Tony,
Sounds like the idler arm and/or its bushing (frame side) are worn. The drag link can wander all over the place with this problem, had to fix it on my '64. The tie rod inner joints are additional candidate. Check the torsion bar for damage from the chafing and replace it if out of limits. Adjust the ride height to specs.
Additionally, if you replace the Pitman and idler arm, you might want to take them to a machine shop and get them fitted with zerk joints so they can be greased. Just did this for the replacement drag link on my 64 Crown (in Korea even!). Plan to install it within a week or two, will let the club know if there are any gags or gaffs. (Yeah, sure they're lubed for life....;-)
Anyone got a '64 FSM for sale?
Got my tapered hubs unfrozen by backing the castellated center nut off one notch (maybe 1/8 turn) to where the washer barely moves freely. Reinstalled a cotter pin and drove with the hubcap off. As soon as the washer won't move, the hub is free. Learned this from a Packard guy.
That 413's got more torque than you or Popeye are ever gonna make with a puller, and you won't even booger up the threads! Just drive carefully!
Steve in Korea
Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 18:11:47 -0500
From: Tony Wright <tew@xxxxxxx>
Subject: IML: Rubbing Steering Linkage on 73
Reply-To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I continue to find "things" on my 73 that I can't seem to figure out
how or
why it's the way it is. Yesterday I discovered that the joint where
the
tie rod attaches to the center link on the passenger side is rubbing
against the torsion bar. I'm not always the brightest but I'm pretty
sure
this is a bad thing. Anyone have any ideas on what's going on here and
what would be best course of action? Are the torsion bars not adjusted
correctly? Could the idler arm be damaged or the wrong one?
Tony Wright
Carthage, MO
58
Crown
73 LeBaron
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