VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 49-54 Steering Connecting Rod (Drag link?) Question

Hi. 6 years ago I disassembled my front end (49 Chev Fleetline 2dr). I'm finally getting it back together. I had removed and cleaned up the Steering Connecting Rod, and got new end parts since one of the springs was broken. Preparing to reinstall it I see that it is not symmetrical, that is it appears that one end belongs on the idler arm and one on the pitman arm. While I labeled quite a bit of stuff back when, I failed to note this at the time of removal. Plus it was pre digital camera era (which has prove to be a big help I have since found.) I have a picture in my manual which shows the grease fittings facing the street, and as I didn't change that configuration, and one of the two ways it goes on ends with them that way, that may be the way it goes. So my question is, does anyone know which end goes on the idler arm? The ends are different (externally) in that the socket for one end is closer to the center of the arm than the one at the other end. If my guess based on the picture is correct, it is the former end that goes on the idler. Any ideas? Thanks in advance, and sorry if too much info. :)

Yes you have the correct idea. The front grease fitting points down and the rear opening for the pitman arm is closer to the screw in plug.

Thanks very much! That eases my mind and I can proceed.

In the Workshop manual there´s a good illustration of the order things go: the mais difference is in the sequence of springs,shells and pins in there.

You're correct mahalet, it is a good diagram of the assembly of the connecting rod, and it was helpful. But my problem was figuring out which end went where (50/50 chance :) ) Actually though, I found the manual does specifically admonish at one point to pay attention to that issue when removing the part. Makes me feel even more foolish. Should have read the manual FIRST all those years ago.

As Jack Lemmon once said, NOBODY is perfect, not even me!
But believe me, old boy, read carefully the manual and you will learn a lot about a very simple car with some small complicated details.
Sometimes I can cite from the manual like a holy book, and that helps to understand the car a whole.
for instance, you are dealing with the steering. Read the whole steering chapter so you can fully understand what you´re doing and seeing. What you don´t, ask here. That´s what we´re here for.
The arm sense is determined by in which order you mounted the pins and springs in each end, as they are not simmetrically built
welcome.