Olds Dad

So I am taking apart my parts car and I cannot figure out how to disconnect the tie rod ends from the drag link on my 55 olds. This does not appear to be the standard tapered fit that you would break loose with a pickle fork. There is a cotter pin at the end of the assembly but I still don't see how it all comes apart. The service manual is essentially useless.... any pointers will be appreciated.

oldcutlass

The tie rod ends should be standard taper type with cotter pin and lock nut at the spindles. The other side is a turn-buckle type connection at draglink.

joe_padavano

Well, for starters, you need one of these:



It's called a drag link socket and they come in different sizes.

First, remove the cotter pin at the end of the drag link. Second, use the drag link socket to unthread the plug at the end of the drag link. Third, pop the ball fitting out of the side of the drag link. Reverse process to reinstall. You can adjust the tightness of the plug to make up for wear.

Edit:

Note that you might need to remove the idler/pitman arm from the drag link first, then the plug and spring inside the drag link and THEN the idler arm, depending on the exact configuration of your drag link.

Olds Dad

Ok - thanks...make quite a bit more sense now...when you say the sockets are different sizes - seems like a giant screwdriver, so is the size a "width" or a slot dimension...or both?

Appreciate the feedback

joe_padavano

Both:

Olds Dad

Anyone know what size works for the '50s links?

thanks

oldcutlass

I stand corrected - when I looked up the parts the pics showed something different.

My appologies!!!

Olds Dad

No worries..Joe straightened me out.

thanks all - first foray into the steering gear on these beasts - the outer ones are "regular" and that's all you see with the wheels off so when I saw the others I sort of sat there and said..."WTF??"

I can go home now...I learned something.