1947 Steering

[BILL WZOREK]

I had SHEBA my 1947 tudor sedan out this a.m. Driving in a lite coating of snow ( O M G ) Yes out in the snow ~ & for whatever reason it steered like it had power steering ( which it does not ) but when the road was lacking snow it went back to very hard steering ~ Does any one have any thoughts why this happens??
Steering was so easy I could steer her when she was standing still.

[Steves46]

Good morning Bill. Although it may seem funny being that I'm in Tampa and providing an input about snow, I suspect the easier steering is because the snow is providing a degree of cushion between the tire and ground. Steve

[BILL WZOREK]

Would Caster or camber have any thing to do with it ?
I have noticed a little tire ware on the inside tread of the tires.
She runs straight smooth just steers hard.
I hope to put a unisteer on like HelenT did.
But until then I would like to make it just a little easer.

[34PKUP]

Originally Posted by BILL WZOREK

I had SHEBA my 1947 tudor sedan out this a.m. Driving in a lite coating of snow ( O M G ) Yes out in the snow ~ & for whatever reason it steered like it had power steering ( which it does not ) but when the road was lacking snow it went back to very hard steering ~ Does any one have any thoughts why this happens??
Steering was so easy I could steer her when she was standing still.

Is this supposed to be some sort of joke or do you really not know that snow and ice reduce friction between the tires and road surface?

[51 MERC-CT]

Originally Posted by BILL WZOREK

Would Caster or camber have any thing to do with it ?
I have noticed a little tire ware on the inside tread of the tires.
She runs straight smooth just steers hard.
I hope to put a unisteer on like HelenT did.
But until then I would like to make it just a little easer.

Probably very little you can do outside of installing power steering or a bigger diameter steering wheel to improve steering effort.

[chuck stevens]

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Bill, I would guess that the toe-in is off a little. Wear on the inside would be that it is toed out some. If you can find a spot where one tire is in the snow and the other is on dry pavement, it will pull towards the dry pavement. Hope all is will, Chuck S.


shoot me some pictures when you get some.

[oldskool]

try some STP oil treatment in steering box, my friend had hard steering and it worked

[George/Maine]

Do you still have the original steering wheel, They don't steer very easy when parking.
I have a 47 car with rebuilt box and parking isn't easy.
That why a lot of cars got clipped with NOVA and MII FT ends with power steering.
Mite want to try new tires and corrected toe in.

[Old Henry]

From vast experience driving in snow, it is true that the snow reduces the "bite" of the tire on the road so that the steering is more like it would be if the front end was in the air, nothing more than that.

[BILL WZOREK]

George:
Tires are New put on car just before I got her & went to Hershey & Moon shine fest.
What should the toe in be set at ??

[flathead48]

Bill, the book shows 1/16 inch toe in. Happy motoring

[hook00pad]

My 48 Sedan has a split wishbone and too much camber. It steers very hard with the original steering box especially at low speeds going forward, but not as bad in reverse. Check your camber as well as toe in.

[shoe box Jack]

HI, The moon shine fest. was a hoot. Jack

[Mart]

If driving on snow, the steering normally feels really light just before you slide into the ditch.

[flatford8]

Originally Posted by Mart

If driving on snow, the steering normally feels really light just before you slide into the ditch.

I agree with Mart......My steering has felt very light on a slippery road in different vehicles......just before the loud crash and the sound of tree limbs hitting the roof......Kidding aside...I would do a total inspection of front end parts and alignment.....Becareful driving it till then....MARK

[fordor41]

Originally Posted by George/Maine

Do you still have the original steering wheel, They don't steer very easy when parking.
I have a 47 car with rebuilt box and parking isn't easy.
That why a lot of cars got clipped with NOVA and MII FT ends with power steering.
Mite want to try new tires and corrected toe in.

I tend to disagree. When I got my '41, with stock tires and steering box, I could "palm" the steering wheel, with one hand, to park it. Problem comes with smaller front tires and rims & other than stock wheel offset which changes the tire pivot point on the road thus effort increases.

[BILL WZOREK]

Originally Posted by 34PKUP

Is this supposed to be some sort of joke or do you really not know that snow and ice reduce friction between the tires and road surface?

34Pickup:

This is not a joke, I have had stiff steering ever since we have had the car.
I did the jack up Complete Grease job , No loose connections any where. When Jacked up she steered easy as would be expected.
When full weight back on front still steered hard.
So I was starting to look for some thing hitting / dragging / binding
Never found anything.
But yesterday when on the snow I was very surprised how easy it steered.
So my thinking is there is something else causing it.
I know that Friction / Tire drag inters into it.
Growing up Having cars with manual steering Mismatched tires on front as far as size and even 1~ 15" and other 16" 1~ radial 1~byis
Never any thing like this.

[BILL WZOREK]

Originally Posted by shoe box Jack

HI, The moon shine fest. was a hoot. Jack

Jack: were you the guy with the Hat ?
I thought I saw you there !!!

[51 MERC-CT]

Something to kick around. Although a different suspension system I found that after installing Royal needle bearing kingpins on my car the steering effort (especially while standing still ) was reduced.
The possibility of excess caster may or may not cause increased steering effort ( car keeps wanting to go straight).

[BILL WZOREK]

Is possible to tell by looking if in fact needle bearings were installed / also can they be converted back to bushings if they are there?