The Ford Barn

Greg way out West · 01-08-2012, 02:44 PM

Hi Guy's,,,

I went to install the drag link on my 30 A...I think I had it right, short "opening" to the front...I'am using the new Nylon "kit"...all the ball's have been replaced...

Wow,,,something's WRONG !!!...I can bearly turn the wheel & the car's on jackstands...Really shocked me as I have been working the the old A for the past 40 year's...

Maybe the tie rod end's are too tight ?...Maybe the spindles are too tight on the axle ?..I'am going to have to take the whole front end apart and see what's up ????...

Am I right on the drag link position ?...... Almost done with the car and now I can't steer it ??

Greg out West

1931 flamingo · 01-08-2012, 03:04 PM

With out the drag link connected will the steering wheel turn?? Will the spindles rotate on the axle??
Paul in CT

BILL WILLIAMSON · 01-08-2012, 03:15 PM

Our Master Guru, Claude, did his first set and they were tight! O.K. after driving awhile. Maybe they have to "burnish in" to free up???
I read about one guy who thought the Teflon ones didn't need grease.----Bill W.

Jim Brierley · 01-08-2012, 03:17 PM

You still need grease. Tie rod position should make no difference.

Fred K-OR · 01-08-2012, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1931 flamingo

With out the drag link connected will the steering wheel turn?? Will the spindles rotate on the axle??
Paul in CT

Would seem like this would be a good start to see where the problem is.

Pilotdave · 01-08-2012, 04:55 PM

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I have the teflon "kit" installed (with grease) - car is on jack stands. Steering wheel turns easily. I would find stiff as described here unusual. I'd undo the drag link at the steering box and work forward taking things apart until the stiffness is located.

Aha - somehow I missed Fred's post - didn't intend to be repetitive!

V4F · 01-08-2012, 05:33 PM

i have the nylon kit also . never a problem . go back to the start & do over ...... steve

Tim B. · 01-08-2012, 07:45 PM

Did you replace any thing else at the same time? If you didn't did you get the right parts in the right order in the drag link? one end has cupped washer then the pitman ball then ball cap then spring then plug with flat face, other end spring first then ballcap then steering ball then end plug that is radiused to accept the ball. Mine steered hard when I replaced parts & I had the flat cap against the ball insrtead of the radiused cap (inattention to detail). switched out & smooth as silk. Just a thought before tearing things apart. If sequence is ok were the pitman & steering arm balls round? Just a thought.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 01-08-2012, 08:40 PM

If balls were self repaired and not perfect round & smooth, it would eat away teflon. In this case, steel might last a little longer if kept greased often.

columbiA · 01-09-2012, 01:53 AM

I have teflon seats,shortened pitman arm needle brgs & needle thrust in steering box & on jack stands you can twirl it stop to stop with little finger.On the road its like F-100 steering but quicker.

Patrick L. · 01-09-2012, 06:50 AM

Same question as Tim, what else was done ?? How easily/hard did it turn before installing the drag link ?? If you tried it and it was fine with the new tie-rod cups while the drag link was still off, then something must have happened with drag link..

01-08-2012, 02:44 PM	#1
Greg way out West Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: So Cal Posts: 75	Drag "link" Hi Guy's,,, I went to install the drag link on my 30 A...I think I had it right, short "opening" to the front...I'am using the new Nylon "kit"...all the ball's have been replaced... Wow,,,something's WRONG !!!...I can bearly turn the wheel & the car's on jackstands...Really shocked me as I have been working the the old A for the past 40 year's... Maybe the tie rod end's are too tight ?...Maybe the spindles are too tight on the axle ?..I'am going to have to take the whole front end apart and see what's up ????... Am I right on the drag link position ?...... Almost done with the car and now I can't steer it ?? Greg out West

01-08-2012, 03:04 PM	#2
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,428	Re: Drag "link" With out the drag link connected will the steering wheel turn?? Will the spindles rotate on the axle?? Paul in CT

01-08-2012, 03:15 PM	#3
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Drag "link" Our Master Guru, Claude, did his first set and they were tight! O.K. after driving awhile. Maybe they have to "burnish in" to free up??? I read about one guy who thought the Teflon ones didn't need grease.----Bill W. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

01-08-2012, 03:17 PM	#4
Jim Brierley Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 4,251	Re: Drag "link" You still need grease. Tie rod position should make no difference.

01-08-2012, 04:55 PM	#6
Pilotdave Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Grafton, MA Posts: 1,273	Re: Drag "link" Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I have the teflon "kit" installed (with grease) - car is on jack stands. Steering wheel turns easily. I would find stiff as described here unusual. I'd undo the drag link at the steering box and work forward taking things apart until the stiffness is located. Aha - somehow I missed Fred's post - didn't intend to be repetitive!

01-08-2012, 05:33 PM	#7
V4F Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: ca. Posts: 2,524	Re: Drag "link" i have the nylon kit also . never a problem . go back to the start & do over ...... steve __________________ V4f

01-08-2012, 07:45 PM	#8
Tim B. Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 162	Re: Drag "link" Did you replace any thing else at the same time? If you didn't did you get the right parts in the right order in the drag link? one end has cupped washer then the pitman ball then ball cap then spring then plug with flat face, other end spring first then ballcap then steering ball then end plug that is radiused to accept the ball. Mine steered hard when I replaced parts & I had the flat cap against the ball insrtead of the radiused cap (inattention to detail). switched out & smooth as silk. Just a thought before tearing things apart. If sequence is ok were the pitman & steering arm balls round? Just a thought.

01-08-2012, 08:40 PM	#9
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Drag "link" If balls were self repaired and not perfect round & smooth, it would eat away teflon. In this case, steel might last a little longer if kept greased often. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

01-09-2012, 01:53 AM	#10
columbiA Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,746	Re: Drag "link" I have teflon seats,shortened pitman arm needle brgs & needle thrust in steering box & on jack stands you can twirl it stop to stop with little finger.On the road its like F-100 steering but quicker.

01-09-2012, 06:50 AM	#11
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: Drag "link" Same question as Tim, what else was done ?? How easily/hard did it turn before installing the drag link ?? If you tried it and it was fine with the new tie-rod cups while the drag link was still off, then something must have happened with drag link..