PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - Drag link question ('84 300DT)

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Drag link question ('84 300DT)

The problem resides in my swaping in a new drag link and steering dampner (along with tie rods, etc).

I was not able to 'seat' the two shafts of the drag link upward with an air compressor due to no room. Whereas the tie rods were easy, I had to do the drag link by hand. In so doing, I appear to have stripped the threads of one of the nuts in an attempt to get the shaft up and all the way through.

In studying the old drag link, its clear that the threaded shafts went further than the new ones wanted to because they had a drilled hole for a cotter pin at the top.

What did I do wrong?

Thanks

dp

Quote:

Originally Posted by diesel don (Post 1551332)

The problem resides in my swaping in a new drag link and steering dampner (along with tie rods, etc).

I was not able to 'seat' the two shafts of the drag link upward with an air compressor due to no room. Whereas the tie rods were easy, I had to do the drag link by hand. In so doing, I appear to have stripped the threads What torque specs did you use? of one of the nuts in an attempt to get the shaft up and all the way through.

In studying the old drag link, (old style, castle nuts?) its clear that the threaded shafts went further than the new ones wanted to because they had a drilled hole for a cotter pin at the top. New style uses a locking nut.

What did I do wrong?

Thanks

dp

SM mentions to use a spacer on all ball joints, don't know if there is one on the drag link, thickness varies, tighten to specs, loosen, remove spacer, retorque. This will "seat" ball joint. Did that as a precaution when replacing UCA and tie rod on my old '82 123. If you have stripped threads, you may be looking at new parts, again.

I'm pretty sure I'm looking at new parts again, but I still need to figure out the right way to do it.

Thanks for a couple of good ideas

dp

On the tie rod I used a 6mm spacer. An open end wrench stuck between steering knuckle and nut. Drag link, SM does not mention anything about seating. There are plastic cones, among other things. "Castle nut for attaching drag link to steering arms...35 Nm; Hex srew for attaching steering shock to drag link...45Nm" I quoteth directlyeth.