Chasing down rattles

[ewdysar]

This weekend I was able to go for a ride in my friend's well sorted '15 Runabout. Afterwards, while driving my '14 Touring around town, the additional rattles in my car became more obvious. I know that the Rocky Mountain brake rods and the regular parking brake rods are close and bang together every chance that they get, I figure that some split hose slipped over one rod on each side should quiet them down a bit.

I also noticed a more prominent 'knock" amongst the rattles at any speed over 20mph. Leaning around while driving in an attempt to triangulate on the source, I figured out that it is coming from inside the steering column. Pushing the steering wheel up/forward, slightly bending the column makes that clatter stop. The '14 column is pretty long and unsupported, so it's pretty reasonable that the control rods and even the steering shaft itself could be flexing a bit and banging together inside the column. I know that there are aftermarket column supports that will minimize the column movement, but I don't think that mounting one of those will do much to reduce the movement inside. Snyder's sells gas line felt donut seals as control rod anti-rattlers to be positioned 12-14" behind the quadrant.

I vaguely remember some sort of split wooden block with 3 holes that would clamp around the shaft and rods right up next to the firewall on the engine side, but don't see a reference in any of the vendor's catalogs. It might be a DIY thing from Tinkerin' Tips.

In any case, what suggestions does the peanut gallery have about reducing rattles inside the steering column?

Keep crankin',
Eric

[Norman Kling]

I've never driven nor ridden in a T which did not have rattles. Especially so on rough roads. There are some types of anti rattlers available which will help some, but if it doesn't rattle, it is not moving!
Norm

[Craig Leach]

Hi I did the split rubber hose on the auxiliary & park brake rods, but remember you don't drive with the park brake on so release it before
installing the rubber hose so it's in the right place. The wood block with holes is more for keeping the throttle & spark from vibrating down.
It may be the drag link & tie rod rattling, wrap a bungie around them & if that stops that rattle it's time for bushings & maybe some joint
maintenance.
Craig.

[John kuehn]

Even when new Model T’s weren’t quite as we think of today. And after they got driven for a while they slowly got more looser and noisey. The quietest antique brass era cars were the heavier cars like the Winton and other bigger heavier cars. But even those cars weren’t built like our cars are today as far as overall quality is concerned.

[Allan]

Levering away at the steering wheel may just cause the steering rod to be loaded on one side of the bush in the lower bracket, masking wear at that point. This bushing is often overlooked even when rebuilding the front axle.

Allan from down under.