J-arm flip - drag link modification

[AZMT]

I just put a 3inch lift(buggy springs w/spacer) on 1981.  Now, I am doing j-arm flip as doc'd in one of the postings.  I have the ball out(pita) , 5 ton press barely did the job.  Now, a question about the draglink modification.  Is a person supposed to cut the drag link in half, turn 180 degrees, re-weld? 

Thanks,

AZMT

[MiniSimp]

Did you read this thread?
http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=33240.0

[AZMT]

Yep, thanks to the author Duffil.  I don't see where it covers drag links.  It mentions an adjustable drag link.  Most of the adjustable drag link I have found come with a 3-4 inch drop.  I do not think I need a drap as it is just a 3 inch lift.  So I planned on modifying the existing drag link.

[MiniSimp]

I sent him a PM for ya.

[toyo487]

I cut and turned mine (I did sleeve the rod when I re welded it to make if very strong)  just make sure you turn it to the correct position.  Works very well, was able to get any one of my tires 26" up with the push pull steering with the ball flip.  I did get bump steer pretty bad but I got used to it and now I have Hy steer.

[Duffil]

Yep, thanks to the author Duffil.  I don't see where it covers drag links.  It mentions an adjustable drag link.  Most of the adjustable drag link I have found come with a 3-4 inch drop.  I do not think I need a drap as it is just a 3 inch lift.  So I planned on modifying the existing drag link.

Thanks for the heads up Kyle.

Yeah, you can cut it in half, and sleeve it back together with a piece of tube.  Make sure the tube fits it fairly well, and you should plug weld it as well as welding the ends of the tube. Weld the main bar back together, then slide your tube down over the (ground flush) weld, and stitch in the plug welds and the ends. That is actually how I did mine before I got the adjustable one.

[84solidaxletoy]

i basically did the same thing too. but i did not have access to a press so i cut the j arm at a good spot and then flipped the entire thing and where i cut it, it still lined up very good. i then welded the j arm back together, and i cut the stock drag link and rotated it to fit nicely on the ball. but i ditched that within a day because the bump steer was insane. we have quite a few dips in our town due to washes that run down the town so everytime i would hit one of those at 40 or so mph i thought i was gonna lose the steering wheel. it would work but just be prepared for bump steer. i ditched it and just got a drop drag link. the beauty is you dont need to flip the ball, you just need to adjust the links and it will line up and it almost feels like stock steering again, just a little bump steer now and then but nothing even remotely close to before.

[jimbo74]

i wouldnt cut the j arm, it is difficult to weld back together and i would seriously doubt it will ever be as strong welded back together than it was originally, and originally it was marginal at best

[jimbo74]

duffil has pictures of the welded drag link on the second page of his build

[79coyotefrg]

i wouldnt cut the j arm, it is difficult to weld back together and i would seriously doubt it will ever be as strong welded back together than it was originally, and originally it was marginal at best

i never broke a  drag link or J arm  but  when pinned between a tree and a rock  i did  bend it,  but  bent it back  with a LARGE pry bar,  drove it till i had my wreck (dumb bass made left in front of me,  not related to my truck steering at all)

[Rocksurfer]

I had the adjustable drop draglink on my 80, I think anything to do with steering your vehicle should be set up by professionals and not jerry-rigged. No bumpsteer and no brakesteer either.

[AZMT]

Thanks for all the info and the note of caution.   I have taken two welding classes at community college(highly recommend) but I am letting a much more experienced welder and race car builder to do the welding of the drag-link and j-arm.  I will re-inforce with half-pipe.  Also, we are going to weld a plate to the j-arm starting at beneath the ball and tapering off at bend.

Thanks again from Peoria, AZ.

[84solidaxletoy]

oh come on rocksurfer you know brakesteer is awesome 

[AZMT]

Picture of bracket on j-arm and drag-link with steel pipe fitted. 1st time trying to post an image

[4RnrRick]

I did this years ago....

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=202801&highlight=flipped+ball+steering

But one problem I had is that in doing this - I would dent the shock at full flex, which also puts stress on the J-arm.

Works fine for a temporary solution, but defintely start saving for highsteer!