Wishbone ball
 

My wishbone came loose on my 29 causing a shimmy. Found that one of the nuts had cracked. When taking apart it had the rubber ball cap assy that was worn out. Also the felt pad was up inside. I ordered new assy from snyders with the felt. What is proper way to install rubber on ball and how is felt installed or is it nessesary with rubber style?

Re: Wishbone ball
 

I squirt some WD-40 into the ball and push it onto the ball. I don't use the felt. Works for me though there are a number of folks that condemn the rubber ball as not proper and doesn't work. They advocate building up or replacing the ball and use only the original set up. Works for them.

Re: Wishbone ball
 

Rubber ball is a fix,should replace ball by welding and reshaping to proper size.felts for lubrication.

Re: Wishbone ball
 

How is the rest of your front end?

Shimmy could be a combination of worn parts.

If you have not rebuilt front end and you decide to remove wishbone, that’s the time to get things sorted out. Enjoy.

Re: Wishbone ball
 

My front end has all been rebuilt. My ball looks to be in good shape but has rubber ball cover installed and was worn out. Is there spec diameter for original ball? If good I'll go back to original. I set toe in to 1/16. Was at 3/8 toe out!!!

Re: Wishbone ball
 

A lot of guys do not like the rubber ball. Having said that. If just replacing the rubber ball will get you back to where you want to be? That sounds like the best thing to do. Will most likely last for a good number of years.

If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.

Re: Wishbone ball
 

What is the spec diameter for the original ball? Be a good thing to know so you know what needs to be done, other than that you are guessing.

Re: Wishbone ball
 

This article might be of interest.

http://cedarcreekas.org/TechTopics/RadiusBallRandR.pdf

Re: Wishbone ball
 

Some just use the CUPPED shaped spacer washer & NO RUBBER BALL. Suppliers sell them. QUICK & EASY job.
Bill Tight

Re: Wishbone ball
 

The ball is 1 1/2".
My 29 had the rubber cover, so I removed the rubber and cast iron caps, and installed the original style steel caps. I still had at least 1/8" gap between the caps, so it was fine.

Re: Wishbone ball
 

When one of my cars started to shimmy, I checked things over and found amongst other things that the wishbone ball was badly worn. I put in one of those cupped washers and all was good there - for a while. I later found that the washer had slipped from the top of the ball to now being under it. I threw it away and built up the ball with weld and reshaped it with a flap disc and 1 1/2" washer I made. All has been good for about 20,000 miles since.
I see the rubber ball and cupped washer as stop gap, temporary repairs. Fix it right, fix it once.

Re: Wishbone ball
 

My radius ball measured 1.479. I have been using the original style so maybe I will add the washer and see how the bolts tighten up.

Re: Wishbone ball
 

Does the washer go on the top or the bottom of the ball?

Re: Wishbone ball
 

Install the felt above the ball inside the bell housing. Hold in place with the pin through it.

Re: Wishbone ball
 

sjhark, I say on top because that positions the axle for more caster. Under would be less caster like a model T and more apt to wobble or shimmy.

Re: Wishbone ball
 

My ball measures 1.4960and 1.4955. Is that ok to use original type assy?

Re: Wishbone ball
 

Assuming your two measurements are in horizontal and vertical planes, your ball is very round. Sounds great.

Re: Wishbone ball
 

Thank you, 100IH! That was exactly why I was asking.

Re: Wishbone ball
 

That's as good as a new part.

Re: Wishbone ball
 

This was how I repaired mine.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=143140