Drag Link End

I got an MOT advisory for the N/S Drag link end.

I've seen them for sale in both left and right hand threads. Any idea for sure which thread it is?

1994 300Tdi Disco

cheeeers...

Should be R/H thread, but some people take the rod off, then put it back the other way round.
For the sake of a fiver each, get one of each and replace both while you're at it - if one's on it's way out, what's the other one like?

I had to do my trac rod ends and wasn't sure if I needed LH or RH so bought 2 RH and one LH - I believe the LH is for the link that goes into the arm at the top. But I'd get both and do both sides - once you get the arm off on one side, you might as well do the other while you're at it!

Treworgey 90 said:

Should be R/H thread, but some people take the rod off, then put it back the other way round.
For the sake of a fiver each, get one of each and replace both while you're at it - if one's on it's way out, what's the other one like?

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Trewy knows best ... I will do just that..!
so one left and one right then.

battenberg said:

Trewy knows best ... I will do just that..!
so one left and one right then.

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or 2 right (RTC5869) and 1 left (RTC5870) if you're going to do the tie bar one as well.

Ooops! just noticed - I got it the wrong way round! The N/S one on the drag link should be L/H thread.
Anyway, you can't go wrong with one of each (or 2 R/H + 1 L/H).

Treworgey 90 said:

I got it wrong

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blurry eck! - there is a god..

raise:

I just bought a set for the TIE rod off ebay before my first post.
so the tie rod ends I have on the way, so I'm gonna need 1 left hander for the drag..?

is this right?

In my parts book, the one that goes from the steering box drop-arm to the N/S swivel housing is called a Tie Bar and has a R/H threaded end. The one that goes between the swivel housings, behind the axle, is called a Track Rod and has a L/H threaded end on the N/S and a R/H threaded end on the O/S.
Does that help?

Yes..!

I have a set of joints on the way, these I bought for the Track Rod (the one at the back of the swivels with the damper on it half way across).

The N/S Drag Link is what I now need, (this is what was written on my MOT thingy)

So this is a Tie bar end?, as this will have the 'other' end on the drop arm of the steering box. So this should be a right handed thread.

battenberg said:

So this is a Tie bar end?, as this will have the 'other' end on the drop arm of the steering box. So this should be a right handed thread.

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Yes.

thanks

The TRACK ROD is the one between the swivels, and it sets the tracking AND steers the right hand wheel.

This should have one LEFT and one RIGHT threaded end so it acts like a bottle-screw if you loosen both lock nuts, and turn the whole track rod with a four-foot stilson.

Turning it one way will unscrew BOTH ENDS at the same time making the track rod LONGER, which will INCREASE tow in of the front wheels. I bet no-one will ever guess what happens if you turn it the other way.

The TIE ROD goes from the arm of the steering box to the steering arm on the left side swivel hub.

CharlesY

if ya buy them from a factor and they come from quinton hazzel check they the right threads rh/lh worked in factors for a while forever getting them wrongly boxed.

There are 2 parts available, for the track rod you will need a LH and RH thread.

For the tie rod you use the RH one, so if you were doing the lot you would buy 2 RH threads and one LH thread.

RH thread ball joint is RTC5869
LH thread ball joint is RTC5870

The original equipment was supplied by Lemforder and will cost you about £7 from paddocks and are without a doubt the best (they are on the Disco and have never been replaced and it's a 97, with 130K on the clock).

echo!

Yeah I know.

I decided for anyone looking to get the info quickly they would need to read the whole lot so I consolidated it into a single post with all the good information supplied.

discomania said:

Yeah I know.

I decided for anyone looking to get the info quickly they would need to read the whole lot so I consolidated it into a single post with all the good information supplied.

Click to expand...

Thanks to both of you for your help...

however, the first to come up with the torque settings wins..!

40Nm for the big nut on top.
14Nm for the tube clamp nuts.

Many thanks Trewy, Top form!!!

Stoopid question maybe - everyone is saying 3 joints - what is on the other end of the bar from steering box to hub?