| gesmith45 | -- 07-23-2013 @ 12:48 PM |
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Has anybody used a stabilizer and has it improved their steering, particularly with cross ply tyres?
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| supereal | -- 07-23-2013 @ 1:00 PM |
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If the front end is in good condition with well fitted kingpins, no slack in the tie rod ends and drag link, plus very accurate toe in adjustment, a stabilizer should be unnecessary. We use to see them on Model A's if any wheel was out of round or otherwise bent. I had problems with out of round new tires, as well, as they couldn't be balanced on modern equipment. We do see them occasionally on four wheel drive trucks that are driven off road.
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| TomO | -- 07-24-2013 @ 9:13 AM |
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There is an additional item that can cause steering problems and that is very old tires. The rubber gets hard after about 8 years and then the tires do not have good traction to keep the car from wandering. The hard rubber will amplify the worn parts effects on steering, so you need to check for wear in the front end and age of the tires. Tom
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| kubes40 | -- 07-24-2013 @ 2:51 PM |
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From a lot of persoanl & hands on experience I can tell you this: Having restored numerous 39 & 40 Fords, there is a huge difference between the two models. Why? Most 40 Fords have a stabilizer bar. NO 39 Fords do. I had installed a stabilizer bar on a friends 39 coupe. he drives that car everywhere. He too was impressed by the improved handling.
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| Stroker | -- 07-24-2013 @ 3:21 PM |
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Kube: Having driven both 38 and 40 Station Wagons over the same roads with crosswinds, I can attest to the difference. Vastly different in handling, with the only difference being my 38 doesn't have a stabilizer bar. I'd gladly take a points deduction by installing a 40 stabilizer bar on my 38 wagon if I was still driving over that stretch of road in Santa Ana Canyon California (Circa 1960). The wagon and I now live in the Midwest, so it's no longer a real issue.
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| supereal | -- 07-24-2013 @ 4:33 PM |
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The stabilizer that I referred to is a hydraulic damper that attaches to the tie rod and the frame. They look like a hydraulic shock absorber or a really big door closer. They were a widely available item years ago to combat shimmy. The stabilizer BAR is an entirely different subject.
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| TomO | -- 07-25-2013 @ 7:46 AM |
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Because the man asked if it improved steering, I took the same path as Supereal. Handling and steering are 2 different aspects of driving a car in my mind. Tom
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| flatheadfan | -- 07-26-2013 @ 2:38 AM |
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I can't speak for others but I put one on a '31 Model A and a '50 pickup. It sure made a difference. Both vehicles had rebuilt front ends. So, it wasn't a case of trying to cover mechanical problems. They are easy to put on and easy to take off if it doesn't improve things. As for a '40-'41 stabilizer (sway) bar, I have one of my '35 (a '40 unit). It took some work. I had to change the front axle to get the needed axle pin length and the wishbone spacing. Chassis Engineering makes one for '35-'40. It might be easier to install than the factory hardware. Regardless, it does make a difference you can feel especially with crosswinds. Tom
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| kubes40 | -- 07-26-2013 @ 7:12 AM |
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The poster asked about a "stabilizer" and in my mind, as this club is SUPPOSED to be about the preservation and / or restoration of these vehicles as Henry built them, I thought he was asking about the "henry" stabilizer bar.
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| TomO | -- 07-27-2013 @ 7:11 AM |
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The different impressions are a good reason for people posting questions to give as much detail as possible. Kube's impression is just as valid as mine, given the way the question was posted. The poster hasn't given us a clue about his car or his problem, he just allowed us to assume. He hasn't come back to give us better information either. Tom
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