Hey guys i got a 32 ford sedan with major Road shimmy. at high speeds the car handles great. drive at slow speeds with the ****py New York roads, i some times have my whole front end shake like J-Lo's ***. i have tightend up the Vega box and it seems to help. what else can i do to cut it down??
if you are describing a bump steer, check the geometry of your drag link, you might just need to get a good set of shocks, or load carrier shocks or i even thought about a steering stabalizer at one time and i added a sway bar on the effie.. you checked for any other slack in the steering, kingpins, bearings, drag link? was your castor upset at all?? just throwin out ideas, i realize if its a open fender car, your options might be a bit limited. any better way to describe it???. lance
Welcome to the HAMB! This is a good topic and an important one. Give us more info on the situation. When is it doing it? have you found it does it just in a certain speed range or is it all the time above a certain speed? What tires are you running? What are you running for the rest of your suspension parts? New or used? Fill us in brotha'.... oh.... how about some pics of the Deuce?
here is a pic. i would call it a death wobble!! it drives very smooth 90% of the time. it only happens at slow speeds usaully right when i start driving. i have check all the other joints and tightend every thing. what about a Damper? do they work?
Do you have wishbones, Harpins or 4 Bar on the front end ? is the swedge pin drawn into the axle all the way ? are the king pins and bushings new? check all of your tie rod ends, and steering U joints,... and check your front end for proper "Toe-in" and "Caster",....... ( I know this might be simple but in the picture I don't see any wheel weights on your front wheels,....they have been ballanced right ?)
Explain more about this "tightening" of the Vega. I have one and it's got a LOT of play. Thinking about taking it apart and "tightening" it.
heres a quick pic on how to adjust the steering box Opening an original Vega steering box begins by loosening the adjustment screw on the sector gear cover
You need a panhard bar and a steering stabilizer...check out P&J's, SoCal or one of our HAMB vendors... Here's why you need 'em... http://www.est1946.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=5
Back to the tires. Get them off the ground and rig a pointer very close to the tread. Give em a spin and see how true they are. I would be concerned if you see much wobble at all. Also remember that bias ply tires will flat spot when you park and have to get warmed up. This is especially evident with big tires like on trucks and tractors. Do this little run out test in several places on the tread while the tires are both hot and cold. I'll bet you are surprised.
death wobble feels like the steering wheel is going to be ripped out of your hands... 95% of the time, a steering damper will hide the problem. Yep, I said hide... you'll still have something wrong... you just won't feel it. whats your caster at? In the pic, it looks like a ton.. but it could be the angle of the pic... check the kingpins.
Shock bushings, spring bushings, tierods, kingpins, bent wheel, steering box slop, everything in your steering and/or suspension. Once I even had a aftermarket vega pitman arm come loose, not off, just loose. Could barely see it, also on the same car the ragjoint connection lost one bolt. Check everything.
I would say Kingpins worn or bad bushing or bushing job. Had this same problem on a few rides and replacing them worked for me.
Since 'ol Henry put panhard bars on all of his 40's vintage cross-steering I-beam cars he must of thought it was a good idea, too. A steering stabilizer will help smooth out little irregularities in the road...they are not made to "fix" any problems. They are kinda like a seat cushion...you COULD ride on sheet metal and bare springs but most people choose padding. That looks like a pretty fresh car....maybe he built it with worn out parts...maybe not. Nylon cord bias ply tires will flat spot enough to notice...polyester and rayon cord won't unless parked for a long time. I doubt if that's the problem.
Hey...I work at Borgeson and I talked to our box guy...he said that your box is very worn ...just by looking at how far down that screw is to the nut....that probably has nothing to do with your death wobble...but it isnt helping...BC
thanks guys, i have alot to look at!!!! i got the rumblers show the 19th so hopefully i can get this thing licked before the 80 mile drive.
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