The Ford Barn

john mullen · 10-13-2013, 12:25 AM

Anyone have front end specs for the 51 ford f1.. while driving the other day my truck began to shimmy so bad I almost lost control.

everything is new and tight and I wonder if this is an alignment issue or what. looking for castor/camber/toe specs....

Gary in La. · 10-13-2013, 10:15 AM

The first thing I would check is the toe in.

Mark Slight · 10-13-2013, 10:19 AM

I had the same thing happen to me, thought it was a tie rod end. Turned out to be that the nut that holds the front hub on had not been tightened correctly by the previous owner.
Found that when we rmoved the hubs to check the bearings. Something to check first?

Mark

Peterooster · 10-13-2013, 07:31 PM

My 50 F1 had a shimmy so bad it was dangerous to drive, tapered shims added under the front springs did the trick. Seven degrees seems to ring a bell from 15 years ago. The kingpin should be tilted back at the top. Pete

john mullen · 10-13-2013, 09:46 PM

ah Peterooster I was thinking of a way to add some caster ..great idea Thanks

Ross F-1 · 10-13-2013, 09:57 PM

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I recall toe-in is supposed to be 0 - 1/16", the rest of the specs are in the manual.

Peterooster · 10-14-2013, 05:51 PM

I found some specs. Pete

Walt Dupont--Me. · 10-14-2013, 06:00 PM

I think you'll find Peterooster is right, the caster if off, need tappred shims between the axel and springs to tip the axel. Walt

john mullen · 10-14-2013, 08:31 PM

Got the front end checked out today and found ......toe was 1/16 toed out caster was only 3 deg. camber .2 deg. positive... I think I can live with the camber. I got 2 tapered shims from my friend who helped me with the front alignment and now have 7.4 deg caster and corrected the toe to 1/16 toe in....What a diff it made ,so far no shimmy but Didn't drive it more than 50 or so miles today. I will see more miles as I plan another long road trip next weekend. Thanks to all who posted there comments...John

49r · 10-15-2013, 12:57 AM

In the 70's I put Berry and Chung 13 inch mag wheels on the front of my F1 (15's on the back) and it shimmered terribly at 30 mph. On advice I mucked around with the toe in/out and with shims to alter the castor, all of which did nothing - turned out the wheels were badly out of balance. I suggest you check this first.

john mullen · 10-15-2013, 01:52 AM

the balance checked good but thanks 49r

10-13-2013, 10:15 AM	#2
Gary in La. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Louisiana Posts: 866	Re: front end specs for f1 ??? The first thing I would check is the toe in.

10-13-2013, 10:19 AM	#3
Mark Slight Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Dixon, CA Posts: 473	Re: front end specs for f1 ??? I had the same thing happen to me, thought it was a tie rod end. Turned out to be that the nut that holds the front hub on had not been tightened correctly by the previous owner. Found that when we rmoved the hubs to check the bearings. Something to check first? Mark

10-13-2013, 07:31 PM	#4
Peterooster Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: North Brunswick NJ Posts: 74	Re: front end specs for f1 ??? My 50 F1 had a shimmy so bad it was dangerous to drive, tapered shims added under the front springs did the trick. Seven degrees seems to ring a bell from 15 years ago. The kingpin should be tilted back at the top. Pete

10-13-2013, 09:46 PM	#5
john mullen Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Lanexa Va Posts: 254	Re: front end specs for f1 ??? ah Peterooster I was thinking of a way to add some caster ..great idea Thanks

10-13-2013, 09:57 PM	#6
Ross F-1 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: NM Posts: 2,438	Re: front end specs for f1 ??? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I recall toe-in is supposed to be 0 - 1/16", the rest of the specs are in the manual. __________________ '52 F-1, EAB flathead

10-14-2013, 06:00 PM	#8
Walt Dupont--Me. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Gardiner Me. Posts: 4,200	Re: front end specs for f1 ??? I think you'll find Peterooster is right, the caster if off, need tappred shims between the axel and springs to tip the axel. Walt

10-14-2013, 08:31 PM	#9
john mullen Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Lanexa Va Posts: 254	Re: front end specs for f1 ??? Got the front end checked out today and found ......toe was 1/16 toed out caster was only 3 deg. camber .2 deg. positive... I think I can live with the camber. I got 2 tapered shims from my friend who helped me with the front alignment and now have 7.4 deg caster and corrected the toe to 1/16 toe in....What a diff it made ,so far no shimmy but Didn't drive it more than 50 or so miles today. I will see more miles as I plan another long road trip next weekend. Thanks to all who posted there comments...John

10-15-2013, 12:57 AM	#10
49r Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wellington New Zealand Posts: 308	Re: front end specs for f1 ??? In the 70's I put Berry and Chung 13 inch mag wheels on the front of my F1 (15's on the back) and it shimmered terribly at 30 mph. On advice I mucked around with the toe in/out and with shims to alter the castor, all of which did nothing - turned out the wheels were badly out of balance. I suggest you check this first.

10-15-2013, 01:52 AM	#11
john mullen Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Lanexa Va Posts: 254	Re: front end specs for f1 ??? the balance checked good but thanks 49r