Hey everyone,
I want to know, I've got an FE front end with the ball and cup drag link. Can I swap this drag link out for a later model that takes the bolt in inner tie rod ends? Apparently I can't buy new tie rod ends with the ball on the end. Will this swap tighten up my steering? I want to keep the king pin front but its getting hard to find the bits.
Cheers Theo Z.......................
Drag link
drag link
Hi Theo,
I'm not familiar with the FE/FC drag link but if it is the same as our models you may wish to look at the cups for wear or adjustment.......
From memory, there is an adjustment tube which the ends from the pitman/idler arm and tie rod end screw into.....one of them I believe would be a "reverse" thread........
If it is the tie rod end you can't get a replacement for - I can't help you.
If it is the ball/cup end then you should be able to purchase the cup set..... I would consider this to be something Rare's would be prepared to "tool up" for to keep our old buses on the road (and us on their books!)....
I wore my ball/cup drag links out many years ago - narrowly avoiding an accident. I replaced the cups and a couple of springs and my steer was as new...........
I understand your concern - I am of the opinion, the ball cups are the pieces which are more likely to wear - have you considered replacing the set.
Another option is to check and correctly adjust the end screws in the drag-link pipe.... in exteme cases, they can creat a lot of looseness......
from memory, idler arm end is 1/4 to 1/2 turn out from tight, pitman arm end 1/2 to 1 turn out from tight .... others will correct me if I'm wrong.
I believe these cups are still available - again, others will have to update this.....
I now run the HD/HR ball joint draglink, but the sump "bend" is around the wrong way - it just hits my sump on full r/h lock........
I did not notice any "gain" in steering on changing to the latter........
Couple of "squirts" into each grease nipple of the older "tube" and keep as much crud/dirt etc out of the openings kept the new cups happy until I changed the whole lot when I fitted the red..............
frats,
Rosco
I'm not familiar with the FE/FC drag link but if it is the same as our models you may wish to look at the cups for wear or adjustment.......
From memory, there is an adjustment tube which the ends from the pitman/idler arm and tie rod end screw into.....one of them I believe would be a "reverse" thread........
If it is the tie rod end you can't get a replacement for - I can't help you.
If it is the ball/cup end then you should be able to purchase the cup set..... I would consider this to be something Rare's would be prepared to "tool up" for to keep our old buses on the road (and us on their books!)....
I wore my ball/cup drag links out many years ago - narrowly avoiding an accident. I replaced the cups and a couple of springs and my steer was as new...........
I understand your concern - I am of the opinion, the ball cups are the pieces which are more likely to wear - have you considered replacing the set.
Another option is to check and correctly adjust the end screws in the drag-link pipe.... in exteme cases, they can creat a lot of looseness......
from memory, idler arm end is 1/4 to 1/2 turn out from tight, pitman arm end 1/2 to 1 turn out from tight .... others will correct me if I'm wrong.
I believe these cups are still available - again, others will have to update this.....
I now run the HD/HR ball joint draglink, but the sump "bend" is around the wrong way - it just hits my sump on full r/h lock........
I did not notice any "gain" in steering on changing to the latter........
Couple of "squirts" into each grease nipple of the older "tube" and keep as much crud/dirt etc out of the openings kept the new cups happy until I changed the whole lot when I fitted the red..............
frats,
Rosco