Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Early V8 (1932-53)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-05-2020, 05:01 PM   #1
Gick70
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 107
Default 1952 f1 wobble

So I bought this 1952 years ago and have making improvements since,and enjoying it. I recently have a low speed wobble when I hit a road seam and lifts truck up , I have this wobble
I thought I knocked the tire off,but I slow down and goes away,it seems at low speeds,I know I have play in the steering box but I ordered some new kingpins first. I looked at passenger tire and it has wear on the outside edge,I also looked at the springs and the passenger has more springs on that side ,which I seen by the ubolts didn,t have as much thread engagement. Was this some kind of alignment thing,back in the day?Any suggestions??
Gick70 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2020, 05:56 PM   #2
Overkill-F1
Member
 
Overkill-F1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 89
Default Re: 1952 f1 wobble

The king pins, tie-rod ends and the drag-link could cause your problem. You are right, the steering box play could make things worse.
The number of leaves in the front springs probably means someone replaced one side with what-ever they could find at the time.
It is common, if there is a little difference in the heights of the two front springs, to place the one with more height on the driver's side.
Terry
Overkill-F1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 03-05-2020, 05:58 PM   #3
JSeery
Member Emeritus
 
JSeery's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
Default Re: 1952 f1 wobble

Just about anything in the suspension can lead to tire wobble. Kingpins, front wheel bearings, tires/rims, tie rod ends, steering box, etc. Need to work your way through the components and see what is loose or worn. I would start by jacking the front axle up enough to get the front tires off the ground and start checking.
JSeery is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2020, 06:51 PM   #4
adileo
Senior Member
 
adileo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 1,772
Default Re: 1952 f1 wobble

How old are the tires?
__________________
Thanks

Andy
1952 F1
adileo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2020, 07:34 PM   #5
Gick70
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 107
Default Re: 1952 f1 wobble

I have read maybe the extra leaf is a caster wedge,I read about! I am going to check my toe first,I do have it lifted off tires,all seems good,not anything screaming loose,the tires,I don,t know how old!! Also,the owner has rims relying on the taper of the lugs to center rim,no support in the middle hub??? Is this normal??
Gick70 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2020, 09:59 PM   #6
Overkill-F1
Member
 
Overkill-F1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 89
Default Re: 1952 f1 wobble

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gick70 View Post
I have read maybe the extra leaf is a caster wedge,I read about! I am going to check my toe first,I do have it lifted off tires,all seems good,not anything screaming loose,the tires,I don,t know how old!! Also,the owner has rims relying on the taper of the lugs to center rim,no support in the middle hub??? Is this normal??
If I'm not mistaken, the caster wedges go between the bottom of the spring and on top of the axle. The thicker edge to the rear.
The lugs are used to center the rim.
Terry
Overkill-F1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2020, 10:07 PM   #7
Tim Ayers
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 6,143
Default Re: 1952 f1 wobble

My dad has a '49 F-1. Truck ran great and had original front springs that had cracked leaves. Replaced them with quality springs and the truck shimmied like a mofo if you hit a bump at speed. Death wobble 10X. Checked king pins, alignment, steering box play, did not check wheel bearings. Never thought of that. Put a steering dampener on it, shimmy went away.

Something with the new springs threw something off.
Tim Ayers is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2020, 10:23 PM   #8
Overkill-F1
Member
 
Overkill-F1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 89
Default Re: 1952 f1 wobble

Did you count the number of leaves in each spring? I think 9 leaves for your '51 F1 is normal. You said they may be different.
Terry
Overkill-F1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2020, 08:52 AM   #9
adileo
Senior Member
 
adileo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 1,772
Default Re: 1952 f1 wobble

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gick70 View Post
I have read maybe the extra leaf is a caster wedge,I read about! I am going to check my toe first,I do have it lifted off tires,all seems good,not anything screaming loose,the tires,I don,t know how old!! Also,the owner has rims relying on the taper of the lugs to center rim,no support in the middle hub??? Is this normal??
I had a bad shake at speed on the 52 F1. Took for wheel alignment and tire balance. Mechanic said tires were 15 years old and out of round. I bought 4 new tires got them balanced and now smooth ride.
__________________
Thanks

Andy
1952 F1
adileo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2020, 10:31 AM   #10
Bruce_MO
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 431
Default Re: 1952 f1 wobble

I had some 6-ply super duty bias ply tires on my '52 F1 and any number of bumps would set off bad shimmy. Switched to regular Firestone 650/16's and all the shimmy issues disappeared. The 6-ply tires were just to heavy (not to mention harsh, with flat spots, etc.)
Bruce_MO is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2020, 02:04 PM   #11
1931 flamingo
Senior Member
 
1931 flamingo's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: new britain,ct 06052
Posts: 9,389
Default Re: 1952 f1 wobble

It could be something as simple as tire pressure...........
Paul in CT
1931 flamingo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2020, 02:59 PM   #12
Art Newland
Senior Member
 
Art Newland's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Lynden, WA
Posts: 1,564
Default Re: 1952 f1 wobble

A bent/wobbly wheel or tire will send my F1 into death wobble. Spin the wheels while jacked up and take a look at the runout, see what kind of play in the kingpins while it's got the weight off of the tires
__________________
"whatever works!"
Art Newland is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2020, 03:27 PM   #13
Tim Ayers
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NJ
Posts: 6,143
Default Re: 1952 f1 wobble

When it happens, it scared the daylights out of you. Feels like the wheel is going to fold underneath.
Tim Ayers is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2020, 05:56 PM   #14
50fordcoupeman
Senior Member
 
50fordcoupeman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: LaGrande Oregon
Posts: 865
Default Re: 1952 f1 wobble

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gick70 View Post
I have read maybe the extra leaf is a caster wedge,I read about! I am going to check my toe first,I do have it lifted off tires,all seems good,not anything screaming loose,the tires,I don,t know how old!! Also,the owner has rims relying on the taper of the lugs to center rim,no support in the middle hub??? Is this normal??
Tire age is fairly easy to determine. Locate the DOT raised numbers and letters next to the rim, then at the end of those there will be a raised oval with numbers in it. On tires newer than 2000 there will be four numbers. The first two numbers indicate the week of manufacture and the last two the year. If there are only three numbers in the oval the tire is older than 2000. Again the first two numbers is the week and the last number is the year. The problem here is you won't know exactly what year since the last number only indicates the ending number of a year. Hope this helps.
50fordcoupeman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2020, 06:18 PM   #15
JSeery
Member Emeritus
 
JSeery's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
Default Re: 1952 f1 wobble

Here is a photo if that helps any.
JSeery is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2020, 06:20 PM   #16
chap52
Senior Member
 
chap52's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Marana Arizona
Posts: 1,771
Default Re: 1952 f1 wobble

Steering stabilizer may stop the wobble, but these trucks were not designed to wobble. As long as you are checking on things put the truck up on Jack Stands, try wiggling the wheel. Front to rear as well as top and bottom. Good to have someone else to assist in this procedure.
While you have the wheels off the ground also check the bushings on the end of the leaf springs and shackles. I had a noise I couldn't identify for a long time and found the bushings an all four leaf springs were trash.
If you settle for a band aide it still isn't fixed.
Enjoy the adventure... Chap
chap52 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-07-2020, 02:41 AM   #17
Aarongriffey
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Hayward,CA
Posts: 513
Default Re: 1952 f1 wobble

If you have a tire with only three date numbers it’s time to get rid of it.
Aarongriffey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-07-2020, 02:56 AM   #18
Aarongriffey
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Hayward,CA
Posts: 513
Default Re: 1952 f1 wobble

When the steering damper on my 1951 F1 lost all the oil it shimmied so bad below 25 that I had to get a new one, been great ever since.
A bump on the tread on the side did the same thing on a model t.
Both cars had good tight front ends too.
Aarongriffey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2020, 12:04 PM   #19
Gick70
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 107
Default Re: 1952 f1 wobble

Well I have the wear on passenger tire,I have toe out,I used the string method!! What is the proper way to adjust for this?
Gick70 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-08-2020, 12:17 PM   #20
JSeery
Member Emeritus
 
JSeery's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
Default Re: 1952 f1 wobble

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gick70 View Post
Well I have the wear on passenger tire,I have toe out,I used the string method!! What is the proper way to adjust for this?
You adjust the tie rod to adjust toe in/out. You can adjust the drag link to adjust steering wheel centering. If the issues appear to be on one side, it might be worth having it checked on an alignment machine. There could possibly be an axle problem which requires bending the axle to correct.
JSeery is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:25 PM.