which rod end? or is it a ball joint?

[rusmannx]

just got my steering put back together after it's springtime detonation.
i'm looking for a part number for a new joint which will hook into my
saginaw pitman arm. is there something that will thread right onto my stock
40' draglink?

again, part number (napa, autozone, whatever) would be great.
oooo, and if you know a ballpark figure of what this end would cost.

thanks crew.

 

[HI^C]

well tie rod end is steering, draglink tie rod end, are all rod ends.
ball joint is an axle only piece and usually have a completely different taper then TRE.

What taper does your pitman arm have? there are about three different sized taper holes,
same taper but different size hole. IF you have the large taper, you can run a 7/8" adjuster
sleeve off a American made truck with a matching TRE or draglink TRE (if you need the movement),
cut the stock cruiser to length needed, pound on the adjuster sleeve about half way, and weld it
good. adjust and YOUR DONE. Cost was $5 i found a next to new TRE and sleeve, on a fullsize wagoneer, but chevy truck or dodge truck would work. PNP baby.

Please note the RH thread TRE is usually cheaper then the LH thread, and make sure you use opposite ends on the draglink to allow proper adjustability.

NEED pic let me know.

 

[hammerhead]

That's pretty much how I did it the first time. Cheap and easy. Like HI^C said be sure you get the correct ends or you must disconnect the rod to adjust it. Don't bother asking how I know...DOH!! The pitman I used was from a car so I just grabbed the rod that was attached and did the welded sleeve trick. If the sizes are such that they don't lend themselves to easy slip over fit then a slug made on a lathe makes the union simple. I usually smooth them after welding so they look as if they came that way.

 

[rusmannx]

got the box w/ pitman from a 69 buick special out of the wrecking yard.
i was looking to just go to napa for the TRE.