MTFCA Forum

Should I buy the APCO Adjustable Ball Cap for the Front Radius rod or is the original setup with shims, if needed just as good?

The same question applies to the Steering gear rod Ball Cap.

This is for my 1919 Touring.

The main reason for the spring loaded ball cap is for a ball which is out of round and when it is tight in one position it is loose in another. This keeps it from rattling or binding when tightened up, however if the wear is great it would be better to fill in and re grind the hole, and maybe replace the wishbone with one which has a better ball. Another type shim which will fill the gap is made of hard leather soaked in oil. This will give a bit with an out of round ball. Be very careful because if the wear is great, the ball could pull out of the socket and cause serious steering problems.
Norm

Another factor in choosing one over the other is the wear on the rim of the ball cap, tie rod and drag link ends. And while your at it check the un-threaded end of the yolk for wear. I used APCO style cap ends - don't have any worn stock ones

I have used the APCO adjustable spring loaded ball cap fittings on all of the ball joints of my T for 50 years, including on the steering linkages. They come in various sizes to correspond with the various sized ball joints on the T. Original vintage APCO fittings were on all the ball joints of my 1926 Model T coupe when I bought it in 1970. Even if the original, non-adjustable ball and cap wears down, the adjustable Spring loaded APCO ball caps keep the ball joints tight and remove all the slop that would occur, were the original non-adjustable ball caps were in place. This is especially useful in helping to increase the steering response, where too much of a delayed steering response could be dangerous. Jim Patrick

The shims are a temporary band aid fix. The spring loaded caps remove all of the play and really tighten up the front end. I put them both on the drag link and the wishbone. I wouldn't have a T without them.

Stephen

Amen, Stephen.

Thanks for all of the replies, I will be getting the APCO spring loaded ball caps.