Do I have failed balljoint on drag link?

[mike65]

Under the car I pushed against the steering damper and the drag link moved back by several millimetres at the drivers side end. Should be link have any free play in it?

Mike.

[glenmore]

I changed out my drag link. Easy DIY. No realignment needed. My symptom was a "crick" when hitting a driveway. With the front end up on jacks I could also see the excess movement in the joint when I rocked one of the wheels. I could also move the drag link by grabbing it. It can last for awhile like this, but you have that annoying "crick". The new drag link barely moves when grasped. In evaluating the dampner, I understand from the forum to look for a flat spot during the piston travel.

glenmore
1991 300CE

[mike65]

To remove the old drag link do I just unbolt the threads and pull (very hard I suspect)?

Mike.

[glenmore]

This recent thread covers it. Search

"Should I just replace the drag link or tie rods as well"

It takes a lot of force to get them apart. You can bang on them with a hammer and pickle fork, use a puller type tool (in this case not enough overhead room for this type tool) or use a lever type tool which I think works best. IIRC, a single lever tool was <$10 back when I was looking but I opted to buy the entire kit for about $90.

glenmore
1991 300CE