The Ford Barn

Init1 · 07-23-2015, 01:46 PM

Just installed a VW steering dampner on my A V8 coupe
with a 40 axle and split bones,
F1 steering box.
It fit easily and has plenty of movement to handle the tie rod
swing back and forth. Plus it only cost $24!
It dramatically improved the searching and wandering common with this setup.
Now it's just the bias ply
tires...

Bassman/NZ · 07-23-2015, 05:39 PM

I have exactly the same. Big improvement, especially at 60mph.

corvette8n · 07-23-2015, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Init1

Just installed a VW steering dampner on my A V8 coupe
with a 40 axle and split bones,
F1 steering box.
It fit easily and has plenty of movement to handle the tie rod
swing back and forth. Plus it only cost $24!
It dramatically improved the searching and wandering common with this setup.
Now it's just the bias ply
tires...

Do you have a part # for it?
Tks

CaliforniaBorn36 · 07-23-2015, 06:39 PM

Part number and picture of the installation would be appreciated.
Any issues with installation?

Thanks.

Talkwrench · 07-23-2015, 06:52 PM

Yes lets see this puppy!

Bassman/NZ · 07-23-2015, 07:29 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Here's mine. Comes with a clamp for the tie rod, and the other end is bushed and held to the frame with a bolt.

johnny · 07-23-2015, 08:10 PM

Did you get it from the VW.dealer or as a after market unit what year is it from ? I am very interested John.

Phil Gillespie · 07-23-2015, 08:51 PM

I got one locally from Model A supplier in North island.
For fitting to 34 Coupe. Easy to fit up and pleased with result.
Recommend these steering dampers.
Phil NZ

Talkwrench · 07-23-2015, 09:06 PM

Do you feel it at all?

JSeery · 07-23-2015, 09:10 PM

A similar setup was used on some later model Ford trucks, I have driven trucks with steering dampers. You wouldn't know it was there except for the reduction in shimmy and wondering.

fordor41 · 07-23-2015, 11:03 PM

J.C Whitney sells them. Listed as steering stabilizers. Got on for my '41 about 15 yrs ago. Attaches between the axle and tie rod. works great. Believe mine was for an Ford Econoline van

Bassman/NZ · 07-24-2015, 12:13 AM

Mine was just in a joblot of parts. I think it's VW.

scooder · 07-24-2015, 01:51 AM

It's for a vw beetle (bug) they were fitted to the torsion bar front end type, don't know if it was fitted to the McPherson strut ones (super beetle) not sure when they started using them but they were fitted to all the '60's ones.
Same part supplied as a kit from socal speed shop, for twice the price but does come with the fitting brackets I believe.
Martin.

G.M. · 07-24-2015, 07:49 AM

I have install numerous steering shocks on old Fords. Make sure any damper installed has a long enough stroke so you get enough motion in both directions. Put the wheels straight ahead and put a chalk mark on the axle and one in line with that one on the tie rod. Turn the steering wheel all the way to the right and left marking the axle with the mark on the tie rod. The distance better the two outer marks is the stroke. Lets just say it is 10 inches then find a damper with a 12 inch stroke. When installing put the wheels straight ahead and extend the steering damper shaft 6 inches. This way you get the full turn range and have a little extra so it don't bottom out. I can leave my hands off the wheel at 70 MPH and the car tracks straight down the road. This addition is NOT installed the fix front end problems. Before installing with the wheels straight ahead and on the ground have someone turn the steering wheel past any play to the right and left while your under the car looking for any play at loose wheel bearings, lug nuts, king pins, tie rod ends, where the perch bolt goes through the top of the axle, the steering wheel bolted on tight, the mounting bolts of the steering box, the steering box mounting adaptor, steering box shaft bushing and play in the box gears. I bought a 40 coupe years ago and the steering wheel turned half way around in both directions before starting to turn. I found almost everyone of the above items loose, I fixed them with no parts and had perfect steering. Where the perch bolts go through the top of the axle look for a ring of rust, that indicates movement, The nut on the bottom is hard to turn and may need heat to get them to turn. G.M.

Init1 · 07-24-2015, 11:59 AM

There are 2 types of VW Beetle dampners. One is for the early type 1 and the other is for Type 1 Super Beetles with Mcpherson struts. The only difference is the mounting ends. Both will work.
They can be found at any import parts store, VW parts houses, EBAY
Amazon or on-line VW speciality shops.
Some are Brazilian, some from Mexico, some German. They are all the same performance.
You won't feel anything in the steering except better road feel and
Less wandering.
I'll try to post pics soon...

07-23-2015, 01:46 PM	#1
Init1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon City, Oregon Posts: 208	steering dampner install Just installed a VW steering dampner on my A V8 coupe with a 40 axle and split bones, F1 steering box. It fit easily and has plenty of movement to handle the tie rod swing back and forth. Plus it only cost $24! It dramatically improved the searching and wandering common with this setup. Now it's just the bias ply tires...

07-23-2015, 05:39 PM	#2
Bassman/NZ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Napier, New Zealand Posts: 2,001	Re: steering dampner install I have exactly the same. Big improvement, especially at 60mph.

07-23-2015, 06:39 PM	#4
CaliforniaBorn36 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 445	Re: steering dampner install Part number and picture of the installation would be appreciated. Any issues with installation? Thanks.

07-23-2015, 06:52 PM	#5
Talkwrench Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 2,708	Re: steering dampner install Yes lets see this puppy! __________________ *"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"*

07-23-2015, 07:29 PM	#6
Bassman/NZ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Napier, New Zealand Posts: 2,001	Re: steering dampner install Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Here's mine. Comes with a clamp for the tie rod, and the other end is bushed and held to the frame with a bolt.

07-23-2015, 08:10 PM	#7
johnny Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: London On, Can. Posts: 377	Re: steering dampner install Did you get it from the VW.dealer or as a after market unit what year is it from ? I am very interested John.

07-23-2015, 08:51 PM	#8
Phil Gillespie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Christchurch New Zealand Posts: 1,648	Re: steering dampner install I got one locally from Model A supplier in North island. For fitting to 34 Coupe. Easy to fit up and pleased with result. Recommend these steering dampers. Phil NZ

07-23-2015, 09:06 PM	#9
Talkwrench Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 2,708	Re: steering dampner install Do you feel it at all? __________________ *"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"*

07-23-2015, 09:10 PM	#10
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: steering dampner install A similar setup was used on some later model Ford trucks, I have driven trucks with steering dampers. You wouldn't know it was there except for the reduction in shimmy and wondering.

07-23-2015, 11:03 PM	#11
fordor41 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: elmira,ny Posts: 1,576	Re: steering dampner install J.C Whitney sells them. Listed as steering stabilizers. Got on for my '41 about 15 yrs ago. Attaches between the axle and tie rod. works great. Believe mine was for an Ford Econoline van

07-24-2015, 12:13 AM	#12
Bassman/NZ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Napier, New Zealand Posts: 2,001	Re: steering dampner install Mine was just in a joblot of parts. I think it's VW.

07-24-2015, 01:51 AM	#13
scooder Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,597	Re: steering dampner install It's for a vw beetle (bug) they were fitted to the torsion bar front end type, don't know if it was fitted to the McPherson strut ones (super beetle) not sure when they started using them but they were fitted to all the '60's ones. Same part supplied as a kit from socal speed shop, for twice the price but does come with the fitting brackets I believe. Martin.

07-24-2015, 07:49 AM	#14
G.M. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida and Penna. Posts: 4,471	Re: steering dampner install I have install numerous steering shocks on old Fords. Make sure any damper installed has a long enough stroke so you get enough motion in both directions. Put the wheels straight ahead and put a chalk mark on the axle and one in line with that one on the tie rod. Turn the steering wheel all the way to the right and left marking the axle with the mark on the tie rod. The distance better the two outer marks is the stroke. Lets just say it is 10 inches then find a damper with a 12 inch stroke. When installing put the wheels straight ahead and extend the steering damper shaft 6 inches. This way you get the full turn range and have a little extra so it don't bottom out. I can leave my hands off the wheel at 70 MPH and the car tracks straight down the road. This addition is NOT installed the fix front end problems. Before installing with the wheels straight ahead and on the ground have someone turn the steering wheel past any play to the right and left while your under the car looking for any play at loose wheel bearings, lug nuts, king pins, tie rod ends, where the perch bolt goes through the top of the axle, the steering wheel bolted on tight, the mounting bolts of the steering box, the steering box mounting adaptor, steering box shaft bushing and play in the box gears. I bought a 40 coupe years ago and the steering wheel turned half way around in both directions before starting to turn. I found almost everyone of the above items loose, I fixed them with no parts and had perfect steering. Where the perch bolts go through the top of the axle look for a ring of rust, that indicates movement, The nut on the bottom is hard to turn and may need heat to get them to turn. G.M. __________________ www.fordcollector.com

07-24-2015, 11:59 AM	#15
Init1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon City, Oregon Posts: 208	Re: steering dampner install There are 2 types of VW Beetle dampners. One is for the early type 1 and the other is for Type 1 Super Beetles with Mcpherson struts. The only difference is the mounting ends. Both will work. They can be found at any import parts store, VW parts houses, EBAY Amazon or on-line VW speciality shops. Some are Brazilian, some from Mexico, some German. They are all the same performance. You won't feel anything in the steering except better road feel and Less wandering. I'll try to post pics soon...