When I rock my front wheels by the top of the tire I can feel a very slight movement between the brake drum and backing plate. How can I tell if it is loose bearings or kingpins?
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Front wheel bearings
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deliberately tighten up the castle nut to remove all lash. Not crazy hard, just snug. Do NOT rotate the tire right now, you can harm the bearing. Repeat your test to see if the play is gone.
I have also discovered backing plates to be loose.
When done with testing, return the castle nut to the correct lash
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I'm starting over as to not repeat Daves info...
If it is the bearing and they have not been serviced / repacked i would certainly do that.3~ Tudor's & 1~ Coupe
Henry Ford said,
"It's all nuts and bolts"
"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible."
Mitch's Auto Service ctr
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About 8 years ago I worked on a Model A that had bad steering. The first thing I did was check the front bearings, and found the left side 2 1/2 turns loose, and the right side 1 1/2 turns loose. I set the bearings, and the car drove great. This simple fix was one of the reasons the owner sold the car.
After cleaning and repacking the bearings, I snug the nut, spin the wheel while lightly tightening the nut, then back off so the nut is no tighter than if a 10" adjustable wrench was on the nut in a horizontal position. This is the same as grabbing the nut with pliers sticking straight out (in line with the spindle) and snugging the nut, then insert the cotter pin.
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With the car on axle stands. To determine kingpins, you will see the play at the back of the hub, by pushing and pulling the wheel with your hands at 6 and 12 O'clock. To see the play between the backer plate and the drum, indicates the loose bearing. Hope this helps. Jeff
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When I went back to check the play in the front wheel I noticed the backing plate moving. God bless castellated nuts. Why on earth did they make them? They had to be more costly than a nut and lock washer.
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Originally posted by carolinamudwalker View PostWhen I went back to check the play in the front wheel I noticed the backing plate moving. God bless castellated nuts. Why on earth did they make them? They had to be more costly than a nut and lock washer.
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FWIW:
Many years ago I called and spoke to Mr. Bill Williamson after returning from Europe.
For anyone that does not know the "real" Mr. Bill Williamson, this gentleman is a Walking Encyclopedia who has vast detailed knowledge about many different subjects..
His expertise is not limited to vehicle mechanics.
Thanks Mr. Bill for sharing your "Right-On" Model A opinions.
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Front end loose!
Original Thread
With the car on the ground I can grab the top of a wheel (front) and rock it in and out and feel a slight maybe 8th inch play. Just replaced king pins and bushings but no change. I have changed front bearings in the past but do not remember if I changed the cups. If I tighten the axle nut very much the bearing will bind. Maybe I need some...-
Channel: Brakes ~ Drivetrain
07-24-2018, 09:02 AM -
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With the car on the ground I can grab the top of a wheel (front) and rock it in and out and feel a slight maybe 8th inch play. Just replaced king pins and bushings but no change. I have changed front bearings in the past but do not remember if I changed the cups. If I tighten the axle nut very much the bearing will bind. Maybe I need some thin shims to get the cotter pin to line up with a little...
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Channel: Model A Forum
07-24-2018, 09:02 AM -
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There are no 8 slot front axel nuts. Called Bert's & they don't know where that photo came from in their catalog. "maybe as much as 30 years old" But guess what, the front spindle bearing shims are a perfect size. The other choice would be to grind down the back of the castle nut. Trying to snug up without binding.
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Channel: Model A Forum
08-02-2018, 08:57 AM -
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by plyforAfter new front end work from our other thread, I re -read the Service Bulletins and the threads herein for the front bearings adjustments. I noticed on pg. 239 of the SB's that there should be a slight side play noted in step 4 which post dates an earlier instruction posted from pg.203. It also states 8-10 # pressure on a speed wrench.What does that modern value equate to ? I assume the side play...
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Channel: Model A Forum
04-21-2023, 05:27 PM -
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by BobsieSpent some time searching "shimmy" and "wheel bearing" on the forum and found a lot of good info but not precisely my problem IMO.
Been pleasure driving my '31 Vicky for years but on a recent drive I began experiencing a left front wheel shimmy. Slowing down to a stop and starting again was a temp fix. Happened a couple more times during my 20mi drive. Got home, jacked...-
Channel: Model A Forum
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Channel: Model A Forum
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This gallery has 6 photos.-
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Channel: Model A Forum
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