What does it mean when I read in a parts catalog "Right" Draglink. I think I've ONLY seen "right" draglinks...but I can't get any more info as to what the manufacturer is conveying.

If this were a land rover, which I've had multiple ones in the past, I'd expect it meant right side steering...but I highly doubt that.

While we're at it...what about when I see custom suspension work where they say "add a (right or left) steering disc" to the draglink or maybe I-Beam. I have no idea what they're talking about.

John

 

This is for your '73 F250? Presumably it's a power steering setup with multi-piece draglink?
My take on it is that if you had a standard 1-piece F150 style with manual steering, it would just be a "draglink" and no left or right. But with any of them that are either adjustable with a sleeve in the middle, or the power-assist style with the hydraulic ram assist in the middle, then the "right side" would be the half that is on the passenger side and the left would be the driver's side.

Traditionally you did not buy "kits" for these, but each individual part. So for a tie-rod you bought a long side and a short side, an adjusting sleeve and two clamps. All to make one tie-rod assembly.

That's my guess on your left-and-right question then. They're expecting it to be a multiple piece power assist setup. Is that what yours looks like?
If you have the later style with the short draglink that runs front-to-back along the driver's side frame rail, then that would be a different part and would be one piece. But if this is for the '73 you should not have that at least that I'm aware of.

If none of that was correct for yours, or did not make sense, maybe post up a picture of the linkage you're replacing and we can clear it up quickly.
Maybe it's actually not your issue at all, but the computer's listing are calling out the wrong parts. We've certainly seen that before!

Good luck.

Paul

 

Paul,

Thank you, thank you...for all the detail. Yes, it is my 73 250 with factory power steering. It seems to match what you were describing. Pic below.

 

On a RWD with twin I beam front.

The "right side DRAG LINK" serves two functions.
1, the drag link as it connects the pitman arm to the tie rod ...
2, part of the tie rod assembly as it controls the right front steering knuckle ...

The left side steering knuckle is controlled by the "left side TIE ROD" and is called such as that is all it does.
It only serves to tie the two sides together. It does not connect to the pitman arm, it connects to the drag link.

This was done as twin I-beams swing through long arcs as they travel.

 

hmm. so for those who have the other style...does it just look like a really long tierod? That is, no hole in the middle? More curious than anything. Thanks Bear.

 

I never saw just one long tie rod used with "Twin-I-Beam suspension".

 

On the 4wd trucks where the tie-rod was in front of the drive axle, specifically the F250 and 350 and Super Cab F150 with leaf springs and short draglink on driver's side only, yes the tie-rod is a long rod with no hole for the draglink. It is not one-piece however because you need to be able to adjust the toe-in with the tie-rod. Very few, if any tie-rods do not have that adjustability built into it somehow.
So in effect, even the long tie-rod is a 3-piece affair. A "long side" a "short side" (basically just a tie-rod end) and the adjusting sleeve and clamps.

I'm not as familiar with the different 2-wheel drive versions that Ford might have had over the years. Maybe they were all the same as yours?

Paul