Re: Packard front brakes - 3 shoe Bendix

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2015/12/7 9:59:35

Phil, let me suggest that what DavidM has suggested, wheel "shimmy", is most likely the correct diagnosis. I had a hint of it on my 34 when I first bought it; it most often occurred if I hit something like a RR crossing at a diagonal where one front wheel hit the rail before the other. The front end, king pins, tie rod ends, drag link, steering gear box were all snug - the solution was a front end alignment and front wheel balance. For wheel balance I had it done dynamically by a truck shop that balanced the entire rotating assembly, tire/wheel and brake drum, as a unit, marking the position of the tire on the rim. Though it might not have been necessary I marked the position of the wheels on the drums with a daub on paint so should you get a flat or have to retire, you remount the wheel in the same position. I have replaced the tires since and through tens of thousands of miles of touring the shimmy never returned.

You might first want to check that the U-bolts that hold the axle to the springs are TIGHT and that if a tapered shim was inserted to adjust the king pin inclination, it's still in place and snug. I'd guess that worn shackle bolts from a non-functioning Bijur system could also contribute to shimmy but first and foremost, wheel balance followed by alignment.