Anyone using this setup? Is it any good? It appears that it just mounts to the axle using existing hardware and clamps to upper wishbone at the back.
I have not looked in the catalog but it appears to be for UNDER the axle for an '18 and earlier car that had the stock wishbone above the axle.
This will probably open another can of worms but I would not drive one without it.
It is also OK to just use the later wishbone and spring perches.
For the early wishbone that goes through the perches with a nut on the end-they must be REAL TIGHT to keep from twisting and the axle going into such a negative caster condition that it will pull the wheel out of your hands and turn one way or the other full lock.
I cannot see from the photo, how well that is made. If it is reasonably well made, that would help stabilize the early type front end quite a bit. It would make the car easier and safer to drive.
Being from Lang's? It should be good!
Do drive carefully, and have a Happy New Year! W2
John,
I have the accessory wishbone made with angle iron. It is not the same as the one you show, but similar.
I had a twisted front axle where the caster was correct on one side and zero on the other. I put a 4-foot pipe wrench on the axle near the end, protecting the metal with some aluminum scrap, and jacked up the end of the wrench with a floor jack until the wheel came off the ground. I was able to twist the axle from where the wishbone attaches to the end enough to correct the problem. During this repair, the axle at the wishbone did not move. This gives me some confidence that the double wishbone setup is strong.
I have a 15 with the stock wishbone on the top of the axle and the angle iron one underneath.
Neil
John, I tried the brace you have in your photo and I did not like it.
I ended up ordered one of these clamps off ebay and fashioned a nice brace with 7/8" rod. It was a much cleaner and nicer looking.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Model-T-Ford-front-dual-radius-rod-support-clamp-11-18-/ 380513227980?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item58985b14cc&vxp=mtr
Don't have an above the axle wishbone early T. But if I did have, and drove a lot, one made of angle iron seems to me to have better strength in folding.
Period aftermarket styles were angle iron in some designs too.
Mine is a neutered late wishbone (ball cut off) welded to the early one. It's been trouble-free for 50-100K miles with front brakes.
John I've seen 2 myself, both by different makers and Clymer's book shows one also in the accessories section. They all seem to mount about the same way. Slight variations from maker to maker might just be them trying to avoid another guy's patents (if any). General consensus here is that it's a must. Go with it.
I have an apco wishbone brace. It clamps on the wishbone close the the ball but the ends that go towards the front axle are just male threads. Does anyone know how these attach to the front?
Missing parts?
Yes, but is it an eyelet or a clamp?
Robbie
This adv for that APCO style seems to show brackets, the adv copy at the last sentence says so too.
1920 Standard Auto Supply Catalog
Another APCO style
And some other accessory braces
This one is angle iron construction
Lastly....a aftermarket replacement for the Ford said to be stronger made. Use of dual wishbones is a good idea for the above axle wishbones.
I have an auxiliary wishbone in my parts stash.
The radius rods on it are adjustable like the 59 cent 86X4304 advertisement above - they are threaded into the bracket so the length of the rods can be increased or decreased.