MTFCA Forum

Over the last few months I’ve read number of posts on different builds, restorations, and trips. With current roads and their maintained speed only a dream when the Model T was being built, how well do wheel and axle bearings hold up?

Also kingpins and spindles? Are speedsters stressing these parts when pushing to limits?

Tom
=====

They hold up well. Check bearings annually repack when needed. Run the MTFCA safety check yearly. Keep things lubed, cotter pins and safety wire in place. Then drive it like it's a 100 year old car.

Whatever treatment you are giving your car, it is NOTHING compared to what they survived during the early years of motoring. If you haven't been slogging through gumbo mud up to the hubcaps, and driving across ditches and railroad tracks, you haven't stressed your front axle at all. Like everyone has already said, make sure it is lubricated, and replace any worn parts, and it will be good to go for many years. With modern seals and lubricants, my opinion is that wear should be virtually nil, even after many thousands of miles.

In my experience and I run my T pretty hard is that the axle and king pins hold up up surprisingly well, the thing that wear the most is the spring shackles.

It's the bushings ya gotta keep an eye on and constantly lubed. In my not so humble opinion those are the weak links. The "king pins" will basically last forever, I quit buying "the kit" cause it's a waste. I just replace the bushings in the spindles when things start getting sloppy. Shackle bushings at least for me are the "so far-so good" category. I did have to replace the front shackles & bushings on the Fordor when I literally rebuilt the entire front end. Does make a difference. All the other cars are in great shape as far as those wear items.

Doesn't the TT use the same front end assembly as the T except for the spring?

Dennis,
Where is that picture taken? I have been to Madras Oregon and looks nothing like that. That picture looks more like Palm Springs, Ca area. Did you drive your T down there?
Norm

TXGOAT2 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 01, 2023 10:46 am

Doesn't the TT use the same front end assembly as the T except for the spring?

Yep. My '25 TT Firetruck also had the same front spring as I recall. Been too many years now. Think it had 8 leaves but don't quote me.

That picture looks more like Palm Springs, Ca area.

Not many date palms in Oregon. I think Coachella Valley is a pretty good guess.




On the front end: Bushings cost a lot less than shackles, so I use bronze bushings to take the wear. Ditto for the rear.



If your car uses flip top oilers, don't forget to drill the bushings for them

I am new to the hobby and I drive my 1914 Touring car a lot and I worry about every part breaking or wearing out. I replaced my front wheel bearings with modern style Timken bearings (and yes, used the thin washer). I also purchased an early T wishbone support to support the bottom of the axle. I have replaced all the cotter pins and many of the bolts, but I still worry.
.
I did notice some commentary about king pins and shackle bushings. My king pins are just starting to show some wear so it sounds like the pins should be fine and I will probably just need to replace the bushings. As for the shackles, how do you know how much wear they have? They seem to be OK and I keep them lubed. I know modern roads are smooth compared to what they were built for, but I just don't know how to tell if they need to be replaced. Is there an easy way to tell?
.
Thank you...Bryan
.

Norm, that picture was taken at the Saline Valley Hot Springs in Death Valley Park. The Saline Valley is a valley west of Death Valley it is 45 miles of dirt road in from the south and 55 miles of dirt from the north. If you are ever in the Madras area stop in for visit.

Thought that was Saline. Here's another.

Most of you know me for driving Old #4 Model T Ford based race car, pretty period correct race car, but I love stock Model T's and have put many thousands of miles on stock unmodified versions. Don't worry about their strength and durability, they are to a large degree, indestructible! KEEP THEM WELL LUBRICATED! As hard as I drive/race Old #4 the only changes made to the chassis that are not visible in pictures are larger diameter king pins with no hole drilled down the center for oiling (Many years ago I snapped a stock size dia., repro king pin at 75 MPH and that got my attention). The other change is hub bolts. Mine are all 7/16 dia. instead of 3/8. The 3/8 hub bolts will stretch under extreme stress (after many miles of tight turns at high speed). Since I changed the size (many years ago) I haven't had to check them and tighten as needed. Drive 'em and keep 'em well lubricated and don't worry.

Ed aka #4

Some interesting picture & videos
Video's
https://www.gettyimages.in/detail/video ... r_00009677
https://www.motoroids.com/news/video-wa ... sion-flex/

Ford made 15,000,000 of these cars. If there was a problem with the front end, it would have been found.

I replaced my front wheel bearings with modern style Timken bearings ...

Your only choice, really. Time has caused the steel in some of the ball bearing parts to change into unobtainium. Perhaps all the parts exist in NOS condition on a shelf somewhere, but the chance of finding them to buy is zero or close to it.

My king pins are just starting to show some wear so it sounds like the pins should be fine and I will probably just need to replace the bushings.

Maybe. I've seen some well worn ones that needed to be replaced. That can happen over the course of 90+ years. New ones are made for a reason.

As for the shackles, how do you know how much wear they have?

Measure the shafts.They should be ⁹⁄₁₆".

If there was a problem with the front end, it would have been found.

I believe it was found when Henry was in a wreck, and decided to move the wishbone below the axle.

Tom Dove Jr wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 31, 2023 11:00 pm

Also kingpins and spindles? Are speedsters stressing these parts when pushing to limits?

The same basic dimension tapered roller bearings were carried over to the Model A, V8 era, and at least the straight axle pickups up to ‘64. The bearings will go forever in a T when properly lubed and adjusted. Do check your spindles for straight. Many are bent! Load em up in a lathe between centers, and check for runout at the bearing journal and also the base of the thread.

The kingpins and wishbone are sufficient for most… until you add front brakes… then more mods are necessary

Im looking for a auxiliary front
Wish bone support, anybody have photos or one
for sale. Photo from the internet somewhere,
don’t remember where.

Charlie_26_TT_Ccab wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 02, 2023 1:28 pm

Im looking for a auxiliary front
Wish bone support, anybody have photos or one
for sale. Photo from the internet somewhere,
don’t remember where.

There were many variations. I think I have the top one. I'll check to see if I have everything. Many are designed where the radius rod was attached to the perch above the axle and the accessory bolted to the perch under the axle -- --
--
For the later style perch

These responses are GREAT!! Lots of help for getting my 25 Touring back on the road.

Thanks soooo much!!

Tom
=====