1940 Ford Drag Link Adjustment

[topfuel724]

I have a 1940 Deluxe coupe and am getting ready to check the toe in. I notice that the drag link has the adjustment at the pitman arm rather than at the right spindle. It also has a slight bend in it rather than being straight.

Where there two styles of drag links, one with the bend and one straight? Should the adjustment be at the pitman arm or the spindle?

[Bob C]

To set the toe you need to adjust the tie rod.

[pistonbroke]

You would use the drag link adjuster to make the steering wheel straight when driving straight. Tim

[Kube]

Originally Posted by topfuel724

i have a 1940 deluxe coupe and am getting ready to check the toe in. I notice that the drag link has the adjustment at the pitman arm rather than at the right spindle. It also has a slight bend in it rather than being straight.

Where there two styles of drag links, one with the bend and one straight? Should the adjustment be at the pitman arm or the spindle?

as has been mentioned, the drag link adjusts the orientation of the steering wheel.
There is one adjustable end at the pitman arm. The drag link is rather straight.
The toe-in is adjusted via the tie rod. There are two adjustable tie rod ends on this rod.

[topfuel724]

Thanks to all. However I was asking about the orientation of the drag link. Does the adjustment go to the spindle or the pitman arm. The reason I am asking is that I have seen the adjustment located on the pitman arm as well as the spindle in the past.

[Kube]

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Originally Posted by topfuel724

Thanks to all. However I was asking about the orientation of the drag link. Does the adjustment go to the spindle or the pitman arm. The reason I am asking is that I have seen the adjustment located on the pitman arm as well as the spindle in the past.

The right end of the drag link was internally threaded to accept an adjustable tie rod end. A slit at this end of the tube allowed the threaded portion to be “crushed” upon the threads when the drilled end hex head bolt (22228-S2) and slotted nut (34029-S2) were tightened. A plain steel cotter pin (72008-S) held the nut in place.

Shown in my attached photograph are two drag links with hardware. The right end of one rod is shown at top; the left end of another rod is shown at bottom.

[topfuel724]

Thanks Kube for your photo and explanation. Looks like mine is on backwards.

[19Fordy]

Here's a bunch of 40 coupe tie rod photos that may help. Both the tie rod and the drag link are straight. Axle, spring, steering arms and shocks are not stock 40.

[Terry,OH]

There are a couple of the drag links with slightly different shapes, starting in 1936. The off set one is one and a straight version is another. Just the spindle end is adjustable as in Kubes photo and it has to be removed usually from the spindle end to adjust and center the steering wheel. It was 1941 when the adjustable link was used with a new drag link with male threads, so adjustments could be made without disassembly of any parts.