drag link comparison

[blumule]

just got my new drag link from trw. its not an exact match from the one i took off. its the same length and everything but the new one has a little more curve to it . does this matter? my truck is a 69 but i pulled the front end off a 74 to upgrade disc brakes. the drag link i pulled off is straighter than the one i just recieved.What years are interchangeable with the difference being longer tie rods on 73-79. did ford change the angle or contour of the drag links for different years? will they all work?

[forrestbump]

Look at: http://www.fordification.com/tech/str-s ... ations.htm for comparisons sake.

[fordman]

the curved one is correct for a 74 setup. it will it the D2TA pitman arm correctly. if you have the C9ta pitman arm. you may have to do somethign different. more information in the link above.

[blumule]

thanks for details, although im still a little confused . Evidently the drag link i pulled off the 74 was from an earlier model truck [71- up]. what confuses me is the tie rod ends cleared the thicker 74 spindles. I then checked my pitman arm and it is the earlier style , but i did a trial fit of my new drag link[74] and it seems to fit, however i noticed the 74 drag link ball end just offers lateral movement while the earlier provided 360 movement. can this be a problem with binding? I guess what it comes down to is ill be installing 74 steering linkage to a 69 pitman arm. it seems to fit ok on a trial fit. I also want to add this is a manual box and the above link is describing power steering, if this makes a difference i dont know.

[fordman]

that is why the mid 71 and up trucks use the D2ta pitman arm. to keep the linkage from binding with the C9TA arm instead. it has to do with the slope of the pitman arm.

neither the D2 or the C9 arm will fit a manual box. i would only guess that the manual arm is a one shape works with all.

[blumule]

will a 74 pitman arm fit a 69 gear box?

[fordman]

all manual pitman arms will fit any year manual box.