Period Steering Damper

[A Whiteman]

A nifty streeing damper - made in Australia no less is for sale in NZ: https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-pa ... e4e55e-013

I don't know the seller but thought you may be interested in seeing the article It looks like a friction damper clamped to the front axle and clamped to the tie rod.

1286363377.jpg (37.81 KiB) Viewed 3797 times

[OilyBill]

That's really cool!
I assume it operates on about the same principle as a Houdaille shock on a Model A? Normal movements are unrestricted, but sudden movements, such as road jerks, are damped?
Is it actually operable? or just a housing attached to the steering to display it?

[Ruxstel24]

Just another gizmo to get away with not fixing the front axle properly...

[Dropacent]

Lots of versions of these, Adrian. Thanks for the pictures. I just picked this up from friend Joe Bell. It’s NOS and I’m going to try it on the station wagon. My front end is all rebuilt well, and every once In a blue moon it’ll still do the death wobble. It did it all the time before new kingpins and bushings. Now with the front end rebuilt and a new set of USA made firestones, It doesn’t very often now but very scary when it does so. I was behind a friend once who’s coupe did it, and it’s amazing and scary to see.
These accessories aren’t all interchangeable from year to year as the tie rod changed height in relation to the axle. This one came without the mounting ubolts, so need to modify the pair shown, but I’m going to try it out. I don’t think it’s snake oil, and I don’t think I see a downside, but time will tell.

[Kaiser]

A special warning when installing any steering damper to your tie rod : make very sure your tie rod is sound and not corroded even a little bit.
Most have corrosion from the inside and can look fine but can be paperthin in spots ! the steering damper will make that very clear when driving !!
While normaly even a seriously thin tie rod will resist the straight push/pull motion of steering, a steering damper will exert lateral forces on the tie rod and bend the rod at a often times very inconvenient moment...
Be safe, happy T-ing

[Dropacent]

Thanks, yes. Good advice!

[ABoer]

Leo ; You are right , I know of two Model T's that broke the tie rod [while driving ] there where the damper was mounted .

Take care Toon

[A Whiteman]

My preference is to keep the steering in good order and keep such interesting accessories on the garage wall display

[Dropacent]

Here are a couple more.