Not to add fuel to the fire, let me relate what I did with my 50 3600 about 11-12 years ago. I replaced the tie rod ends with modern sealed type, NOS brought from an eBay seller. I then took the best of the used cups and springs and "overhauled" the drag link or steering connector rod. The ball studs on the pitman arm and steering arm weren't too bad. I think I did a little filing on the steering arm stud to round it up. It wasn't very egged as many of them get. I reassembled the drag link with plenty of grease and adjusted. No binding. Actually the truck drove and steered like a new one. This was part of a major go-over of the front end that included new kingpins, new shocks, servicing the shackle pins/bushings and shade-tree alignment. I was very satisfied by the results and I think it was very safe.
