As with the Brakes, I have decided to go back to OE tie rods and drag link setup.
I spent a couple hours looking at all the pieces of the component puzzle. I got focused on the “path” required to get grease to the ball and cups. The tie rod assembly seems straight forward – got the assembly drawing from American Classic - as was one end of the drag link. Something was hinky as far as the other ends assembly was concerned though. After playing with numerous assembly options, I began to believe the JC drawing (for this one end) might be in error. The rebuild kits come with two types of "safety rivets", three in all. One has a long stem with a hole through the center, and two others short stemmed with no hole. The long one with the hole is required on the drag link (end with grease fitting at the base of the cup) to allow grease to get from the zirk to the ball/seat surface. It is longer than the spring is tall. If you put it together according to the JC drawing, the cup will sit on the rivet stem and nullify any tension being placed on the spring when the end cap is tightened down (the spring is shorter). If you opt for the shorter stemmed rivet, it allows tension to be placed on the spring but does not allow proper lubrication. Using the long stem rivet allows proper lubrication but it needs to be turned, stem downward toward the grease fitting and through the spring. When the end plug is screwed down it places tension on the spring and stem of the piston is pushed down into a machined area of the drag links cup, compensating for the extra length. One option, I guess one could cut the stem shorter and go with the JC drawing, and in fairness, a lot of times drawings are for reference and not meant to be a replacement for an assembly manual. Anyway, Joe H sent me a link and the drawing confirms this.
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/1929_57chevyparts/57cmpc0561.htmI have begun a Flickr set on the OE Steering Restoration and hope to get some good photos of the rarely published ball stud removal process.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dodsonbrett/sets/72157627546542919/Pictures of the earlier Late Model mods are in another set.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dodsonbrett/sets/72157614496885625/Incidentally, if you want to discuss procuring the complete modified setup being removed send me a PM, I need ball stud and rebuild kit money. Got’a feed the monkey!
Cavebull
