VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 steering balls

Does anybody have any experience in the removing and replacement of the balls on the ends of the steering units? The Fillingstation has replacements but I'm having trouble removing and replacement of the balls.

Mike

Do you have a FS number? Sometimes they have instructions with the part or instructions online. If you are referring to the balls in the steering arms they are most likely peened in or welded, in which case the weld or flared end are needs to be cut out. Best done by drilling or grinding or a combination of both. The weld or swage is only on the outer part and normally the ball is mounted on the end of a stud that is most likely tapered.

There is a little chamfer in the bore underneath the peened area. What I mean by that is the bore is slightly enlarged so that when they were peened or pressed together, the metal filled in the area that is larger than the bore. The secret is to cut that out and then you can easily drive it out. With the peening ground off, sometimes they will still not move with 30 tons of force.

Here is a link to what I am talking about. read down until you get to the post by Davi F chamfer

Has anybody repaired the end where the stud pivots? It has a large rubber seal around the stud and .It looks like there is a cap on the back. Does the cap come off? If so, are replacement parts available.

Thanks

Mike

Not sure where you are referring to but it would be to your benefit to have a service and parts manual. You should find most of your answers there but if not it will help you with proper names of parts so others can more easily help. The end assembly that the ball stud fits in to should be adjustable and/or replaceable with a slotted plug in the end for adjustment.

Your right of course. I just can't seem to find a reference to it. I understand the connection point where the end plug and springs hold the ball in place, but the other side is where I have a problem. Here is a link to a picture of the part I need to work on.
Drag link

Hopefully this works.

Thanks,

Mike

Which end of the pictured drag link are you refering to?
The end on the left side of the picture does not come apart and can not be repaired.
The end to the lright is adjustable and the internal parts are available for replacement. Also they must be installed in the proper oreder as the set-up is desighned to reduce road shock.

Google..Repairing ball joints (Insert year of your ford) and viola'

So I am very curious here. What year did they make such a link with the old type of joint on one end and the modern style on the other?

That is the replacement Chevrolet made. The drag link and a new pitman arm was sold as a unit. The conversion was sold for a 1937 and a 1938 as they were not the same.

I pressed mine out with a large vice and pressed the new ones in the same way. Or you can use a 12 ton jack to do the same thing. Or take to the local machine shop and they can do it for you.