D vs W drag link

[Jim100]

I have sniveled about this before but still cant grasp why the D link is 50 bucks and the W is 400 plus.
Just a rant. Thanks.
jim

[Wildergarten]

I have sniveled about this before but still cant grasp why the D link is 50 bucks and the W is 400 plus.
Just a rant. Thanks.
jim

I'm surprised you can get a W at all. The main difference as far as I can tell is the size of the stud on the driven end.

[Jim100]

Oreilys here in Michigan lists them as coming from Rare Parts company.

[PwrWgnDrvr]

Aren't the ends oriented to each other differently?

[Wildergarten]

Aren't the ends oriented to each other differently?

I just took the one I had from my wrecked W200 to see if it would fit my D200. It did but for the stud. The D200 steering arm is so wimpy there's no way I'd ream it out.

Rare Parts is a good vendor.

[powerwagon54]

Terry is right. D and W studs are oriented different. The D slides into the steering arm from the bottom. The W comes in from the top. Rare parts is 400.00 because it is not a one piece unit. You get a sleeve and both stud ends and it is a straight arm not bent like the original one.

[PwrWgnDrvr]

Aren't the ends oriented to each other differently?

I just took the one I had from my wrecked W200 to see if it would fit my D200. It did but for the stud. The D200 steering arm is so wimpy there's no way I'd ream it out.

Rare Parts is a good vendor.

Are u sure the studs are different, or are u just looking at the steering arm holes from opposite ends of the taper?

[Wildergarten]

Are u sure the studs are different, or are u just looking at the steering arm holes from opposite ends of the taper?

Had to get out to turn it over and take a look. Yes, you are right. When the stud didn't go through the hole far enough, I just dropped the test rather than look at it that carefully. My only goal at the time was to tie the wheels together to move the frame in front of the shop. I can do that instead with the link on my '69, as the parts genius at A&M Motor Supply in Los Gatos had made one up for me out of two ends. I don't know if these are tie rod ends or not. A stock Ch3vy drag link on a Dana 60 is comosed of two spherical joint ends very similar in appearance to tie rod ends. I don't know but Duane may have used those to make up the drag link on my '69, as it worked fine. I have that Ch3vy link, so I'll see what kind of aticulations it can make. It may be a simple adaptation to the W drag link problem but it will be some time before I am sure.

[PwrWgnDrvr]

well, at least u didn't ream the steering arm hole out...now that would have been painfully funny!

[Wildergarten]

well, at least u didn't ream the steering arm hole out...now that would have been painfully funny!

No, it wouldn't. As I said at the time, there isn't enough meat on the end of that arm to ream anything safely.