MTFCA Forum

This photo was shared by dollisdad in Friday Flicks. It shows a belt around the front axle. I've seen this in other old photos too. I presume it's some sort of top-out limiter? Can anyone shed light on this? Was a belt used on the rear axle similarly, or only the front?

My original, unrestored 1907 Autocar has them in the rear. They were very common and were made of very thick retanned leather.

Yes These leather straps help to control rebound of the transverse springs. Many type made, some straps only, some with spring assist, esp. for the Ford.

I run them on my 1924 front and rear. I made them from heavy leather belts I bought at Walmart. They do help to reduce rebound on bumps.

Mark, What method did you use for adjusting the length? In your picture it looks like you have the wheel off the ground and the front straps are tight?

I have seen some of the Montana 500 cars with modern VW shock absorbers. I had a few times driving on some rough freeways where I wished I had some kind shock absorber on my "12 Torpedo but just can't bring myself to see those modern shocks on it!!

Mark! Good to know Wal-Mart has Model T parts! I guess if somebody wanted to get a copy of the belts made a good saddle shop could make them. Always learning somthing about the aftermarket parts that were made for early cars and especially Model T’s. They are probably something Ford didn’t offer from the Ford parts store.

Regarding the free length of the straps, I adjusted them so that they hung about 1/2 inch below the bottom of the axle when the car is on the ground. Purely a rough guess on my part, but it seems to work well. If the belt didn't have a buckle hole in the right place, I added one with a punch.

I believe that the car appearing to be off the ground in the first pic is an illusion, that yellow thing is a wheel chock.

Thanks for all the great replies! There seems to have been two categories: those with a spring element,, and those without, like a leather belt. It's interesting that there is only one strap in many of the photos I have seen, but it would seem far more balanced to have two (or one on the centre-line) as suggested in the commercial adverts.

Steve my Autocar had 2 on the rear only. They are fairly complicated and clearly designed to be adjusted. After 100+ years they gave up the ghost bouncing around in my trailer. I eventually found a saddle shop that was willing to reproduce them but they are extra heavy, thick leather. I don’t see how belt leather would last very long.

I've got to get some, or make some, to try!