Balancing the Front Wheels on a Model T

     When Model T’s were originally produced, roads were poor at best and highway speeds seldom exceeded 40 miles per hour.  With today’s roads and the modern technology used in today’s restorations, it is not uncommon to have a Model T capable of speeding down the highway at speeds in excess of 50 mph.

     Once past the speed of 35 mph, the front wheels can begin to bounce and wander, which can be a direct result of being out of balance.  This condition will wear out a set of tires extremely fast and will make the car very uncomfortable and unsafe to drive.  The solution to the problem is very simple.  Go to your local tire shop and purchase a flat weight used in balancing “mag” or aluminum wheels.  This type of weight has an adhesive tape on one side so no holes need to be drilled.  Jack up the front end and loosen the front wheel bearings so the wheel turns VERY easily.  Now, spin the wheel/tire and note where the wheel/tire stops.  Usually, the valve stem will rotate to the bottom, closest to the ground, every time.  This is especially true if you have metal valve stems and caps.  Spin the wheel/tire again.  If the wheel stops in the same place as in the first spin, you have a heavy spot and an out-of-balance wheel.  You will need to place weight on the opposite side, or 180 degrees away from the heavy spot on the wheel.  Spin the wheel again and note where the wheel stops.  If the wheel stops in various locations after it has been spun, you have just “balanced” your wheel.  If it stops in the same location as before, add more weight until there is no pattern when the wheel stops.

     This sounds like a “backyard” fix, yet I did this to my ’13 touring and found it to work extremely well.  From the day I finished the restoration on the car, the front wheels “wobbled”.  I wore out tires and didn’t feel comfortable trying to keep with other drivers.  Now the annoying wobble and shimmy are GONE and the car drives smoother than it ever has.