The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Drag Link Cleanup

I'm in the process of cleaning up and reassembling the steering linkage on my '53 3100. I'm working on the drag link (sometimes called a connecting rod). It's the bar that goes between the Pitman arm and front axle steering linkage. This one is badly caked with dirt and old grease. Can this be further disassembles for better cleaning and painting? I'd like to get the balls with threaded screws out of their sockets, but can't figure out how GM got them in there.

The "Chevrolet Truck Shop Manual" let's this part fall between the cracks. It isn't covered in the steering section or the front axle section. The "Factor Assembly Manual" shows how to install this piece, but they show it as a pre-assembled unit.

The bar seems to be in good working order. I'd hate to buy a new one just because I can't clean up the old one. Especially since they cost $55.

You can buy rebuild kits for the draglink. i think that they come with instructions on how to dis/re-assemble. it all comes out thru the cap on the back of the 'head'. they work pretty well from what i have heard....

If it's just a clean you're looking for, I can't imagine there's any dirt/grime that would withstand a couple days in solvent or carb cleaner... Should even soften up what's inside, maybe remove the zerk fitting while soaking. Pump full of new grease to remove the old junk.

-Boyo

do what he said,drop it in a tank and let the chemicals do the work. pretty simple,huh?

Hey Marty, still love those mono leafs...

Do you know someone locally that could redo my steering rod ends? I don't think I want to tackle that myself knowing it will probably be real stuck.

My two cents on rebuilding draglinks (tie rod hadsame connectors). I purchased rebuild kit from a vendor, was expensive, and did not work. The springs were way too long, and the cups were very poor quality. Ended up raiding a junk yard. But easy to rebuild.
You mentioned the balls. If yours are original, they are NOT threaded on, they are swedged on, and you probably do not have a press big enough to get them off. I took mine to a machine shop, they removed all four balls (drag link/tie rod) and swedged on new ones I brought along for about $50.

Thanks for the tips. I'll try soaking it in some cleaning solution and if that doesn't work I'll take it to a local machine shop to have them take it apart.

The ends can be dissasembled to clean. Take the screw plug out of the ends and pull out the cups and spring. Check the spring, they sometimes come out in peices. Also check the cups to make sure they are in good condition, not scorred. The ball should be checked for wear also, they tend to get oval shaped. As mentioned in another post orginal balls do not screw in, but aftermarket can be bought that way. I got my originals out after drilling a hole part way down the middle and then using a punch. This advice is for the old style ends. Somewhere around 53 they changed the drag link ends to the new style. This is probalby what the factory assy manual shows as most sstuff in there seems to be for 54's. When I did my 50 I replaced the old style drag link with the new.