1927 CHRYSLER MODEL 50

[steven 123]

I HAVE A 27 CHRYSLER MODEL 50 THAT HAS A VIBRATION,WOOD WHEELS GOOD AND TIGHT...I THINK IT HAS INCORRECT FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS....ANY ON HAVE A PART # FOR INNER AND OUTER OR BEARINGS FOR SALE ?....THANKS FOR YOUR HELP

[keiser31]

If it is what they call a "death rattle" where the car starts shaking violently, it might be the shims or other adjustments in the front axle.

Edited December 8, 2017 by keiser31 (see edit history)

[Grimy]

Please describe more fully the vibration and the conditions under which it occurs.

 

Jack up one front wheel at a time, with the other firmly on the ground, grip the wheel at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock, and shake it looking for play, and note what you find for each.  While each wheel is off the ground, place a piece of 4 x 4 or a tool box by the base of the tire, and rotate the wheel slowly looking for runout.  If there's runout, tighten the two rim lug nuts nearest the high (outermost) spot a little. With demountable rims, paint on the rims and the wheels can prevent a rim from seating fully on the wheel; a rubber hammer is useful to ensure full seating.  Check for runout as described whenever changing a tire.

 

Pack the wheel bearings and inspect the condition of the bearings and races, AND the inner wheel bearing grease seals.  I once diagnosed a 1930 Pierce-Arrow which had the Death Wobble at 38-40 mph; at that speed shaking was so violent that the car had to be fully stopped before it could proceed again.  The cause was the soft red plastic "carriers" for non-exact replacement seals, original seals being unobtainium.  The carriers' lips which fit into a recess in the hub were too long, preventing the hub from being fully seated against the spindle.  Different "carriers" with lips protruding less solved the problem.  An alternative would have been to machine the recess in the hubs a little deeper to accommodate the lips.

 

What's the age / condition of the tires?