Tie-rod vs Drag-link vs Link-rod vs Track-rod vs Panhard Bar

[jmbrodsky@domain.elided]

Tom, Ed,

     The Tie-rod is the rod with two ball joints (one on either end) that
link the front wheels together.  The ball joints have a reverse thread on one 
side, so that you can adjust the length using a turnbuckle effect of the bar.  
It's called a tie-rod because it ties the two wheels together.  The scout has a 
rod that comes from the pitman arm of the steering box and goes to the front 
right wheel.  This rod is actually the drag link.  Though drag link is normally 
termed to the rod that comes from the steering box and point fore or aft to the 
LEFT front wheel (almost any other truck incl. Chev and IH pickups/t'all), 
typically a rod of 12- 18" in length.  The scout 'drag-link' is usually called a
link rod or track-rod, as it points accross instead of inline with the direction
of travel.


     -Joel Brodsky

         '76 IHC Scout II 345/tf727
         '75 IHC Travelall 150 4wd 392/tf727
         '72 Chev Carryall 3dr 4wd 350/th350 sold, but not forgotten.

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Date: Sat, 28 Feb 1998 10:43:29 -0700 (MST)
From: Tom Mandera <tsm1@domain.elided>
Subject: Re: Inspection Failure :(

On Sat, 28 Feb 1998, Ed Kraus wrote:

> Well, It was a sad day in South western PA yesterday!  My 1974 Scout
> went for its initial inspection since I purchased it 5 months ago...

The dreaded annual PA inspection!  The demise of many a Scout!  OTOH, 
parts rigs are always easy to find.. ;-)

> but I have ONE QUESTION what is a Draglink, I think its near the Tie
> rods but thats all I can figure

The drag link is very much like the tie-rod.

Looking at your front axle, the tie-rod goes from one knuckle (hub area) 
to the other.  It's what makes both tires point in the same direction at 
the same time.

On the passenger knuckle (where the tie-rod attaches), there's another 
rod that goes from the knuckle, across to the driver's side, just below 
the frame.  It attaches to the Pitman arm (which is kind of a dog-leg 
looking thing) that in turn is attached to your steering box (can't miss it)

That rod (knuckle-->pitman arm) is the draglink.

It has ball-joints on either end that wear out.. probably what the 
inspection guy told you you needed to replace.. one of those times the PA 
Inspection is a Good Thing. 

- -Tom Mandera, Helena MT

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