MTFCA Forum

I was out for a drive today and as I came in to a left curve it felt like my drag link flexed or bowed, momentarily causing loose steering and tight puckering. The link doesn't look bent. Maybe this is why old racers tied spruce spars to their steering linkages?

I once reinforced some early running board brace rods with 3/4" angle to support heavier loads without flexing. Is there a better idea than that in this situation?

Thanks for your help.

R/ Roger.

2 questions: how straight is it now and how tight do you have the kingpins in the axle? If the kingpins are too tight they can put a lot of drag on the spindles. Got mine too tight once, that put a pucker on my face when it locked making a turn.

Lots of variables to consider for having a feeling - speed at which you were making the turn, condition of road surface, wheel alignment (what year car), tire pressure. Plus the condition of the mechanical parts. Same feeling making a right turn under similar conditions?

blgitn wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 07, 2020 2:21 pm

I was out for a drive today and as I came in to a left curve it felt like my drag link flexed or bowed, momentarily causing loose steering and tight puckering. The link doesn't look bent. Maybe this is why old racers tied spruce spars to their steering linkages?

I once reinforced some early running board brace rods with 3/4" angle to support heavier loads without flexing. Is there a better idea than that in this situation?

Thanks for your help.

R/ Roger.

If it's truly straight to begin with you shouldn't get that feeling. Check out every bit of your steering system, starting at the steering wheel and working down. In particular, see how tight your pitman arm is and if there is any play in the woodruff key between it and the steering shaft.

I agree with others on checking all the rest of the steering first. Pull the front wheels and pull the tie rod off each spindle so you get a good idea of drag if any.

If after all of that you still feel strongly about adding reinforcement, I used the ends of the draglink inserted into some DOM steel tubing (sorry, don't remember the size I used) and welded it all up. Of course this is on my doodlebug that sees alot more strains on the steering components, especially when the skies are added for wintertime. My T road car has all stock stuff.

All,

I'll get the front wheels off and let you know what I find, thanks!

R/ Roger.

Yep, if that sucker is bent up at all, it'll flex.
I was so poor, I welded two together to make one and it's solid as steel.
Those buggers will flex
Keep us in the loop.

Here are the parts I took off:

The drag link is a little wavy but the tire \rod is really curved! I found a straight tie rod in the pile and I'm putting the better end and ball on it. I found a better drag link too, but it's not perfect so I think I'll reinforce it anyway. Spruce-and-cord would be cool, but a small angle iron is easier to source. What have you guys used?

R/ Roger.

Don't overdue reinforcing things. Strengthening one thing and other thing bends or a causes excessive wear to other components. Consider the affect on the entire system, steering shaft to spindles

That much bow, and it sure will flex. Straighten it and it will not flex. Simple as that.

I made a new rod for my '14 from solid. It's a mite heavy but it's straight and strong, and I don't have to worry about its being weakened by unseen rust from the inside out.