Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-07-2021, 09:28 AM   #1
Bob Bidonde
Senior Member
 
Bob Bidonde's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 3,432
Default Loud Thud

When my Model "A" hits a pot hole in the road with just one wheel, it makes an extraordinary loud thud noise in the front suspension, and it is felt in the steering.

The car has less than 5000 miles on it since a total restoration. What say you about possible causes of the thud noise?
__________________
Bob Bidonde
Bob Bidonde is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 09:42 AM   #2
katy
Senior Member
 
katy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Red Deer, Alberta
Posts: 5,011
Default Re: Loud Thud

Have you checked that everything on the front suspension that should be tight, is actually as tight as it should be? U bolts that hold the front spring to the crossmember? Spring perch nuts? Steering box to frame? Etc, etc
__________________
If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!.
Got my education out behind the barn!
katy is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 05-07-2021, 09:43 AM   #3
Will N
Senior Member
 
Will N's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,096
Default Re: Loud Thud

Maybe take a look at the front radius rod ball socket to check if there is too much play?
Will N is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 09:48 AM   #4
alexiskai
Senior Member
 
alexiskai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Mebane NC
Posts: 2,330
Default Re: Loud Thud

When you say it's felt in the steering, is the wheel trying to move, or do you just have a sensation of impact? Do you feel it on the floorboards?
alexiskai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 09:58 AM   #5
Jacksonlll
Senior Member
 
Jacksonlll's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Michigan-- Member of Oakleaf of MARC
Posts: 1,686
Send a message via ICQ to Jacksonlll
Default Re: Loud Thud

Check everything under there for tightness. Something was probably left loose.
Jacksonlll is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 09:59 AM   #6
Bob Bidonde
Senior Member
 
Bob Bidonde's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 3,432
Default Re: Loud Thud

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
In the steering, the shock is axial through the column shaft.
__________________
Bob Bidonde
Bob Bidonde is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 10:03 AM   #7
marty in Ohio
Senior Member
 
marty in Ohio's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Elyria, Ohio
Posts: 753
Default Re: Loud Thud

I experienced the same thing Bob did. I found that the rubber ball on the front radius rod was shot. I replaced it and the difference was like night and day.
Marty
marty in Ohio is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 10:05 AM   #8
alexiskai
Senior Member
 
alexiskai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Mebane NC
Posts: 2,330
Default Re: Loud Thud

Seems like that would mean there must be a shock to that part of the frame, which is transmitted to the column. Either a part of the suspension is hitting the frame or the shock absorber is locked up and transmitting the motion of the axle directly to the frame.
alexiskai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 10:53 AM   #9
Mulletwagon
Senior Member
 
Mulletwagon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Florida Panhandle
Posts: 585
Default Re: Loud Thud

Also jack up the front end and see if there is any vertical play in the wheel which would check for a king pin issue.
Mulletwagon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 11:51 AM   #10
Harpkatt
Senior Member
 
Harpkatt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Long Island
Posts: 171
Default Re: Loud Thud

If it was the rubber ball, How would one going about repairing or replacing with an original steel ball?
Harpkatt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 12:19 PM   #11
1931 flamingo
Senior Member
 
1931 flamingo's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: new britain,ct 06052
Posts: 9,389
Default Re: Loud Thud

The steel ball is inside the rubber ball.

Paul in CT
1931 flamingo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 12:25 PM   #12
alexiskai
Senior Member
 
alexiskai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Mebane NC
Posts: 2,330
Default Re: Loud Thud

Quote:
Originally Posted by Harpkatt View Post
If it was the rubber ball, How would one going about repairing or replacing with an original steel ball?
The radius cap assembly is different for the rubber ball, so step 1 is procuring an original-style cap assembly. Step 2 is you can either cut off the current ball and weld on a replacement, or, if the ball is still close to round, you can shim it with a concave washer.
alexiskai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 12:41 PM   #13
nkaminar
Senior Member
 
nkaminar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 3,819
Default Re: Loud Thud

I would say that the loud noise and reaction at the steering wheel is from hitting the pot hole. (Sorry, best I could come up with.)
__________________
A is for apple, green as the sky.
Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die.
Forget the brakes, they really don't work.
The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk.
My car grows red hair, and flies through the air.
Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.
nkaminar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2021, 03:48 PM   #14
Y-Blockhead
Senior Member
 
Y-Blockhead's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Redondo Beach, CA
Posts: 5,817
Default Re: Loud Thud

How is your front spring. A weak spring will cause the spring to be too close to the spring perch and "bottom out" when you hit a pot hole.
Y-Blockhead is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2021, 07:37 AM   #15
Bob Bidonde
Senior Member
 
Bob Bidonde's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 3,432
Default Re: Loud Thud

My front radius rod ball socket is all steel with a cup washer in it to take-up wear on the ball. My friends 1931 Town Sedan makes the same thud noise.
__________________
Bob Bidonde
Bob Bidonde is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-08-2021, 07:50 PM   #16
GeneBob
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Denver Area
Posts: 433
Default Re: Loud Thud

Are your shocks working and adjusted? Maybe there is no damping or the shock is locked up? Just a couple more thoughts. If it is a pothole, the wheel is falling into the hole then hitting the other side of the hole so maybe your shock is too stiff (or not moving) in compression. Check to see of your shock arm is tight on the shaft.
GeneBob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2021, 12:36 AM   #17
duke36
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,414
Default Re: Loud Thud

It may be prudent to tack weld the concave washer to the top plate of the stock clamp assembly because the washer can shift . This would also help keep the camber in the 3 -4 degree range. Also the drag link and tie rod ends may need adjustment for the 25 % spring length compression.
duke36 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-09-2021, 09:02 AM   #18
rotorwrench
Senior Member
 
rotorwrench's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 16,369
Default Re: Loud Thud

While the Model A is obviously no independent front suspension, the axle will still move a lot more on the one side than the other. It can move all the components like the shock absorbers on the one side independently from the other and the radius rod or wishbone does allow for quit a bit of twist or roll around the ball axis. Sometimes the spring eye makes contact with the axle but I don't know if that is happening in this case. Most of the time that is due to springs that are in need of re-arching or a lot of wear in the shackle components but it can happen in some cases.

Last edited by rotorwrench; 05-11-2021 at 06:32 PM.
rotorwrench is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2021, 11:55 AM   #19
Dave in MN
Senior Member
 
Dave in MN's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Jordan, MN
Posts: 1,410
Default Re: Loud Thud

The loud "thud" is likely the radius ball pushing the socket assembly apart and the sound occurs when the socket reaches its limit.

The lower part of the socket is held against the ball by spring pressure. When the front drops into a pothole, and then climbs out, there is a tremendous amount of force being transmitted back to the radius ball and socket. The ball will try to move backwards and as it does the lower half of the assembly (moveable) fully collapses the springs and the nuts stop the movement. This will cause a pretty robust momentary force against the bellhousing and the resulting sound.

A full size and round ball will make the noise to a lesser amount. A worn ball will make more noise because the movement is greater within the socket. Just my observation.

Feeling it in the steering...Yes the movement described will place some momentary pressure on the pitman arm and that is felt in the steering wheel.

I heard this sound many times while driving parts of Route 66 in 2013 with my Phaeton. The old road was rough.

Good Day!

Last edited by Dave in MN; 05-12-2021 at 03:33 PM.
Dave in MN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2021, 01:35 AM   #20
hardtimes
Senior Member
 
hardtimes's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: South California
Posts: 6,188
Default Re: Loud Thud

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde View Post
My front radius rod ball socket is all steel with a cup washer in it to take-up wear on the ball. My friends 1931 Town Sedan makes the same thud noise.
Hey Bob,
In my experience, Dave in Mn has correctly described that your problem emanates from radius rod ....ball !
hardtimes is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:10 PM.