SteveR Posted April 18 Report Share Posted April 18 I have not had much experience with steering linkages but what I have noticed on my 37 Plymouth is a slight play between my steering arm and drag link. Is there an adjustment here? My service manual does not cover this or how to disassemble it. Also I might want to remove my steering box and check this. I have a clunk when turning the steering wheel. Can I do this with the engine and radiator in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sniper Posted April 18 Report Share Posted April 18 It has been a very long time since I messed with that era MoPar and I have no manuals handy for them either, so going from memory (from the mid 90's). You should have a joint between the two, similar to a tie rod. That is a wear point and the most likely culprit. https://www.hiltopautoparts.com/product/nors-mopar-drag-link-repair-pkg-all-1936-1937-1938-plymouth-dodge-models/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave72dt Posted April 18 Report Share Posted April 18 The drag links I'm familiar with had one end with cotter pin and slot cut into the end that a wide screwdriver blade or drag link socket fit into for adjusting and the other end would be a tie rod style. If the end that has play is similar to the tie rod style Sniper put up, replacement is your needed. If the other style, I believe some replacement sockets and cup, spring may be available. Post a pic of the bad end if you can. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveR Posted April 20 Author Report Share Posted April 20 how do I disconnect the drag link from the steering arm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveR Posted April 21 Author Report Share Posted April 21 the end of my drag link does not have a cotter pin in it. The end has a grease fitting installed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted April 21 Report Share Posted April 21 my factory service manual shows 36-42 having a pitman arm of Y shape on the steering sector thus a drag link will not be in play here...terminology may well be the key player here. You should have inner and outer tie rod ends on both the left and right tie rods which should be complete with grease fittings and these connect to the pitman arm. There is a big gap in the coverage of this in the book both Plymouth and Dodge....while the steering box is covered, the pitman arm and connecting tie rods are not. In the front suspension these are also not mentioned except to show how to orientate the pitman arm to centerline of the vehicle. The only picture in my book that even show the tie rods on place is in the lubrication section. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sniper Posted April 21 Report Share Posted April 21 Does it show that's it's a solid axle and not IFS? Because a 37 is a solid axle car. I think 39 is the return to IFS and that is what you are probably seeing in the manual. While I do not have a 37 FSM, I do have a motors manual, they show the Y setup you mentioned as starting in 39, unfortunately they do not mention the earlier setup at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted April 21 Report Share Posted April 21 (edited) well Sniper, a good point for sure, the book drawing specifically states the picture is 1936 through 1942 which is what the years the shop manual covers. Like you when first I read this I was thinking straight axle would have the drag link...so this morning I referenced the book and this was all that was shown in both the DODGE and PLYMOUTH factory service books of the era. BUT for sure if drag ling they are totally rebuildable, and the originator of the thread has been asked to supply a photo and has not so we are all yet in the dark at this point. Kinda a do I cut the red wire or the yellow wire here before it blows up in my face. Page 33 of the Plymouth factory books show similar with the Y pitman arm photo captioned 1936-42 models and I agree I always placed the IFS at 1939 and reverse Elliot axle for the earlier years. NOS MOPAR 1934-8 PLYMOUTH DODGE DESOTO CHRYSLER DRAG LINK PARTS PKG | eBay Edited April 21 by Plymouthy Adams Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sniper Posted April 21 Report Share Posted April 21 I used to have a 38, but I will be darned if I remember how the steering was setup. Ok, I found a picture of a 37 Plymouth steering setup, it is not like your manual states. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted April 21 Report Share Posted April 21 thanks, I felt the manual was wrong but searching both the Dodge and Plymouth version, I got the same pictures....I had not long back store my Motors book away and was not where I thought it would be. I added a link to a bushing kit that should apply to the man's car. I did later come across an asterisk, single is straight axle, double is IFS. NOTHING AT ALL on the straight axle drag link. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sniper Posted April 21 Report Share Posted April 21 Yeah, you see that on occasion, the book is wrong, the people that wrote it are long dead, the people that worked on them new are long dead, those of us still farting about with the cars are having to reinvent the wheel, pun intended. lol. Fortunately, the internet lets us all be wrong together. 😜 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveR Posted April 21 Author Report Share Posted April 21 3 hours ago, Sniper said: Ok, I found a picture of a 37 Plymouth steering setup, it is not like your manual states. Yep that is what my steering looks like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave72dt Posted April 21 Report Share Posted April 21 I'll assume it's pretty dirty and caked with old grease around that end. Start cleaning. Remove the grease fitting and start looking for threads inside that end as well as a slot. Something on that end will unscrew to allow the ball socket to be adjusted/removed. There may be an external set screw locking the adjustment. do a Google search for drag link sockets so you know what to look for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solution andyd Posted April 21 Solution Report Share Posted April 21 SteveR......re the pic that Sniper posted, the steering box pitman arm uses a ball to locate inside the tubular end of the drag link..........there will be some sort of adjustment arrangement where the pitman arm locates in the drag link.........work out how its attached and it should have some sort of pin locking the adjustmant ...........but we are talking about the firewall end of the drag link.........Steve....are you talking about the axle end of the drag link?, the steering arm you refer to at the front?......andyd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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