Steering Drag Link Rebuild

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 21:28:39 -0400
From: "penny" 
Subject: Drag Rod
To: , 

If its the drag-link you are referring to, yes I have re-built mine and 
its very easy. The parts cost $37.00 and were in a "kit" w/detailed
instructions. Pay particular attention to the "ball" on the end of the
pitman arm and the "ball" on the steering arm...if these are not perfectly
round ,replacement is recommended. (for safety sake)
Just follow the instructions ...I would also put a "mark" on the end of the
draglink that connects to the pitman arm and on the pitman arm itself
because if you put it back together the wrong way your steering will bind
in one direction.     Good Luck
Jimmy 82Toy4x4 L.B.
purnrgy@quancon.com
http://www.geocities.com/baja/6397/

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 19:40:59 -0700
From: Brandon Miller 
Subject: Drag Rod
To: Toy4x4@tlca.org

There is a tie Rod and a Drag link.  The poor man's rebuild for the drag
link is a couple penny's at each end, does wonders.  I don't know how a
tie rod can wear out, I suppose the ends could wear out but I have never
seen it happen.

My couple pennies at each end of the tie rod......
- -- 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Brandon Miller                     email: sac78483@saclink.csus.edu
Sacramento, CA                            millerb@gaia.ecs.csus.edu
               
                             url:
http://gaia.ecs.csus.edu/~millerb                   
TLCA #6013
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

------------------------------

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 25 Oct 1997 15:44:35 -0700
From: "Roger Brown P.E." 
Subject: Drag Rod
To: tolenio@world.std.com

You wrote;
- -->
I went to have a wheel alignment done was told that there was too much
free play in my "drag rod" for them to do the alignment.

They suggested a rebuild kit that would take up the slack for both the
left and right sides which are worn.

I may be wrong, but is the drag rod, the rod that connects the steering
knuckles?

The kit cost $50 and they wanted $50 to install it (1 hour job).

Has anyone done this themselves and is it difficult.
<--

I replaced the drag 'link' on my 85 4Runner.  It is the rod going from 
the steering sector arm (on the steering gear box) to the arm on the 
front axle.

It is a rather easy job, just loosen the rod ends, pop off the old arm,
put the new one in and tighten.  However, it is a bit tricky to get 
things adjusted correctly.  It's taken me about a half dozen cycles 
to get it right.  I noticed I had trouble getting the link ends to 
tighten properly.  They seem to want to jam and feel tight before they 
really are.  A little driving and they feel loose.  There is an internal 
spring that maintains the tightness, and you should feel the rod end 
getting progressively tighter when its right, otherwise it feels like it 
is just bottoming out.

Your's may just be loose and need tightening.  You can pull the cotter 
pins on each end and tighten the rod ends until tight and then back off 
1/3 turn or so and re-insert the pins.  Squirt a little grease inside 
and see how it feels.

- -- 
    Roger Brown, P.E.        mailto:rogerb@sgi.com
    +1.650.933.1898 (vmail)  +1.650.932.1898 (fax)
    http://reality.sgi.com/rogerb/

------------------------------