Can someone tell me how to distinguish between a standard steering and a power steering drag link? Pictures would be helpful. Thanks so much. John B.
Easy way to tell is one end of the Power Steering Drag Link will be threaded to accept the Power Steering Control Valve
Yes, that looks like a manual drag link for a 75-77 Maverick as it has the stud built into it. The earlier drag links had a bushing and the stud was on the idler arm.
With a P/S link??? Only if you have the manual Pittman arm... As mentioned you need the correct idler arm for year of link as well... I went through the year scenario when I swapped link on my '72 for a '77, good thing is the later idler fits Granada so is readily available...
Drag link id Not with power steering. I bought this drag link and the pitman arm in this picture to change my '73 from power steering to standard. Did I get the wrong parts?
OK you're good, just need the matching '75-'77 idler arm... Earlier models have a bushing in the drag link that pin in Idler fits into...
switching to standard steering I'm afraid I'm still confused. I bought these 2 parts together. They were represented as being compatible, i.e., that they could be used together. I also was led to believe that these 2 parts would replace the power steering system that was on the car (a '73 Maverick), all the while using the power steering box (which would require a bit more effort to turn). What I'd like to know is, are these 2 pieces compatible? Is there a 3rd piece that I'm missing (I always thought that there was a drag link, a pitman arm, also known as an idler arm) and the steering box. If they are compatible, what year cars will they fit? Thanks for any input that helps to clarify things. John B
For a '73 your idler should be configured with pin that fits into bushing pressed into the drag link... What you need is the '75-'77 idler that has the bushing that fits onto pin in drag link... In other words they are opposite in configuration, opening with bushing in '73 drag link while the '75-'77 linkage has the pin in link... Assuming correct length drag link(anything other than Maverick/Comet will be too long) there should be no problem swapping to the later link, I've installed a '77 system on my '72 Comet... Of course you'll need to swap the Pittman arm, your P/S arm will have a opening vs the stud in manual...
when I did mine I noticed that the...taper...in the pitman arm came from top to bottom on one and bottom to top on the other...
Thanks Tom, Although I bought these parts to use on a '73, I don't remember specifying that when I bought them. All I care about is that these two pieces in the photos I've attached can be used together, and on what year cars, because I'm selling them, hopefully together as a set, and possibly with the power p.s. gear box. Can you tell me if they are compatible with one another, with a p.s. gear box, and what year cars they are suitable for? Thanks so much for your patience with my 20 questions. John B
Apparently the drag link sets on top of the Pittman arm for at least the '70-'72 manual linkage, plus pin is in the drag link vs on the arm... I assume this must have changed on the later manual setup, unfortunately I don't have any newer info to refer to... John since your Pittman arm has pin, I'd think it mounted facing downward with drag link below, so larger taper in drag link will be on top... That will(hopefully) point the pin in drag link for the idler upward...
