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09-06-2021, 02:38 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: W. Mich.
Posts: 471
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1939 sedan drag link
How do you remove a drag link from the steering arm? Does it require a special tool? I know it's a tapered fit. The car is a restored one but I think I have some steering work to do on it.
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09-06-2021, 02:50 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Whangaparaoa New Zealand
Posts: 263
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Re: 1939 sedan drag link
There are ball joint crackers which you'll be able to get from a hardware store. Or you can get it by removing split pin and loosen the nut a couple of turns, don't remove as this stops the drag link dropping to the ground. Then with a large hammer hit the steering arm on the side were the ball joint goes in,right angle to the taper. This jars the taper enough to come loose. I try to put a bar in there and put some weight on it to assist the breaking free. Two people is good as well. They can be a really hard to break if been on a long time. Sorry for the long winded reply, it's a job that's harder to explain than do. Cheers tony
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09-06-2021, 02:55 PM | #3 |
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
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Re: 1939 sedan drag link
Sometimes you can hit the side of the arm to loosen the taper. Can also try pickle forks.
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09-06-2021, 03:06 PM | #4 |
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: W. Mich.
Posts: 471
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Re: 1939 sedan drag link
My pain is I'm doing it with the car on the floor. No lifts. Can't swing a hammer at it much.
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09-06-2021, 03:52 PM | #5 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Solihull, England.
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Re: 1939 sedan drag link
Get a ball joint splitter then.
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09-06-2021, 04:30 PM | #6 |
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
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Re: 1939 sedan drag link
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09-06-2021, 04:31 PM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: W. Mich.
Posts: 471
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Re: 1939 sedan drag link
Guess I'll have to.
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09-06-2021, 04:41 PM | #8 |
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
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Re: 1939 sedan drag link
They can be hard to remove even when you do have good access. About have to have the splitter, might see if one of the auto parts places have a loaner.
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09-06-2021, 05:05 PM | #9 |
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Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Columbus, IN
Posts: 1,407
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Re: 1939 sedan drag link
i was never successful using the two hammer method of loosening tie rod ends as suggested above. I have had much better luck "borrowing" a tie rod separator tool from O'Reilly"s Auto Parts. Much less damage than using one of the pickle forks.
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09-06-2021, 06:26 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: W. Mich.
Posts: 471
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Re: 1939 sedan drag link
Got the tool & have the drag link off the pitman arm. Now I need to figure out where the problem is. I have about 3" play at the outside rim of the steering wheel. I also get some pretty good movement up & down of the steering wheel in the steering tube. I don't detect any play in king pins or the steering arm itself. I tend to think it needs a new bushing or roller bearing at the top of the tube.
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09-06-2021, 08:28 PM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: W. Mich.
Posts: 471
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Re: 1939 sedan drag link
Cross Shaft End Play
Check by turning steering wheel to center position (turn wheel back 1/2 the total number of turns from either end-stop or place marked spoke straight up or straight down).Shake the steering wheel at ball end. If play or backlash exceeds1/32", adjust the cross shaft (roller shaft) position as follows: This comes from VanPelts site. Can someone tell me what the STEERING WHEEL BALL END is? I don't know if they mean the bell shaped bottom of the steering wheel or what? |
09-06-2021, 09:30 PM | #12 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Coral Springs FL
Posts: 10,950
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Re: 1939 sedan drag link
Buy one of these pitman arm pullers and save yourself a lot of stress and strain especially since you can't raise the car on a lift.
https://www.harborfreight.com/tie-ro...AaAnc-EALw_wcB Watch this video. Apply some antiseize when you reinstall it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mFVQ1jYmhM |
09-06-2021, 09:34 PM | #13 | |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Yakima Washington
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Re: 1939 sedan drag link
Quote:
Bill |
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09-06-2021, 09:52 PM | #14 | |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Yakima Washington
Posts: 913
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Re: 1939 sedan drag link
Quote:
With the car sitting still turn the steering wheel to the right and left, if there is endplay in the bearings the wheel will raise and lower as you turn it. Bill , |
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09-07-2021, 07:00 AM | #15 |
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: W. Mich.
Posts: 471
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Re: 1939 sedan drag link
19FORTY, there isn't room for the pitman arm puller. That's why I went to the fork. This is slowly starting to make sense to me. I do believe the upper rubber bushing is shot though. Too much movement toward the roof & floor of the car when I push & pull the steering wheel. I'm not pushing & pulling it away from my chest.
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09-07-2021, 02:37 PM | #16 | |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: East Shore of LAKE HOUSTON
Posts: 11,114
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Re: 1939 sedan drag link
Quote:
New bushing toward top of STEERING column. Call Michael at 3rd Gen. Nine BUCKS! DD https://thirdgenauto.com/product/193...bronze-center/ . |
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