AA truck Ride

AA Ford Discussion Group relating to the repair and restoration of your AA Ford.
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Tom Scott
Posts: 7
Joined: November 15th, 2018, 10:33 am
Body Type: AA Truck
Model Year: 1931
Location: Weston,WV

AA truck Ride

Post by Tom Scott »

Good Morning
What are some ways to smooth the ride of AA trucks?
Can anything be done to the rear springs?
Thanks Tom
birdacre
Posts: 480
Joined: October 8th, 2013, 2:37 pm
Body Type: AA express
Model Year: 1928

Re: AA truck Ride

Post by birdacre »

500 pounds of firewood and it rides like a cadillac, well maybe a vintage one.
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Farrell In Vancouver
Posts: 314
Joined: February 23rd, 2011, 6:52 am
Body Type: Deck
Model Year: 1931
Location: Vancouver BC Canada

Re: AA truck Ride

Post by Farrell In Vancouver »

Gets real cushy with a thousand pounds of gyproc sheets!
KimVanOrder
Posts: 753
Joined: August 11th, 2013, 4:25 pm
Body Type: 82-A Platform
Model Year: 1928
Location: Hamilton, Mich.

Re: AA truck Ride

Post by KimVanOrder »

Best thing I can think of is get the seat REAL soft. And drive slow. Or just park it and look at it from your lawn chair.. :shock:
KVO
Dec. '28 AA
Cschaff63
Posts: 98
Joined: September 14th, 2017, 5:57 pm
Body Type: Dump
Model Year: 1928
Location: Pa

Re: AA truck Ride

Post by Cschaff63 »

I have to say that I am pretty pleased with how mine rides. I was expecting a rough ride, but even empty it is great considering we are dealing with 90 year old technology!
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1crosscut
Posts: 877
Joined: December 25th, 2010, 7:22 pm
Body Type: 82-A
Model Year: 1929
Location: Lincoln, NE

Re: AA truck Ride

Post by 1crosscut »

Have you dissembled your springs, cleaned them up and lubricated them? They are plenty stiff and every little bit helps. Having a soft seat is a plus too.
------------
Dave
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Neil Wilson
Posts: 3062
Joined: February 5th, 2003, 9:42 pm
Body Type: 82-A/89-A
Model Year: 1930
Location: Boulder, CO
Contact:

Re: AA truck Ride

Post by Neil Wilson »

1crosscut wrote:
December 3rd, 2019, 8:04 pm
Have you dissembled your springs, cleaned them up and lubricated them? They are plenty stiff and every little bit helps. Having a soft seat is a plus too.
FYI - I believe the AA rear spring leaves have a slight hour-glass cross section like the front spring shown below. Consequently, only to outside edges of the spring leaves touch when cleaned and re-assembled. The outer ends of the leaves tend to dig into the leaf below. This can be eliminated by grinding a slight bevel on the outer bottom of each leaf.

The AA panel deliveries had a 13 leaf assembly which would most likely give a softer ride. But, these spring assemblies used shorter clips (i.e. u-bolts).
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AA Spring (front) 28-29 b2.jpg
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Regards, Neil Wilson
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Tom Scott
Posts: 7
Joined: November 15th, 2018, 10:33 am
Body Type: AA Truck
Model Year: 1931
Location: Weston,WV

Re: AA truck Ride

Post by Tom Scott »

Thanks for all the replies/help
Tom
KimVanOrder
Posts: 753
Joined: August 11th, 2013, 4:25 pm
Body Type: 82-A Platform
Model Year: 1928
Location: Hamilton, Mich.

Re: AA truck Ride

Post by KimVanOrder »

disassemble, clean, get them smooth where they touch and lube with dry slide. Filthy job but worth it..
KVO
Dec. '28 AA
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Chris Haynes
Posts: 2203
Joined: September 7th, 2003, 5:18 pm
Body Type: 82A
Model Year: 1930
Location: Camarillo, CA

Re: AA truck Ride

Post by Chris Haynes »

Slip Plate lubricant is the worlds best stuff for leaf springs.
https://www.amazon.com/SLIP-Plate-No-1- ... 322&sr=8-8
KimVanOrder
Posts: 753
Joined: August 11th, 2013, 4:25 pm
Body Type: 82-A Platform
Model Year: 1928
Location: Hamilton, Mich.

Re: AA truck Ride

Post by KimVanOrder »

Correct Chris. Slip plate!! not dry sl :mrgreen: ide..
KVO
Dec. '28 AA
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tiredtruckrestorer
Posts: 338
Joined: April 20th, 2003, 7:09 pm
Model Year: 1931
Location: Orwigsburg, PA

Re: AA truck Ride

Post by tiredtruckrestorer »

Another important step is to check the fit of the rear spring seat to the axle housing. Often the top half of the seat is worn because lack of grease. If the seat does not pivot freely on the rear end housing it can make the truck ride ruffer. Often the top half of the seat though is worn a lot harder than the bottom and when the two halfs are put togehter form an egg shaped hole. I"ve had a machine shop take some material off where the two halves meet and true up the hole so it pivots nice on the housing. You'll probably have to grind some deeper grooves to assure the seat gets the grease it needs to work properly.

Keith
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