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| | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16 | Can anyone tell me what the steering drag link length end to end is suposed to be for a early 1941 Chevy 3/4 ton truck.
Mine was broke in 2 40+ years ago and welded back together and it almost looks like they added 2 inches to it when they did the repair?
Truck seems to turn lock to lock ok, but I would never trust this type of repair! I have one off a 37 half ton and length wise it's 2 inches shorter? Books say they interchange 37-46 1/2 through 1-1/2 ton!
Any Thoughts or measurements? | | | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16 | The one on the 37 is 15 + 1/4 in length and the repaired one on the 41 measures 17 + 3/4 inches (Link from the steering box to the Spindle), but like I said the repair looks like they added about 2 inches or so to it? I just don't have any info on the correct length? If the correct length for the arm is in the ballpark at 15 +1/4 why would you add 2 inches to a repair? and what would you gain if you did? | | | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,048 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,048 | Steves41:
The one my ’41- ¾ ton came with was 15 ¼” long but it had been repaired by splicing (welding) two dissimilar links together. It was also badly worn at each ball location. I ended up picking up a used one through the “Truck Parts Wanted” section here on the Bolt. It is also 15 ¼” long end to end.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 354 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 354 | My 41 3/4 ton measures 15 3/8 overall length and 12 1/2" center to center of the two attachemnt points.
Harold Wilson
41 Chevy 3/4 Ton
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16 | Thanks for the info everyone.
I'll go with the 37 link and see if she's ok with it. Sounds like the 15+1/4 should be about right for it!
Still wonder why they lengthened it by 2"? Only thing I can come up with is to lessen the amount of steering wheel travel to make a turn?
Thanks again all! | | | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,048 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,048 | Steve:
You can’t do that with the drag link. One would have to lengthen the pitman arm to change the steering ratio, but that would also make it more difficult to turn the steering wheel. Only reasons I can think of are possibly the steering box has been relocated farther back on the frame, or the steering arm on the back of the left front hub has been changed to a shorter one, or possibly the entire front axel has been moved forward.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16 | Steve:
You can’t do that with the drag link. One would have to lengthen the pitman arm to change the steering ratio, but that would also make it more difficult to turn the steering wheel. Only reasons I can think of are possibly the steering box has been relocated farther back on the frame, or the steering arm on the back of the left front hub has been changed to a shorter one, or possibly the entire front axel has been moved forward. everything other than the lengthened arm is stock. It is a bearcat to turn standing still and at a yard roll. Had a 40 years ago you could turn easy in all conditions! Makes you wonder what the oldtimer was thinking when he did the repair? I checked it out good last night and it apears they used a 2+1/4 inch bolt to fix the repair and give it the added length, and another drag link to give it side support. Looking at it, it's a nicely done repair. But not on the steering! High speed 45mph crashes back then must have been less dramatic than todays 65mph's are?? | | | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,048 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,048 | Merry Christmas Steve:
Can you post a photo of the draglink??
When my wheels are pointing straight ahead the pitman arm is pretty much straight down from the shaft. With the longer draglink in place is your pitman arm angled back when the wheels are straight ahead??
My steering was also very tight / difficult. I disassembled all of the joints on the draglink and tie rods and found each of the balls to look a lot more like a football than a baseball. After replacing all of the joints it steers much easer, but it is still tough to turn unless the truck is moving.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16 | Just checked the steering from left to right with tire straight ahead, I have 2+1/2 turns of steering wheel to the left lock and almost 3 turns of the wheel to the right lock.
Guessing this will even out with the replacement and correct length link? | | | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,048 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,048 | Steve: I think I can see the difference between mine and yours. Both the pitman arm and the steering link on the left front hub appear to be different. This may take several messages and photos to resolve. Please send me an e mail [email protected] | | | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16 | Steve: I think I can see the difference between mine and yours. Both the pitman arm and the steering link on the left front hub appear to be different. This may take several messages and photos to resolve. Please send me an e mail [email protected]sent you a pm, emails bouncing | | |
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