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Old 08-01-2015, 09:00 PM   #1
fresnoron
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Default hard steering

have a 30 Tudor. All new steering balls, Teflon easy steer buttons, shorter pitman arm, all new king pins and bushings, new tires. Steers easy with front wheels off the ground but really hard with tires sitting on ground. Checked the king pin thrust bearing is taking the weight of the car so am assuming that's not the problem. maybe have the tir rod and drag link adjusted too tight, not sure...any ideas what I can do...do they make a steering box upgrade or upgrade kit? scratching my head on this one. Thanks Ron
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Old 08-01-2015, 09:46 PM   #2
Al 29Tudor
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Default Re: hard steering

Are you trying to steer while standing still? You have to be moving at least slowly.
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Old 08-01-2015, 09:56 PM   #3
pat in Santa Cruz
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Default Re: hard steering

is the steering box full of grease or gear oil? grease will make it hard.

Should be 600w, but since thats not really available and anyway they leak a lot, Pennrite steering lube is preferred.
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Old 08-01-2015, 11:22 PM   #4
Mike V. Florida
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Default Re: hard steering

Quote:
Originally Posted by Al 29Tudor View Post
Are you trying to steer while standing still? You have to be moving at least slowly.
What he said!
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Old 08-01-2015, 11:29 PM   #5
Fred K-OR
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Default Re: hard steering

This is a model A Ford. Not known for easy steering.
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Old 08-01-2015, 11:53 PM   #6
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f100 replacement?
Have you driven other model a's to experience how they steer, or not?
Bob
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Old 08-02-2015, 12:27 AM   #7
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Default Re: hard steering

tires properly inflated?

my guess is your trying to turn it while stationary. any manual steering car does not want to turn its wheels easy while stationary.
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Old 08-02-2015, 12:50 PM   #8
BILL WILLIAMSON
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Default Re: hard steering

Ron,
If you catch anything other than a BASS, do you throw them back??
Bill W.
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Old 08-02-2015, 12:57 PM   #9
Mitch//pa
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Default Re: hard steering

Quote:
Originally Posted by fresnoron View Post
have a 30 Tudor. All new steering balls, Teflon easy steer buttons, shorter pitman arm, all new king pins and bushings, new tires. Steers easy with front wheels off the ground but really hard with tires sitting on ground. Checked the king pin thrust bearing is taking the weight of the car so am assuming that's not the problem. maybe have the tir rod and drag link adjusted too tight, not sure...any ideas what I can do...do they make a steering box upgrade or upgrade kit? scratching my head on this one. Thanks Ron
go over Dads house he lives around the corner from ya. he'll show ya how to steer it
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Old 08-02-2015, 02:22 PM   #10
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Default Re: hard steering

I haven't kept a live fish in probably 20 years. Some trout, lotta strippers, and so many large and small mouth can't count them all. Fish every weekend on the Calif Delta. Good days there can be 40 or 45 fish per day. life is good
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Old 08-02-2015, 03:45 PM   #11
H. L. Chauvin
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Default Re: hard steering

We all got used to power steering and tend to forget what Model A's were like.

Just in case steering joints were not lubricated, some still recommend "not" greasing Model A Teflon joints; however, even with slight applied pressure and friction, lubrication usually always reduces friction between like or non-alike surfaces.
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Old 08-02-2015, 06:40 PM   #12
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Default Re: hard steering

Quote:
Originally Posted by H. L. Chauvin View Post
We all got used to power steering and tend to forget what Model A's were like.

Just in case steering joints were not lubricated, some still recommend "not" greasing Model A Teflon joints; however, even with slight applied pressure and friction, lubrication usually always reduces friction between like or non-alike surfaces.
H.L,
Would greasin' yo' RASPY TONGUE reduce FRICTION between PERSONALITIES???
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Old 08-03-2015, 12:13 AM   #13
Mike V. Florida
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Default Re: hard steering

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fred K-OR View Post
This is a model A Ford. Not known for easy steering.
Not true unless you are standing still.
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Old 08-03-2015, 11:31 AM   #14
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Default Re: hard steering

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Originally Posted by Mike V. Florida View Post
Not true unless you are standing still.
"To each his own"
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Old 08-03-2015, 12:13 PM   #15
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Default Re: hard steering

Model A's steer about the same as an 8N... well almost
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Old 08-03-2015, 12:45 PM   #16
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Default Re: hard steering

Whoa ! Not so simple. Some stock Model A's steer MUCH easier than others. I know because I have one that is hiding a whole lot of friction and consequently turns a lot harder than the others. It doesn't like to center after a turn, either. I'm still searching for my prob.
In the case of this string, I'd check the shimming of the spindle bolt bearings first. The weight of the car might make a bearing jam even though everything turns easy when the wheels are hanging in the air.
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Old 08-03-2015, 01:00 PM   #17
H. L. Chauvin
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Default Re: hard steering

"Age" also makes a "big" difference ...... hmmmmmm?

Let us sometimes practice humility ........ not talking about the car either !!!!!!!!
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Old 08-03-2015, 03:42 PM   #18
Larry Jenkins
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Default Re: hard steering

Spindle bolt washers and/or tight King pins..

Larry
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Old 08-03-2015, 08:12 PM   #19
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Default Re: hard steering

One simple mod to a model A front end will make it steer easier
but I can't tell you what it is for liability reasons.
Any student of mechanical engineering can figure it out quickly.
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