Drag Link Rebuild Question:
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 969
Likes: 71
From: Cherryville,N.C.
Drag Link Rebuild Question:
I had to have the drag link rebuilt and pitman arm replaced in my truck(1952 F-1 stock).It had a lot of play in steering and they found one of the springs was actually broken in drag link and the pitman arm ball was egg shaped?The steering is nice and snug now and truck drives great.Only thing I have noticed is the steering wheel is just a little off center now.Should I just re-center steering wheel or do I need to have a front end alignment?
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,781
Likes: 558
From: Kalispell, MT
I'm thinking the pitman arm is keyed, but It's been a few years since I had to work on one. You might need to pull the steering wheel to straighten things up.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 969
Likes: 71
From: Cherryville,N.C.
The pitman arm is splined not keyed.The steering wheel really is just off center a hair and I just decided to leave well enough alone and drive for awhile.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
Since they were not equipt with PS and were primarily driven slow on poorly improved roads, the steering was set up for that use to make slow steering easier. On today's roads and speeds increasing toe-in 1/16" and adding 2* additional caster shims will make highway driving more stable. May need to add longer headed spring center bolts and/or longer U bolts with shims, rounded head of bolt should fully seat in axle seat recess. Clean out rust and dirt in recess with correct sizes drill bit turned by hand. Be very careful when changing center bolt. Put 2 large C-clamps one on each side of bolt, lay spring on side on floor, stand on spring with both feet while removing/replacing bolt. Spring packs a large force that can suddenly let go while removing known to break ankle if in the way..
Last edited by AXracer; May 8, 2024 at 09:18 AM. Reason: spelling
Fleet Owner
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From: NM
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Lead Driver
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Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 969
Likes: 71
From: Cherryville,N.C.
Thanks Ross,I did not realize that.So the pitman arm can only go on one way??
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 969
Likes: 71
From: Cherryville,N.C.
I have had this truck 45 years and drive everyday.Just had complete brake system and draglink rebuilt.Next project is shifter rebuilt,it is very sloppy.I located a NOS shifter tube.Seems like everything is wearing out now.Thanks Ross for the write up you did on the shifter assembly rebuild which will come in handy!I did get the noisy lifter problem fixed which was on another thread I started.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,688
Likes: 1,471
From: Mendon, Massachusetts
Didn't know the stock pitman arm has blank splines. Leonharu, I apologize for the incorrect information, I have a CPP steering box in my 49 & must have been referring to that.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 969
Likes: 71
From: Cherryville,N.C.
Did you get a new pitman arm?Mine was "egg shaped" and the drag link was only half the problem.