Car Wobbles

[cecil misner]

Do you have Corvair steering? If you do, you MUST!!!!! have the pitman arm centered. Duke found that to be the problem on my car. If you slowly turn the steering wheel full in both directions, as you return the wheel to center try to feel a slight resistance or stiffening. Set the pitman arm at that location.

[cecil misner]

P.S. This test must be done with the draglink disconnected.

[Lugnut]

Charley,

I didn't read all the posts completely, but I too at one time had a suicide wobble on the front end of my old bucket. I couldn't for the life of me figure out what the problem was. I do not know if anyone on here had mentioned checking and RE-checking all fasteners on the front end. Suggestion: have a friend of yours do the re-check...often our eyes only see the SAME issues. Try a fresh pair of eyes.

Regarding the Dyna beads, I never used them on the front tires, but I have in both rear tires on the OLD LGSM. And yes, they do work. Go to a truck tire shop or a tire shop that handles both car/truck tires. If you inquire and the flunky behind the counter looks at you quizzically...move along to another shop.

Friction shocks had their place on Henry's T. In my opinion, and it is only MY opinion, they do not belong on street rods. There is more weight up front on these cars than on Henry's Model Ts. Swap those friction shocks out to QA1...adjustable shocks where you can "dial in the ride."

Oh, and as everyone else suggested, get the front end aligned.....toe in/out can cause suicide wobble as well. You want a total 1/8" PERIOD.

Sure glad you came here to ask as you will find no other site really to give you the straight skinny.

Lugnut

[Bill Cleveland]

Charles - I'm no expert but if the wobble goes away above 45-50 MPH it may not be the wheels. More likely a quirk of the front suspension harmonics at speed. I prefer the hydraulic shocks myself, but I know the friction shocks will work; a friend who had the same wobble on his 27 T went with 1/8" toe OUT, and cranked down really hard on the friction shocks. This cured his problem. Keep us posted.

[Jim Young]

I had the exact same problem with my T-Bucket, and I believe it was Wheelstang that told me to set the toe "out" 1/8" and it took care of my problem.

[Charles Powell]

Thanks everyone for the ideas/suggestions. I knew this was a great place to get good feedback from those much more experienced than I. I'll keep you posted as I try to get the problem resolved.

[Lugnut]

Charles,

I'm a bit confused here, as I read all the posts. The wobble is coming from the front end or the rear? You mention having really huge weights on the rear wheels. I have personal experience with this and I discovered the issue to be one of the rear wheels. The wheel, despite the manufacturer telling me different. was OUT of balance. I had almost ONE POUND of weights on one rear tire. I requested they send me another wheel, and they did...problem solved...I suppose my bitching at them saying that after they told me they "balance" all their wheels and check for "roundness" helped get the wheel free. Now these were steel wheels, but STILL should have been done right a factory. so BEFORE you make any adjustments to anything...suggestion, have rear tires removed from the wheels and have the tire guy put wheel on balance machine and see what you come up with.

One other suggestion...re-check ALL front end fasteners, yeah I know I mentioned this the uddder day in my post above...but check and make certain you don't have sloppy rod ends or maybe nylocs that have worn out their welcome. The wobbling effect can be a number of things...best begin at the front and work your way back.....but "definitely" check on the rims FIRST ....WITHOUT THE TIRES ON THEM.

Lugnut

[Rolla Hessel]

Charles, Tim Lyon at Okie Street Rods has a front shock setup that combines hydraulic and friction shocks in a very unique manner. Check him out at Okiestreetrods.com. All of the suggestions above are true and work in many cases but sometimes it takes a combination to fix the problem. Once you hit on it driving is a heck of a lot more FUN

[Bill Cleveland]

Once you hit on it driving is a heck of a lot more rum

Uh. . . Rolla . . . just what is it you have in those twin tanks??? Ho-ho-ho . . .

[Rolla Hessel]

Watch ya talking about Spanky;-). Hope to see you at Danny's for Safety Day Saturday !