4msfamly Posted October 5, 2011 Report Posted October 5, 2011 Hi, my daughter and I are in the process of putting a disk brake kit on our '55 C3. While waiting for the machine shop to get to our spindles.. (they're backlogged), I took apart the steering assembly so I could clean the caked on oil and grease off of everything (looked like old ham shanks), and inspect the ball joints. What I found was that the center stud of the ball joint on the Pitman arm (or drag link?) rotates freely inside the ball... screwing it one way or the other didn't seem to tighten it. Is this normal? If not, can one weld it in place.. or do I need to worry about it falling out of the ball (which would be bad while driving). I'm thinking it's not normal... how can I tighten the screw onto the stud with it rotating around? I think the years of oil kept it in place, but after I clean it, it free'd up. Are there sources for this pitman arm? Do I need to buy it custom somewhere? If so, does anyone have a source? I tried Roberts, without luck, not at Napa, Moog makes very similar looking ones for the 1500 Ram truck, but they don't have the split head and clamping screw.. it looks like they are held on with a retaining screw and cap on the steering body spline. I think I opened a can of worms that I wish I could put back in. I was "thinking" about finding some powersteering box that I could sub (a la the Toyota swap for Fords and Chevy's), but really didn't want to go that way yet. I was also thinking about the Dakota frame swap, but really, I just want to get this thing on the road for now. Help! Thanks! Marc Quote
MBF Posted October 5, 2011 Report Posted October 5, 2011 I think you're referring to the drag link. I had a Ford Louieville that had a similar problem-actually the drag link had been cut and rewelded to shorten it. I took the center to center measurements of what I needed, and the clocked orientation of the two ends. Those along with the size and legnths of the tapers on the ends enabled NAPA was able to match it up by dimensions. It'll take an experience parts man-so look for the older guy behind the counter. Mike Quote
Merle Coggins Posted October 5, 2011 Report Posted October 5, 2011 (edited) If I understand you properly, the drag link end stud is loose in the eye of the pitman arm? If that's the case then yes, you do need to tighten that up. Hopefully it hasn't worn down the tapers, but you may need to use an impact gun that can spin it quickly (use short trigger bursts). You need to get it tighter so that the stud will grab into the taper. Then the nut can be tightened. The air impact gun does that job nicely, if you have one. Otherwise try tapping the pitman arm tighter onto the ball joint stud to see if it grabs tighter so that you can turn the nut without the stud turning. Merle Edited October 5, 2011 by Merle Coggins Quote
ggdad1951 Posted October 5, 2011 Report Posted October 5, 2011 I think you're referring to the drag link. I had a Ford Louieville that had a similar problem-actually the drag link had been cut and rewelded to shorten it. I took the center to center measurements of what I needed, and the clocked orientation of the two ends. Those along with the size and legnths of the tapers on the ends enabled NAPA was able to match it up by dimensions. It'll take an experience parts man-so look for the older guy behind the counter. Mike oddly my NAPA go-to person is a chick thats all of 26 maybe, and not all that hard on the eyes...but her dad is an old car guy. Quote
TodFitch Posted October 5, 2011 Report Posted October 5, 2011 Rare Parts in Stockton, Calif. lists the drag link for a '53 Dodge truck.... Quote
4msfamly Posted October 5, 2011 Author Report Posted October 5, 2011 Ah... ok, I'll head off to a Napa and see what I can find. I'm not sure the '53 and '55 are the same.. I'll have too check. Even if I could get the stud to tighten, I think I'd like to buy a new one to firm up the steering (loose the slop). Funny, my local O'Reiliy's has a bunch of young girls working at the counter. The "youngest" is the manager, who was busy chewing the tail off one of the guys for not knowing how to 1) measure thickness of a disc rotor 2) and then not knowing how to true it. I had a good laugh at that! Marc Quote
PatS.... Posted October 7, 2011 Report Posted October 7, 2011 (edited) Try http://www.collectorsautosupply.com Locations in Oroville WA and Peachland BC for NOS parts close by. http://www.collectorsautosupply.com/query.asp?make=Dodge+TRUCK&year=55§ion=SUSPENSION Edited October 7, 2011 by PatS.... Quote
4msfamly Posted October 12, 2011 Author Report Posted October 12, 2011 Well, I tried them all with no luck! Even struck out at Napa... I saw that Roberts "used" to have them, but their supply dried up. They suggested ebay.... Well, what do you know, I found a vendor on Ebay with 10 of them! I bought one... hope to have it and the spindles done in about a week. I'll update my build thread when I get the parts. Thanks all! Marc Quote
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