Drag Link Bushing Question

[Matt Dock]

Hi Bluebirds,
I’ve been on a long mission to work through some header fitment issues. In the process I’ve dropped the drag link a few times and split the bushing where the drag link and steering box arm join.

Anyone have experience that points to the drag link bushings being the same as the idler arms bushing (where the idler meets the drag link, not in the idler sleeve)?

I can’t seem to find a drag link bushing for sale anywhere not attached to a new drag link, but visually they look very similar.

Thanks,
Matt Dockery

[Ted Hedman]

Never took apart the crosslink Pittman arm ball joint because I didn't know you could, but it does look like there's a bushing shown in the diagram, and it looks like there's a similar bushing in the idler arm.  You might have to have a machinist make one. Or buy a new crosslink, which might be cheaper than a machinst, that is, unless you're working with a reversed crosslink for an SR  or KA conversion.  Keep us posted on how you resolve this. I ruined two reversed crosslinks ($$) by over-torqueing the Pittman ball joint nut (FSM torque value is too high!). Caused a shimmy at ~50 mph which could get real nasty under braking under certain conditions.  I still have one of them, so if you manage to salvage yours, I'd be interested how it turns out because I might need to salvage mine some day. Good luck!

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From: blueb...@googlegroups.com <blueb...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Matt Dock <mattd...@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2025 1:23 PM
To: Bluebird510 <blueb...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [Bluebird510] Drag Link Bushing Question

 

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