On the '27 the steering has been a bit quirky at times. Have always checked the obvious pieces of the front end, steering gear, king pins, spindle bearings, air pressure in tires, spring hangers. etc. etc.
But garage time today, jacked up the chassis, and pulled the wheels for tour inspections and grease, and noticed the spring stack would slightly wiggle, as one or two leafs could be displaced. Odd.....
Note the shift between spring leafs.
Well, removed the very tight front spring clip to allow the spring to drop down to inspect
Oh my Now I know the source of odd wiggle squiggle. Odd too, no pieces of those leafs were in the crossmember, must be somewhere on a road...UPDATE. didn't look close, but the busted ones just slide to one side, taking the spring clamp too, funny never noticed the longer leaf on the left side ...on with the fix with a new T-Springs front spring, those old 100 year old leafs can't last forever
Quirky steering source found!
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Topic author - Posts: 3327
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:56 am
- First Name: Dan
- Last Name: Treace
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Quirky steering source found!
Last edited by DanTreace on Tue Jun 28, 2022 6:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
The best way is always the simplest. The attics of the world are cluttered up with complicated failures. Henry Ford
Don’t find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain. Henry Ford
Don’t find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain. Henry Ford
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Re: Quirky steering source found!
I've found quite a few fragments of T front springs along dirt roads and in pastures where roads once were. Most of them were from the top or second leaf and had broken at the tie bolt.
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Re: Quirky steering source found!
I’ve often wondered if the shorter springs could be made from a good longer spring if you didn’t have one. It could be cut to the needed shorter length and used. I’ve got pieces of springs from the remains of T trailers and thought about trying it. To me it seems like you could since the curve is already there.
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Re: Quirky steering source found!
Hi John,
Yes you can I made my 8 leaf rear a 13 leaf for my fire truck by adding another second leaf & cutting off the next 4 enough to fit in length. Not correct
for a T but worked. Hard to cut, I used a abrasive cut off saw to cut them off & a grinder round & smooth the edges.
Craig.
Yes you can I made my 8 leaf rear a 13 leaf for my fire truck by adding another second leaf & cutting off the next 4 enough to fit in length. Not correct
for a T but worked. Hard to cut, I used a abrasive cut off saw to cut them off & a grinder round & smooth the edges.
Craig.
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Re: Quirky steering source found!
We've done this as well. The top two were broken, and at the time nothing was available. My Dad knew an Old Boy that had some parts, he gave us some longer leafs that were cut down to make the shorter ones, been about 35 years now, still going.John kuehn wrote: ↑Tue Jun 28, 2022 3:13 pmI’ve often wondered if the shorter springs could be made from a good longer spring if you didn’t have one. It could be cut to the needed shorter length and used. I’ve got pieces of springs from the remains of T trailers and thought about trying it. To me it seems like you could since the curve is already there.