Steering damper

[trainguy]

Not looking for a lecture on the evils of steering damper! Just looking for a source for my 39 ford.I am having a problem with an occasional "death wobble"and so far cannot find the cause.
Rims are straight and tru
Steering box is in good condition
Toe in is about 1/8
Spring perches are tight
Spring clamps tight
No play in wheel bearings
Rubber ball on radius rod ok
Tie rod ends ok
King pins ok
Shocks new(tube shocks)
Has a sway bar installed
Tires good
Thinking of installing a damper until I find the culprit.
I would appreciate any suggestions,Thanks Phil Happy New Year to all.

[G.M.]

I have steering dampers on several 39's and they work good. Mount to the cross steering rod and the axle. With the wheels straight put a chalk mark in the center of the axle and the steering rod. Turn the wheels all the way to the right and mark the axle where the steering rod mark is. Turn the all the way to the left and mark the axle. Measure the distance between the left and right marks on the axle, this is the stroke the cylinder needs to be. Get a steering shock with a little longer stroke. You can make the mounting parts if you can't buy them. G.M.

[Tony, NY]

This may work for you.
http://www.macsautoparts.com/ford_me...four-bars.html

[Russ/40]

Do you have the king pin needle bearings installed? We have seen this complaint with them before. If so, I'd suggest you proceed with the damper arrangement as artfully described above. There are setups used frequently on CJ jeeps that can easily be modified to mount to the Ford axle.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by trainguy

Not looking for a lecture on the evils of steering damper! Just looking for a source for my 39 ford.I am having a problem with an occasional "death wobble"and so far cannot find the cause.
Rims are straight and tru
Steering box is in good condition
Toe in is about 1/8
Spring perches are tight
Spring clamps tight
No play in wheel bearings
Rubber ball on radius rod ok
Tie rod ends ok
King pins ok
Shocks new(tube shocks)
Has a sway bar installed
Tires good
Thinking of installing a damper until I find the culprit.
I would appreciate any suggestions,Thanks Phil Happy New Year to all.

Are you running radials?

[Karl Wolf]

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I'm using a dampener from a VW Superbeetle, on the A-V8... Which has basically the same front end as yours. I think that it's got the stroke, and it's a nice size... And, made in-

I probably don't need it, it doesn't get in the way and I feel better with it at freeway speeds.

Karl

[supereal]

A damper is a crutch to cover repairing the problem. Your toe- in is too much. It should be no more than 1/16 th inch, and can be less, but not more less than zero. You say the tires are "good", but have you had them checked for balance and for "out of round". Shimmy can also be caused by flat spotting of bias ply tires, and a break in the inner wall of a tire. Try moving the wheels to different positions on the car to see if the problem changes. This is no lecture, but a list of things we have seen over the years.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by supereal

A damper is a crutch to cover repairing the problem. Your toe- in is too much. It should be no more than 1/16 th inch, and can be less, but not more less than zero. You say the tires are "good", but have you had them checked for balance and for "out of round". Shimmy can also be caused by flat spotting of bias ply tires, and a break in the inner wall of a tire. Try moving the wheels to different positions on the car to see if the problem changes. This is no lecture, but a list of things we have seen over the years.

I agree 100%. That's kind of where I was leading with the question of whether or not you are utilizing radial tires.
Radial tires require the front chassis to be in even better condition than when using bias ply.

[bobH]

If Small is important, VW, as mentioned above. If Stout &Sturdy are important, then Jeep. I've got a Jeep damper with the Rancho name on it... looks (and sized) like an ordinary shock, and came with mounting brackets suitable for a Ford tie rod. Would need to modify or make bracket for stationary end.

[trainguy]

Nice afternoon in Pa.,took the car out for a 15 mile ride,no wobble,am going to install Jeep damper anyway,and adjust toe in to 1/16.Thanks to everyone for their help and suggestions.The tires are radial.Phil

[scooder]

The Vw one is a nice tidy little chap, cheap to. It's the one that's usually repackaged by hotrod shops and doubled in price.
Personally I think it shouldn't be necessary, with everything being in spec, if you feel happier with one fitted, then do so.
Martin.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by trainguy

Nice afternoon in Pa.,took the car out for a 15 mile ride,no wobble,am going to install Jeep damper anyway,and adjust toe in to 1/16.Thanks to everyone for their help and suggestions.The tires are radial.Phil

Radial tires with a front chassis that is not close to perfect will mimic your described symptoms.
The installation of a dampener will most likely help but as Supereal has pointed out, it is only masking the real issue.

[trainguy]

Originally Posted by Kube

Radial tires with a front chassis that is not close to perfect will mimic your described symptoms.
The installation of a dampener will most likely help but as Supereal has pointed out, it is only masking the real issue.

Kube,What you say is most likely true.What I find strange is I have had many Early V8 Fords and have never had this problem.I had a 30 A sedan many years ago that had this problem,but it is a common problem with A,s.If my memroy serves me correctly the steering box on the a was worn badly! Phil

[trainguy]

Up date,installed a steering stabilizer,problem solved.Phil