My recently acquired 1934 Terraplane has the Axleflex or articulated axle option.
On the road from Florida to Texas, I noticed it pulling slightly to the left and wandering a bit. It required full-time steering engagement.
I have been taught to believe the likely cause of pulling, tires/pressure and/or road cross-section not being issues, is slightly wrong toe-in on the pulling side. Similarly, wandering is thought to be a camber issue. I haven't measured anything yet.
Does anyone have some experience or book learning that might shed some light on the performance I experienced?
Is the articulated axle known to promote minor steering/tracking problems?
Does anyone have an opinion on the likely cause of all this?
Thank you all for your help.
I can't answer your question (I don't have a '34) but you might contact the Club's registry keeper for the 1934 models and ask if he knows who, among those listed on his registry, has a car with this axle. You could then contact those who have the Axleflex on their cars, with your inquiry. The registries are listed under the "INFO" drop-down at the top of the webpage.
Robert, in the online library - http://hetclub.org/burr/lithomepage.htm - there is a 1934-1937 shop manual. It's in the 1930-1939 Manual section. Section 15 is the Front Axle section which will give you diagrams and not much else. In the back of the manual are technical specs and adjustments that will give you such as castor, camber, etc. There doesn't seem to be any differention between straight axle and axle flex. I wouldn't think there would be much difference, regards to adjustments anyway.
Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Thank you. Good idea. Ask directly. Probably will do that.
Thank you. Glad to hear there's a 1934-37 shop manual, since I found the 1930-39 manual sort of a dud.
I agree it seems the specifications for axleflex equipped cars ought to be same as the others.
I know that things don't always work out the way the manufacturers want - I was trying to ask if there are idiosyncracies (spelling not guaranteed) of the axleflex
cars that I would be happier knowing than not knowing.
Is it a dog or just a good something the manufacturer used to transition from buggy axle to inspiration for Ford's twin I beam to short and long A arm independent front?
John,
I keep the registry on the 1934 Hudsons & Terraplanes however, do not have any information on which cars have AxleFlex.
I removed AxleFlex from my car during the restoration and replaced it with a correct straight axle. I still have the number-matching AxleFlex tucked away - just in case who ever gets the car when I die wants to put it back!
Jim
Jim,
The '34 Terraplane coupe once owned by Dean and Lyle DeVault (of WV) had the Axleflex. If your registry shows who owns that car now (possibly a relative) maybe you could give Robert the contact info. and he could contact the present owner.
By the way, I notice that Doug Wildrick had an Axleflex-equipped car in his shop earlier this year ... you might contact him to ask if he made any adjustments to it, and if so, how.
Jim DiGiorgio seems to hint at the information I am seeking.
He took a good condition Axleflex unit off his car and replaced it with a solid axle.
There was a reason or reasons why he did this. Is it the performance of the Axleflex, reputed or experienced?
If so, what is the performance that led to replacement (with old parts stashed so that a subsequent owner could, if he wishes, experience the joys of Axleflex)?
Does he just not like it? That's a good reason to do or not do whatever. Most of us just like Hudsons or Terraplanes.
I'm trying to avoid a situation wherein I may in effect trying to teach a hog to sing. (Don't ever try to teach a hog to sing. You will get frustrated, and the hog will be confused.)
If the Axleflex is OK, that's what I seek to learn. If it's cranky or not OK, I'd rather not learn it the hard way.
Some poor wheel alignment shop begs for your information.
The reasons for wandering can be:
Incorrect toe-in. Adjust the tie rod length.
Incorrect Camber. Axle has to be bent to fix
Incorrect Caster. Usually negative caster causes wandering. Too much positive caster causes heavy steering.
Play in steering box, drag link or tie rod joints. Must be adjusted properly and loose joints replaced.
Loose U-bolts.
Worn spring shackles.
Incorrect tyre pressure.
You must eliminate all possible causes.
I just snapped to having written "camber" when I meant "caster." That's my mistake, and not an immaterial one. I try to do better than that.
I hope no one thinks or thought me totally crazy.
I'm interpreting the posts so far to mean something like "Axleflex is OK if one likes it. It's not a notorious source of problems. One can take it or leave it."
Thank all of you for your contributions.
I would say that a logical way to determine the answer, would be to ask those who have Axleflex in their cars. I mentioned that Doug Wildrick had one in his shop, and he might be able to give you the owner's name. (If Doug worked on the axle he might also have thoughts on how easy it is to maintain.) I also mentioned the coupe once owned by the DeVaults in West Virginia. I saw a photo of this car, during a recent tour, on the cover of one of last year's WTN's, so it is still in operation. Maybe you could ask our 1934 registrar (Mike DiGiorgio) if he has this car on his registry and can give you contact information on its present owners. (The registry listings on particular cars, often show their previous ownership)
Four factors convinced me to remove AxleFlex from my '34 Hudson during the restoration:
1. I'd been a passenger in a well maintained original 1934 H8 Sedan and at certain speeds the front-end would shake so bad the only way to control it was to pull off the road and come to complete stop. It may have been leaky shocks, worn tie rods or bad bushings in the AxleFlex but, it convinced me it was a questionable set-up.
2. I've seen '34 & '35 AxleFlex cars parked on uneven surfaces (a grass show field for example) and the wheels seem to go in "unnatural" directions.
3. I don't have any technical data to prove it but, I feel that the up/down movement of the AxleFlex ends places twisting stresses on the leaf springs and their bushings. Leaf springs are not made to be twisted - they are intended to compress up & down.
4. Hudson changed their position on AxleFlex - initially in 1934 it was standard; then changed to a no cost option and finally, after only two years discontinued. They recognized it was not a good suspension system. I respect Hudson's engineering to know when something works (and when it doesnt').
AxleFlex is a great conversation piece but, I drive my car and feel much more confident with a correct straight axle!
Jim
Hello Jim DiGiorgio, and thank you for sharing your experience and reasoning with the rest of us, we few possessors of AxleFlex equipped Hudsons or Terraplanes. Should we be happy or sad? Dunno right now.
There can be no doubt that up and down motion of the front axle with AxleFlex causes some twisting of the longitudinal leaf springs. To be fair, the up and down motion is small, and the twist is also small. If it were not, it would lead to characteristic breakage of front suspension parts, and we would know the notorious bad performance of AxleFlex. But we don't.
Up and down motion of AxleFlex absolutely has to pull the wheel on the up or down side inward, and this would break stuff except the motion is small (compared to that required to break something right off or fairly quickly).
The art of front suspension design advances, and the 1936 Hudson and Terraplane cars have a completely different front suspension with two stout radius rods. That design is greatly superior to any 1934 or 35 front suspension.
Ford used that idea (two radius rods to locate the front axle(s)) for years and years on their Twin I beam independent front suspension on pickups. Those are stout and durable.
AxleFlex is certainly an artifact of a past design theory. I understand it is also known as the "Baker Articulated Axle," and was used on Hupmobiles at about the same time as Hudson used it. I don't know who "Baker" was, or how he fit in the picture with Hudson or Hupp.
Thank you again. I will soon learn what the wheel alignment shop has to say about my car. I'll let you know.
BTW, the fender light lenses are Great !!
Robert
Robert,
glad to hear you're pleased with the fender light lens.
I believe it was Nash that also offered the Baker AxleFlex system (in '34 only).
Jim
Robert,
My 34H, long wheel base, has Axle Flex and I drove it for many years without any issues. The only front end related problem was a shimmy at road speeds causing the wheels to shake violently. The cure was re-arching of the front springs. I would check other front end areas before blaming axle-flex.
Frank DePasquale
