Can someone explain to me what the Drag link does on a the 1975 4X4? I hope I have my terminology right, by drag link I mean the link between the steering gear box and the left steering knuckle. There are 4 hydraulic lines running to it, but I don’t see any moving parts other than the ball joints. I have done a little research and I believe this is called a bendix type of drag link.
I have just bought this truck, and the ball joints on this link are worn and needs to be replaced. This truck has the power assist steering. I am having a hard time finding a replacement, and I don’t know the difference between this and similar ones I can find with no hydraulics running to it. Looking for some advice on what I have, options for repairing this piece. Let me know if you need more information.

 

I believe you are refering to the Control Valve Assembly for the hydro assist steering. Looks like one of these.National Part Depot
Page 85 top. There are 2 types of hydro assist, bendix and garrison. This should also help with locating parts for repairs if you want to stick with the hydro assist.

 

Can you have the control valve rebuilt Sleepy? $224.00 is a lot of money not counting the core.

 

I couldnt find anyone around here that would touch it or rebuild the cylinder. All the ones they supply are rebuilt by Lares Corp in MN. These things are getting hard to find so the price is steep. You get a huge core charge though, $300! It would suck to pay $525 for one of these if you didnt have one to send in.
If you can find someone locally that would do it you might try that. I did but with no luck, so I had to spend the $$.

 

Much easier to drop the coin on a conversion from Benchwork steering. I just ripped mine out yesterday what a leaky mess that power assist is.

 

Aside from the bad steering geometry of the hydro assist setup, thats one of the main reasons people opt for the 78/79 style conversion. If you have to replace the hydro assist stuff you'll be spending about the same money to change to a better system.

To OP, you may want to look into the conversion if you're not set on keeping it as it came. Try a search on this forum, there are lots of threads.

 

When I got my dent the pump was shot and unhooked. When I get mine done I'm getting a new pump. I am fearing what to come on the other components! Its a nasty mess under ther.

 

Well, it sounds like I’m talking to the right people! I just need to change out the ball joints on either side of the Bendix style drag link, not the drag link itself. All of the hydraulic pieces seem to be operating properly. I am just getting started and would have to tackle multiple leaks as well. Switching over to a different system sounds like it might be the way to go. Is there any advantages to the bendix power assist system I have now?

 

Not really. There is a benefit of a hydro assist steering with large tires. But the geometry of your push pull system is the problem. Causes bump steer. The solution is to convert to a crossover setup. There are alot of threads concerning this very issue. Try a search on this forum and check out some of the threads of people doing the conversions.

 

I can attest to the 78/79 PS and T-sytle conversion after converting my 73 from manual. It was a PITA with 35s in dinky parking lots around here. 'Cost me roughly a "whopping" $354.66 as follows:

<TABLE style="WIDTH: 379pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=505 x:str><COLGROUP><COL style="WIDTH: 184pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 8960" width=245><COL style="WIDTH: 143pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 6985" width=191><COL style="WIDTH: 52pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2523" width=69><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; WIDTH: 184pt; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22 height=21 width=245>PS Steering box, 79 Bronco</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; WIDTH: 143pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22 width=191>Pick N Pull</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; WIDTH: 52pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl23 width=69 x:num="49.99">$ 49.99 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22 height=21>Drag link, 79 Bronco</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22>Pick N Pull</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl23 x:num="22.99">$ 22.99 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22 height=21>Tie-rod, 79 Bronco</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22>Pick N Pull</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl23 x:num="14.99">$ 14.99 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22 height=21>Pressure hose, 79 Bronco</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22>Pick N Pull</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl23 x:num="7.99">$ 7.99 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22 height=21>Steering shaft</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22>Pick N Pull</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl23 x:num="11.99">$ 11.99 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22 height=21>PS pump, Ford w/ pressure hose</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22>Pick N Pull</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl23 x:num="29.99">$ 29.99 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22 height=21>PS pump bracket, FE</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22>Pick N Pull</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl23 x:num="10.99">$ 10.99 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22 height=21>PS belt, FE w/PS</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22>Autozone</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl23 x:num="8.81">$ 8.81 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22 height=21>PS drive pulley, FE</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22>Pick N Pull</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl23 x:num="11.99">$ 11.99 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22 height=21>Hardware</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22>Ace Hardware</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl23 x:num="25">$ 25.00 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl29 height=21>Pipe</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl29>Home Depot</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl30 x:num="15">$ 15.00 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl24 height=21></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl27>Subtotal</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl23 x:num="209.73" x:fmla="=SUM(C1:C11)">$ 209.73 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22 height=21></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl23></TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22 height=21>Tapered reamer, 7-degree</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22>Speedway Motors</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl23 x:num="69.99">$ 69.99 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl29 height=21>Custom pressure hose (labor& matls)</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl29>S & S Line and Tubing</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 0.5pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl30 x:num="74.94">$ 74.94 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt" height=21><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl24 height=21></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl27>Subtotal</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl25 x:num="144.93" x:fmla="=SUM(C14:C15)">$ 144.93 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl24 height=18></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 2pt double; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl31></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 2pt double; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl32></TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl24 height=18></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl28>Total</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl26 x:num="354.66" x:fmla="=C16+C12">$ 354.66 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

Hio, if I'm ever around your neck of the woods I'm stopping. You have to take me treasure hunting! You got some really good spots! I'll show you my mushroom hunting spots if you show me the treasure.

 

Sure, not a problem. They are gold mines awaiting harvests!! Hopefully one is located near you... the staff is friendly, they provide soap, water, and conveniently located porta-potties too.

As you can see, I like Pick N Pull. The cool thing about them is that they publish a price list so there's no haggling nor some weird guy (or gal) behind the counter who *****-nilly grabs prices out of thin air. Second, I am able to check their inventory online. Each vehicle that comes in is tagged with a bar code sticker and one of the workers walks the entire yard on Sundays and scans/updates their computerized inventory. If there are no or only a few dentsides or bumpsides, I check another Pick N Pull's inventory and move on. Third, there are seven yards within 70 miles of my home. Lastly, their yard is neat... each row is clearly tagged, the vehicles are up on stands, AND they are grouped my manufacturer or vehicle types... compact trucks & SUVs are together and then all the full size rigs and vans in another. It's sweet.

I walk the yards with a list ...but a prioritized list categorized as must haves, nice to haves, and then the rare to haves... like the OEM stainless west coast mirrors I found. Eureka!!!

To the OP, as you can see a little research and patience in finding the right parts and you too can have integral PS at a better price than Benchworks (although I like that kit!!!). Btw, I needed the 7-degree reamer because the tie rod shanks on the Broncos are thicker than our drum-equipped D44s. The custom hose was needed cuz an FE with a Saginaw pump on your rigs was only available in 1976 and I couldn't find one of those...

 

Silver.
I appreciate the help. I have been reading about the conversion, but I only seem to find conversions that involve cutting and welding the frame. I am a rookie welder at best, and not sure I want to take that on. The conversion you talk about above is a bolt on? Looking for as much help on this as I can get.

 

Oh shoots... I just read your other thread and you've got an F-250. I wish that was clear from the git-go. Unfortunately, the 78/79 Bronco PS swap is for an F-100 or F-150. Your front leaf springs are in the way.

In case any half-ton owner following this thread is interested, the Bronco swap to a 1/2-ton is mostly bolt on except drilling and sleeving the frame with some 1/2-inch pipe and welding it in.