'34 Ford Track Rod and Drag Link ends

[mike8p42]

Hi,

I'm having a bit of trouble understanding how to set the end caps of the track rod and drag link ends on a '34 ford.

The rod ends on these models feature a removable cap that has one ball seat on, while the other ball seat is spring loaded.

So question is, how far or how tight do you fasten the cap down? ?It seems that unless the spring becomes coil bound then there will be some 'spring' in the links, or is this intentional?

None of the service literature I have even gives this a mention.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[TerryOH]

the cap has to be inserted enought to get the cotter pin inserted. From this point the adjustment is to get the steering wheel to be in the proper position when driving straight ahead, so you can only go further in with the plug from the minimum position.

 

[mike8p42]

Thanks Terry. So in theory then the links aren't rigid, there is some slight springiness in them, can that be felt in driving I wonder as compared to later 'rigid' ball joint...

Mike

 

[David J]

Mike , What Terry posted covers it but I want to share something that happened to me with a 34 4D I had been using as summer wheels a couple years ago . First only the drag link ends affect the steering wheel indexing - not the tie rod ends and I had all 4 ends turned in enough to get the cotters in and called it good . This car would occasionally start doing the front wheel wobble as I would start out making a RH turn from a dead stop . Alarming to say the least and of course the first place I looked was the wishbone ball and replaced the rubber ball - no change . Checked the front spring stuff and steering box - all ok . Jacked up the left front wheel and it would move quite a bit due to the movement in the ball sockets . Didn't care much for that amount of slack in the steering so I turned all the ends in until coil bound and then backed them out 4-5 turns . How I used to do it . Reset the toe and the car hasn't done the front wheel wobble since . Now when you jack the LF tire up you only get a little play out of the joints . Info on this is pretty thin as you note so I can't give you any backup on this but it worked for me . The Model A folks deal with this same setup and they probably have discussed this also . Besides If any of the info I am sharing here with you isn't correct someone from my fan club will be all over it Your call on what to do bout dis as this is just my 3.14 cents worth Good Luck David J

Thanks Terry. So in theory then the links aren't rigid, there is some slight springiness in them, can that be felt in driving I wonder as compared to later 'rigid' ball joint...

Mike

 

[mike8p42]

Thanks for the tip on the Model A being similar.

Looking through some earlier posts there is mention of 'the book' saying that the springs should be compressed by 25% of their original length. I'll give that a try and see where that leaves the plug compared to your coil bound and backing off method.

Mike