32 front wheel shimmy
 

The second “test drive” of the 32 produced front wheel wobble at about 20 + mph, the car never had it before.....where or what is the best info for making sure everything is tight and set up correctly?

Re: 32 front wheel shimmy
 

Is it all stock? If so, just have to start though the list of things it can be, and there are a lot of them! As it came on suddenly, I would start with the tires, tire pressure, rims, etc. If all is good, the the wheel bearing, etc. Jack up the wheels one at a time and see if you can get any movement. Then king pins, tie rod ends, the rubber bushing on the end of the wishbone.

Re: 32 front wheel shimmy
 

Having experienced similar shimmy issues on an early Ford front axle what I found was the tires were to old. For whatever reason these tires which I had on the car for a while were at a point of causing the shimmy. No matter what I tried toe in changes and all parts being nice and tight the only way the problem went away was will new front tires.
Ronnieroadster

Re: 32 front wheel shimmy
 

I guess I should give a little more info. The car is just out of a fresh restoration from the ground up, SO I suspect something is loose OR not adjusted correctly??? So it would be nice to maybe have list of things to check OR angles to check for toe and camber etc etc!!! On the test drive today the steering seems to have a little more play than before??? So I will start by checking the ball tomorrow for looseness then jack the front up and start shaking the front wheels to see what’s what!

Re: 32 front wheel shimmy
 

Tire pressure??
Paul in CT

Re: 32 front wheel shimmy
 

I would check toe in first. It's a major cause of shimmy.

Re: 32 front wheel shimmy
 

After tire pressure, and toe-in, you just have to check things out from point to point to locate any play. If the steering seems loose, that is a good place to start. Check it, then the draglink, tie-rod ends, spindles/kingpins, and so on. Even a small amount of movement in several places can add up.

Re: 32 front wheel shimmy
 

Tighten the tie rod-drag link ends . They are spring loaded and if not tight the ' death wobble ' can result . If the balls are ROUND I tighten them down till bound and back off 5 turns . Cured it for me on numerous 33-34's .

Re: 32 front wheel shimmy
 

What the correct tire pressure for a 32 coupe? Under tire pressure or to much tire pressure the problem?

Re: 32 front wheel shimmy
 

I use 30 psi.

Re: 32 front wheel shimmy
 

Robert,
On early Fords I run the toe in at 3/16"" when running bias ply tires., and the tire pressure at 35 psi. My 33 had the "Death Wobble" at 35-45 mph. A steering gear adjustment fixed it as it had too much sector play. Also as mentioned in a previous post, if the tie rod ends / drag link are too loose they can cause the same issue. I use the same method as Davis J, except I run mine a bit tighter (3 rounds) presuming the B-3111 steering balls aren't worn.

Re: 32 front wheel shimmy
 

Agree if the balls aren't worn at all .
If worn you get loose straight and bound when turning .

The 5 turns works on most with a little wear . .

Re: 32 front wheel shimmy
 

Neither three nor five turns worth of retreat is useful unless you first know the condition of the ball studs.

Re: 32 front wheel shimmy
 

On a stock 32....
Make sure your steering box is adjusted properly.
Not sure ?
Perform the instructions in the Service Bulletins TO THE LETTER.
You can do the whole process with the box in the car.
DO EVERYTHING EXACTLY AS THE BOOK SAYS IN THE EXACT ORDER SPECIFIED !!!
I can't stress that enough.
Once you are satisfied the box is right make sure all the other front end components are in perfect condition.
Got a Hot Rod ? Big N Little tires ? Dropped axle ?
OY ! now that's a breed of cat the needs a little more finesse.
I'm not going there today BUT Lot's of posts on here about that...........

Re: 32 front wheel shimmy
 

rockfla, were you able to sort out your generator & cut out & ammeter problems. Did not hear back on that issue and interested to know how you fared. Regards, Kevin.

Re: 32 front wheel shimmy
 

Mine was caused by improper toe-in, everything had been re-built and new tires. Proper toe-in fixed it 1/16'" did the trick. Al

Re: 32 front wheel shimmy
 

Koates/Kevin
In a sense, yes.....I got a "new" generator from Mike at Third Gen.......the "correct" 32 version and a new "correct" cut-out via DavidG's suggestions. AS for my amp gauge.....IT is "STILL" stuck at +10 amps, I was "maybe" hoping that after tapping on both the face AND the back, then having a generator that is very "Close" to running the proper amps that it just "MIGHT" free up a "STUCK" needle BUT I'm not that fortunate. I will pull the gauge this week and my electronics guy suggested running a (-) negative pull on the gauge to see IF it frees the needle and shows negative charge correctly BEFORE I box it up and send it for "Repair/Refinish". As you see via this post, have this "new" issue I'm dealing with, still working on small detail stuff to finish the car and NOW created another ISSUE to fix and am quite sick about it happening...check attached photos!!!


I can't thank you enough for your help and guidance. Thanks again Koates!!!

Re: 32 front wheel shimmy
 

Kevin
FORGOT, here is the new Generator installed, I also found and am working on the "correct" Bosch horn for the car so have "many" Irons in the fire for this car right now......more than I care to have going at one time, actually!!!!

Re: 32 front wheel shimmy
 

rockfla, thanks for the update on your 32 Ford. Your generator looks good. Dam, if its not one thing its another on old cars. That Bosch motor horn is a rare one and you are lucky to have it. Keep up the good work. Regards, Kevin.

Re: 32 front wheel shimmy
 

Kevin
Yes it was a lucky find, Ford (OF Germany) used the same horn from Model A's thru 1932 BUT there is a few "differences" between them SO I have to make a "few" adjustments/modifications to the horn to make it "right" for a 32. I was amazed, I actually found 3 horns, I bought one, I turned a friend in England on to the other one and the third I could NOT figure our how to buy (off a "Polish" site) which was a "REALLY" nice one (So pissed)!!! OF course ALL were "Model A" horns!!!! The "added" cover on the back is "Hens Teeth" for some unknown reason!!!