The Ford Barn

jlsmith80 · 12-26-2014, 08:00 PM

I inherited my grandpas 1930 model a ford. It looks great and runs great but lately has developed a shimmy at low speeds while accelerating or brakin, however at speeds over 20 mph it does not do it. Where do I start any ideas what it could be.

Bob C · 12-26-2014, 08:24 PM

Follow the link and start reading.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/search...archid=4779914

Bob

Mitch//pa · 12-26-2014, 08:25 PM

well i just had one the other day do the same death wobble dance... i found movement at the box sector to pitman arm so the bolt needed to be tightened.. ck this with wheels on the ground and move the steering wheel to and fro as someone looks at the arm... that actually fixed the wobble and took about 2"of play out of the steering. also if the toe setting is out that will do it among any other loose items in the front end or wishbone... also ck the wheel bearing adj and backing plate bolts. make sure your tires have the right PSI and are not flat spotted from sitting

good luck and enjoy Grandpa's car

p.s. and follow Bob's link above

p.p.s. this car also did it at low speeds and went away as the speed increased

James Rogers · 12-26-2014, 08:26 PM

Sooner or later it will do it over 35 and, it will scare the pants off you. I had a 30 Tudor that had a death wobble that would not stop till I came to a complete stop. I adjusted the toe in to 1/4" in and it went completely away. I would also check that the steering box is tight to the frame.

jlsmith80 · 12-31-2014, 03:41 PM

I was checking things to see if anything was loose under the car all I could find that looked loose was a pitman arm on the passenger side I could shake it back and forth could this cause it to shimmy

Brentwood Bob · 12-31-2014, 03:46 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

yes.

Mitch//pa · 12-31-2014, 04:32 PM

yes X2
read post #3 about the pitman arm

Terry, NJ · 12-31-2014, 05:08 PM

I had the exact same problem as Mitch a couple of weeks, except it hadn't reached the "Death Wobble" stage....Yet! But the play in the steering wheel was growing. I had just rebuilt the steering box and was rather "Dismayed" to say the least. During the rebuild, I ordered a short Pitman Arm and installed it. However, I used a grade 5, 3/8 bolt, not realizing that it should have been a grade 8, 7/16 bolt torqued to at least 50 lbs or more. The 3/8 bolt was somewhat stretched and had lost it's tension. The steering tightened up to where it should be.
Terry

Tom Wesenberg · 12-31-2014, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlsmith80

I was checking things to see if anything was loose under the car all I could find that looked loose was a pitman arm on the passenger side I could shake it back and forth could this cause it to shimmy

Pitman arm, or tie rod?

The pitman arm is the arm off the steering box that connects to the drag link, then the tie rod connects the left steering arm to the right steering arm.

Yes, you don't want any slop in any of those joints.

FL&WVMIKE · 12-31-2014, 05:54 PM

I had that "death wobble", once. I tightened the tie rod ends 1/2 turn and it went completly away.
MIKE (mikeburch)

jlsmith80 · 12-31-2014, 06:06 PM

So is the arm I describe on the passenger side of the car a pitman arm it runs up and down.

Tom Wesenberg · 12-31-2014, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlsmith80

So is the arm I describe on the passenger side of the car a pitman arm it runs up and down.

Do you have a picture? I can't think of anything like a vertical arm on the right side.
, unless you mean the arm connected to the brake rod.

Bob C · 12-31-2014, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlsmith80

So is the arm I describe on the passenger side of the car a pitman arm it runs up and down.

Shock arm or link ?????

Bob

jlsmith80 · 01-01-2015, 09:24 PM

image.jpg
It's on passenger side

jmeckel · 01-01-2015, 10:03 PM

If what you are showing us is the arm in the back ground that is the shock. it needs to be tight, but will not cause the death wobble. Also check the ball on the end of the radius arms that mount to the motor area, if it is wore or if there was a rubber ball installed that has fallen apart it can cause the issue. If it is the rubber type, it is about $5.00 to replace and very easy. It would be best to go back to the original, but a new rubber ball cover will fix it fast and easy, just not permanent.

Tom Wesenberg · 01-01-2015, 10:20 PM

The front spring needs to be oiled.
All moving parts need lubrication, but this won't stop the "death wobble".

Drive Shaft Dave · 01-01-2015, 10:28 PM

I had a wobble as I was almost stopped, broken spring in the drag link connection to the pitman arm.

1crosscut · 01-01-2015, 11:04 PM

A fellow Ford Barner might be able to stop over and give you some advice or lend a hand if they are close to where you live.
Glad that you are able to keep your Grandfathers A in the family.

jlsmith80 · 01-02-2015, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1crosscut

A fellow Ford Barner might be able to stop over and give you some advice or lend a hand if they are close to where you live.
Glad that you are able to keep your Grandfathers A in the family.

I am west of kokomo indiana

Terry, NJ · 01-02-2015, 08:38 AM

Shocks on a mod. A tend to look a little other worldly, Not like modern tube shocks. The "Death Wobble" can be caused by anything that's loose in the steering system, EXCEPT the shocks! How's the play in the wheel? Wheel bearings? Tie rod ends? Spring Perches and bushings (at the end of the springs) Be careful of the springs! They require an expander to disassemble. Or it may be a combination of any two or more problems.
Terry

12-26-2014, 08:00 PM	#1
jlsmith80 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 13	1930 model a Tudor shimmy I inherited my grandpas 1930 model a ford. It looks great and runs great but lately has developed a shimmy at low speeds while accelerating or brakin, however at speeds over 20 mph it does not do it. Where do I start any ideas what it could be.

12-26-2014, 08:24 PM	#2
Bob C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: So Cal Posts: 8,756	Re: 1930 model a Tudor shimmy Follow the link and start reading. https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/search...archid=4779914 Bob

12-26-2014, 08:26 PM	#4
James Rogers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Asheville,NC Posts: 3,104	Re: 1930 model a Tudor shimmy Sooner or later it will do it over 35 and, it will scare the pants off you. I had a 30 Tudor that had a death wobble that would not stop till I came to a complete stop. I adjusted the toe in to 1/4" in and it went completely away. I would also check that the steering box is tight to the frame. __________________ http://www.model-a-ford-4bangers.com/

12-31-2014, 03:41 PM	#5
jlsmith80 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 13	Re: 1930 model a Tudor shimmy I was checking things to see if anything was loose under the car all I could find that looked loose was a pitman arm on the passenger side I could shake it back and forth could this cause it to shimmy

12-31-2014, 03:46 PM	#6
Brentwood Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: brentwood, ca Posts: 4,248	Re: 1930 model a Tudor shimmy Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) yes.

12-26-2014, 08:25 PM	#3
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: 1930 model a Tudor shimmy well i just had one the other day do the same death wobble dance... i found movement at the box sector to pitman arm so the bolt needed to be tightened.. ck this with wheels on the ground and move the steering wheel to and fro as someone looks at the arm... that actually fixed the wobble and took about 2"of play out of the steering. also if the toe setting is out that will do it among any other loose items in the front end or wishbone... also ck the wheel bearing adj and backing plate bolts. make sure your tires have the right PSI and are not flat spotted from sitting good luck and enjoy Grandpa's car p.s. and follow Bob's link above p.p.s. this car also did it at low speeds and went away as the speed increased Last edited by Mitch//pa; 12-26-2014 at 08:55 PM.

12-31-2014, 04:32 PM	#7
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: 1930 model a Tudor shimmy yes X2 read post #3 about the pitman arm

12-31-2014, 05:08 PM	#8
Terry, NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks Co, Pa Posts: 3,740	Re: 1930 model a Tudor shimmy I had the exact same problem as Mitch a couple of weeks, except it hadn't reached the "Death Wobble" stage....Yet! But the play in the steering wheel was growing. I had just rebuilt the steering box and was rather "Dismayed" to say the least. During the rebuild, I ordered a short Pitman Arm and installed it. However, I used a grade 5, 3/8 bolt, not realizing that it should have been a grade 8, 7/16 bolt torqued to at least 50 lbs or more. The 3/8 bolt was somewhat stretched and had lost it's tension. The steering tightened up to where it should be. Terry

12-31-2014, 05:54 PM	#10
FL&WVMIKE Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Daytona Beach, Fl & Spencer, W. Va, Posts: 4,442	Re: 1930 model a Tudor shimmy I had that "death wobble", once. I tightened the tie rod ends 1/2 turn and it went completly away. MIKE (mikeburch)

12-31-2014, 06:06 PM	#11
jlsmith80 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 13	Re: 1930 model a Tudor shimmy So is the arm I describe on the passenger side of the car a pitman arm it runs up and down.

01-01-2015, 09:24 PM	#14
jlsmith80 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 13	Re: 1930 model a Tudor shimmy image.jpg It's on passenger side

01-01-2015, 10:03 PM	#15
jmeckel Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Luck WI Posts: 550	Re: 1930 model a Tudor shimmy If what you are showing us is the arm in the back ground that is the shock. it needs to be tight, but will not cause the death wobble. Also check the ball on the end of the radius arms that mount to the motor area, if it is wore or if there was a rubber ball installed that has fallen apart it can cause the issue. If it is the rubber type, it is about $5.00 to replace and very easy. It would be best to go back to the original, but a new rubber ball cover will fix it fast and easy, just not permanent. __________________ Jon "If you choose to not decide, you still have made a choice!" RUSH Don't tell me what you know..... Tell me what you have done.

01-01-2015, 10:20 PM	#16
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: 1930 model a Tudor shimmy The front spring needs to be oiled. All moving parts need lubrication, but this won't stop the "death wobble".

01-01-2015, 10:28 PM	#17
Drive Shaft Dave Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: New hope Minnesota Posts: 742	Re: 1930 model a Tudor shimmy I had a wobble as I was almost stopped, broken spring in the drag link connection to the pitman arm.

01-01-2015, 11:04 PM	#18
1crosscut Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Posts: 1,910	Re: 1930 model a Tudor shimmy A fellow Ford Barner might be able to stop over and give you some advice or lend a hand if they are close to where you live. Glad that you are able to keep your Grandfathers A in the family. __________________ Dave / Lincoln Nebraska

01-02-2015, 08:38 AM	#20
Terry, NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks Co, Pa Posts: 3,740	Re: 1930 model a Tudor shimmy Shocks on a mod. A tend to look a little other worldly, Not like modern tube shocks. The "Death Wobble" can be caused by anything that's loose in the steering system, EXCEPT the shocks! How's the play in the wheel? Wheel bearings? Tie rod ends? Spring Perches and bushings (at the end of the springs) Be careful of the springs! They require an expander to disassemble. Or it may be a combination of any two or more problems. Terry