1951 F1 Progress Update
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2012
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From: Pflugerville, Texas
1951 F1 Progress Update
Had a 9" rear end put in so I have taken the truck to 75mph no problem. New steering gearbox went in. There is one major issue with steering I need to address. The new gearbox is tight, but the truck still wanders left or right. Its worse on bumpy roads and even worse at slow speeds. Talk about a very stressful drive to my work and back. Can someone offer a good link to what I need to change out and repair/adjust? The rearend has 3.50 gears which are perfect! Just need to get her to drive straight. I'm running stock manual steering components with fat front tires (muscles!) Thanks for any help y'all can provide.
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From: Moyie, BC Canada
I seen a device one time that kind of looked like a sturdy 'C' clamp that had a space on the bottom to allow for the king pin to be pressed out. The top of it had a hexagonal head that would allow an air wrench and socket to turn it.
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From: Pflugerville, Texas
I'm not afraid to remove the axle. It looks like a pretty easy, but time consuming task to remove the axle. I mean easy with normal tools. I may have to send off the axle for the king pins replacement. Anybody have a good place to get this done? Could out of adjustment tie rods be an issue as well?
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Posting Guru
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,068
Likes: 7
From: Moyie, BC Canada
I'm not afraid to remove the axle. It looks like a pretty easy, but time consuming task to remove the axle. I mean easy with normal tools. I may have to send off the axle for the king pins replacement. Anybody have a good place to get this done? Could out of adjustment tie rods be an issue as well?
If you remove the axle you will need to get new ubolts to reinstall, I wouldn't recomend reusing the old ones. They were torqued to specs and once they are used they are stretched and wont retorque properly.
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,222
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From: Houston
Yes, tie rod ends that are bad or out of adjustment could also cause it to wander. Anything including worn out spring bushings can have a bad effect on steering/road feel. Your alignment needs to right and with bad or out of adjustment tie rod ends it won't be. Everything really needs to be in good shape. I replaced some kingpins years ago on a '55 I had and swore that I would never do it again. So far I haven't had to, and if I ever do I will remove the axle and have it done. Good luck with it, and definitely get it fixed. 
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Joined: Feb 2012
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From: Pflugerville, Texas
Sid from drop axle can replace the kingpins for a reasonable price. Just need to find a component kit that contains everything I need to replace, as far as tie rods, bushings ect. I had the springs replaced, and they had new bushings, if those are what you mean. Y'all are giving great advice!
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 8,813
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From: Littleton, New Hampshire
What size tires and wheels are you running on the front? Ideally, 6-7 inch wide wheels are what you want. If you are running 8 inch wheels and wide tires you will probably never get rid of the wandering....
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2012
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From: Pflugerville, Texas
Do the wheels really make that big of a difference? Yes these are like 8.5"
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 8,813
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From: Littleton, New Hampshire
I have owned several cars and trucks over the years with wide wheels and tires on the front. They look very cool but in every instance they wanted to steer the car for me. The depressions in the pavement left by large trucks cause the wide tires to pull right or left. As soon as I changed them out to narrower tires, the problem went away. Now, the maximum size wheel I use on the front is 6-7 inches wide and no 50 or 60 series tires. The 70 or 75 series seem to steer the best...
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: Pflugerville, Texas
I have owned several cars and trucks over the years with wide wheels and tires on the front. They look very cool but in every instance they wanted to steer the car for me. The depressions in the pavement left by large trucks cause the wide tires to pull right or left. As soon as I changed them out to narrower tires, the problem went away. Now, the maximum size wheel I use on the front is 6-7 inches wide and no 50 or 60 series tires. The 70 or 75 series seem to steer the best...
