Steering issues

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: Steering issues
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By TOM on Sunday, August 26, 2012 - 09:24 pm:

I have two T’s with the same steering issue. One is a 13, the other is a 22. Both have the same problem. Driving straight, they pull to the right, and turn hard when you are making a left hand turn. Both front ends are tight, no shimmy issues, the toe-in on the 13 is an 1/8 of an inch, the 22 is 3/16 of an inch. I can’t see anything that is obviously bent. Pitman arm on the 13 is pretty much straight up and down while straight ahead. The 22 is very slightly to the left when the wheels are straight ahead. Any ideas?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By george house on Monday, August 27, 2012 - 07:40 am:

What is the length of your rod going from the ball of the pitman arm to the right side tie rod? The '26-'27s were slightly longer and I'm thinking a later model would've changed the vertical pitman arm aspect. Do you have a chain-drive carburetor? That sometimes is the cause of hard steering.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By TOM on Monday, August 27, 2012 - 08:55 am:

I checked the rod on the 22, seems to be approximately 30 1/2 inches. Didn't bother with the 13 as the pitman is straight up and down. You might have a point as both cars have the chain driven carburetor. I have a heavy chisel and a 5lb sludge, I can probably break a link or two to shorten the chain, maybe that will help.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Neil Kaminar on Monday, August 27, 2012 - 09:20 am:

Tom,

The problem is somewhere in the steering geometry. Something is not equal left to right. Most likely the camber. Also check the spindles. Try to sight the line from the the spindle bearing axes to the point on the tire where it contacts the pavement. Turn the tires by hand from outside the car and try to see where on the tire the center of rotation is. When and by whom was the front axle rebuilt? Did spindles from vastly different years get mixed left to right?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Dufault on Monday, August 27, 2012 - 09:29 am:

A new day has dawned...

a chance to learn something new...

what is: " a chain-drive carburetor"

Thanks,

Dave


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Monday, August 27, 2012 - 09:39 am:

Do they have this issue when you drive on a flat surface such as a vacant parking lot? Many roads have a high crown and slope toward the edges. If both cars pull when driving on the same road, it could be the road and not the car. If they always pull to the right, even on a non-crowned surface, something is wrong with the car. It could even be something such as the spring not centered on the frame. This could be either front or rear spring. Have you checked the castor on each car? Something such as hitting a curb or pothole, could have caused the castor angle to change. In some areas, especially in the past, they had angle parking. The cars would head in at an angle and the right wheel would contact the curb. If the right wheel repeatedly hit the curb, it could bend something, such as the wishbone. That could cause it to pull to the right.
Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Stroud on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 - 02:56 am:

Dave, I think it is similar to a muffler bearing. Dave


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By TOM on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 - 07:42 am:

Thanks to all for the input. I am away this week, I won't be able to check out the suggestions until this weekend. It pulls to the right on a flat surface, but of course not as bad on a crown road. The wishbone is not bent. The cars track straight going down the road. I have checked the castor angle, but not the camber, so that may be a possibility.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Dufault on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 - 07:42 am:

Ah yes, the inlet control to the hot air pipe.
Thanks Dave


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