Drag link replacement

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Musicmaker

Active Member
Posts
346
Location
Glasgow, Scotland
Hi all
I will be fitting a new drag link later to my P38. The way I think it should be done is;
Centre steering
Remove old drag link
Measure / adjust drag link to 1170mm before fitting
Double check that the steering wheel & marks line up on the steering box
Fit the drag link, perhaps have to adjust to fit.
Am I missing anything?
Cheers
Billy
 
Take old off....offer up the new to the old one and adjust to match...fit, and finally get an alighnment check done at a reputable place....

1170 is only a starting point....if you match the old one you will be within a gnats cock of the correct length.
 
Take old off....offer up the new to the old one and adjust to match...fit, and finally get an alighnment check done at a reputable place....

1170 is only a starting point....if you match the old one you will be within a gnats cock of the correct length.
Changing the drag link does not affect alignment/tracking.
 
Yeah, it's a diesel. I had to buy a 32mm spanner to do the job, lets hope the viscous fan comes off easily. I've heard some story's about turning the nut the wrong way :) It come off in the same direction the fan turns (clockwise) right. :D
 
Yes it turns clock wise for removal, position the spanner on the nut and give it a sharp tap

I would just pop a bit of card board on the face of the rad when you remove the fan, just stops the VC unit biting the Rad surface, once you loosen the fan, from memory I think you pop the top clips from the plastic cowling finish unscrewing the fan and gently pull the whole lot out together.

Again from memory a huge amount of coolant will come from the block when you remove the stat housing, unless you've already drained it. also use a good quality stat and I think it has to be fitted a certain way re the vent hole, more experienced than I will advise if you're not sure.

I would be tempted to replace the water pump and all the O rings, again a good quality pump with a metal impeller whilst you're in there

Good luck hope it goes well
 
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Yes it turns clock wise for removal, position the spanner on the nut and give it a sharp tap

I would just pop a bit of card board on the face of the rad when you remove the fan, just stops the VC unit biting the Rad surface, once you loosen the fan, from memory I think you pop the top clips from the plastic cowling finish unscrewing the fan and gently pull the whole lot out together.

Again from memory a huge amount of coolant will come from the block when you remove the stat housing, unless you've already drained it. also use a good quality stat and I think it has to be fitted a certain way re the vent whole, more experienced than I will advise if you're not sure.

I would be tempted to replace the water pump and all the O rings, again a good quality pump with a metal impeller whilst you're in there

Good luck hope it goes well
The cowl on later cars is not split and the whole bl@@dy thing has to be removed with the viscous, a real PITA. Drain coolant and remove hoses from the RAD.
 
The cowl on later cars is not split and the whole bl@@dy thing has to be removed with the viscous, a real PITA. Drain coolant and remove hoses from the RAD.

Ah yes you're right Keith, now I remember the hoses were already off my car at the time, brings back some bad memories
 
The cowl on later cars is not split and the whole bl@@dy thing has to be removed with the viscous, a real PITA. Drain coolant and remove hoses from the RAD.

Same on the early ones. The petrol split in half nicely. I did think of doing the same to my diesel one as it is (as you say) a real PITA.
 
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