"One odd thing that has happened twice now is that i have had to drive over pot holes as i brake onto a junction. This put the front of the car into a very odd wobble. Almost like the axle is oscellating on the spring shackles. This then sets the steering wheel wobbling also.
Ive studied all components carefully and can find no faults"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assuming the radius arm ball joint is tight and you have no other obvious faults I think it is possible the the axle oscillation you suspect could be the cause. Axle "shimmy" is no stranger to many older cars and is often accompanied by "wander". In the case of the Austin Seven this is one of it's less endearing design "features".
The front axle and transverse leaf spring with shackles at either end has vertical links. The inherent flaw in this design is that the axle is not securely located and is free to move laterally in relation to the chassis. I am possibly in the minority of owners who have chosen to disable one of the shock absorber vertical links and utilise the arm to locate the axle. The redundant link is simply tucked up behind the arm out of sight.
The light weight and narrow track of the Austin 7 combined with 19" wheels and 3.5" tyres combine to allow the remaining front shock absorber arm to be sufficient. I am not saying this is the right thing to do - just that it works for me, as it has for others. No more wander or shimmy.
Ive studied all components carefully and can find no faults"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assuming the radius arm ball joint is tight and you have no other obvious faults I think it is possible the the axle oscillation you suspect could be the cause. Axle "shimmy" is no stranger to many older cars and is often accompanied by "wander". In the case of the Austin Seven this is one of it's less endearing design "features".
The front axle and transverse leaf spring with shackles at either end has vertical links. The inherent flaw in this design is that the axle is not securely located and is free to move laterally in relation to the chassis. I am possibly in the minority of owners who have chosen to disable one of the shock absorber vertical links and utilise the arm to locate the axle. The redundant link is simply tucked up behind the arm out of sight.
The light weight and narrow track of the Austin 7 combined with 19" wheels and 3.5" tyres combine to allow the remaining front shock absorber arm to be sufficient. I am not saying this is the right thing to do - just that it works for me, as it has for others. No more wander or shimmy.