head out 29th July, Need any of those famouse brake floaters taken over ? I must oder some more once we are back, Put them on the delivery & they really work, custmers here are asking for them & us to instal, Greymouth guys love them , They can even stop on cow pats now, They would be the best single thing to inprove your A,

[FlatheadTed]

Thanks for all your answer posts ,This is a customers car that I am working on ,You can see by this shot that the eye is not reversed ,

[Clydes 31 P/U]

Mike, What I see is where your arrow is is the spring perch look down at the other end of the shackle and you'll see the spring eye in the correct place. At least thats what I'm seeing. Clyde

[FlatheadTed]

OK Derek I will E mail you thanks Ted

Originally Posted by quickchange

Ted 1st week of August , we head out 29th July, Need any of those famouse brake floaters taken over ? I must oder some more once we are back, Put them on the delivery & they really work, custmers here are asking for them & us to instal, Greymouth guys love them , They can even stop on cow pats now, They would be the best single thing to inprove your A,

[Barry B./ Ma.]

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Looks like an awfully long pitman arm. I would buy the new shorter arm if available for R.H. drive that will raise the drag link. No affect on the drag link but it looks like the perch is loose in the axle from the rust I can see.

[J Franklin]

The spring really needs to be re-arched it is very slack.

[Rich in Tucson]

By my uncalibrated eyeball maybe the spring shackle is not for a Model A? it looks a little wide and maybe home-made? Is it for a later Ford?

[1931 flamingo]

Rich in Tucson: Shackle may be wide, but distance between holes looks normal JMO
Paul in CT

[CWPASADENA]

[QUOTE=MikeK;40726]

Originally Posted by FlatheadTed

Thanks for all the answers so far ,No reverse eyes ,

Ted, OK, some of us are looking at things upside down. Here's the pix you posted. Yesterday 2manycars said he saw a reversed eye spring, and that's what I see too. That's the problem. The bottom leaf should wrap over the top of the upper shackle bolt, not under then over it.

I think if you look at the picture CAREFULLY, you will see the BOTTOM LEAF wraping over the TOP of the LOWER SHACKEL BOLT. The upper shackel bolt goes thru the spring perch. The picture is not very clear as to where the end of the Spring Main Leaf is.

Just my observation;

Chris.

[pat in Santa Cruz]

I don't see an inverted eye on the spring. The lower shackle pin is visible below the tie rod in the pic, although it appears at first the the upper pin is the lower one, creating the illusion of an inverted eye. Looking at the lower shackle , it appears the spring eye could be resting on the axle, or close to it. There should be good clearance between the lower edge of the spring eye and the axle, roughly 1/4 inch minimum. As mentioned, sagging spring is a common cause, but in addition to that, the shackle bushings and pins are probably worn. I recently took apart an axle with shackles worn half way through the pins and way beyond the bushings into the spring perches. That is an extreme example, but it not uncommon to have shackles worn into the perch and spring. I have seen instances of bent spindle arms too, but that's rare and this one looks good in the photo. Compare it to another to get a better idea of that.

[FlatheadTed]

This Shackel is one like they used on V8s I think they came from India through D carpenter ,ed

Originally Posted by Rich in Tucson

By my uncalibrated eyeball maybe the spring shackle is not for a Model A? it looks a little wide and maybe home-made? Is it for a later Ford?

[FlatheadTed]

Thanks for all the comments so far ,You are a top bunch of Blokes /Guys ,LOL . Whats the angle supposed to be on the the shackle 20% ??