Drag Link removal..

Hi Guys,

Bedford J3.. need to change the drag link.

I've jacked up the drivers side, removed the wheel for access. Removed the nuts off both ends of the drag link and I can't for the life of me get it off.. I've had a jolly good swing at the pitman arm end with the nut still on but backed right off.. it just wont budge.

I'm picking up one of those ball joint removal forks later today and I'm considering jacking the suspension back up as perhaps the hanging suspension is locking the drag link in?

Any other thoughts before this turns into a real dogs breakfast?

With thanks,

Duncan.

Duncan,

What ever you do dont belt the nut you have backed off on the thread.
You'll bugger it.
Stick a decent lever over the drag link and behind the pitman and lean on it with a fair bit of pressure then give the eye on the pitman a good belt with a decent weight hammer. Most times it will come first whack and the certainly the second. If you dont use a decent weight hammer you will bash away all day and wont get anywhere.

Barry

Duncan,

What ever you do dont belt the nut you have backed off on the thread.
You'll bugger it.
Stick a decent lever over the drag link and behind the pitman and lean on it with a fair bit of pressure then give the eye on the pitman a good belt with a decent weight hammer. Most times it will come first whack and the certainly the second. If you dont use a decent weight hammer you will bash away all day and wont get anywhere.

Barry

Barry,

Sounds like sage advice.. I have replacement nuts and, as you said, I've pretty much buggered the one thats on there

I'll give it a go tonight.. I had thought of getting a lever on the drag link with the pitman arm as the pivot point.. thanks!

Duncan.

Dunc,

Some say its abit of a rough way of getting them off by belting the eye but I bet 90% of mechs do it this way instead of with the forky thingys....well the ones I know do it this way and I always have.
Maybe its a WA thing We are after all apparently half a century behind the rest of the country.

Barry

Dunc,

Some say its abit of a rough way of getting them off by belting the eye but I bet 90% of mechs do it this way instead of with the forky thingys....well the ones I know do it this way and I always have.
Maybe its a WA thing We are after all apparently half a century behind the rest of the country.

Barry

Sounds like it'll work!

I meant to say "I hadn't thought of getting a lever on the drag link..."

Dunc.

DunCan
GuddayM8
When U wollop the tie rod end the pitman arm is springing n absorbing the shock from the FB Hammr
wot U need is to place a hyd jack under pitman arm and apply a bit of lift as close as possable to the tie rod end with out tuching it
this will give the striking blow a solid object to hit
we use nuther nut of same thread n keep the castleated nut to use again if all else fails u can turn the castleated nut upside down n wollop th@

Cya
[ch9786]

Thanks Barry and Swishy..

Its all sorted. I picked up a ball joint fork and a couple of good whacks with that and it popped.. I can see that its probably not the best solution for removing a drag link that has to be put back on afterwards though as it does damage the boot. So I've noted both your methods for your future reference.

All that slop in the steering is gone now

Cheers, Duncan