center steering link question

schillaz
schillaz Expert Adviser
edited September 2012 in HUDSON
I have a 53 super wasp and under the car where the center steering link is. There is a bracket with the 3 bolts that bolts to the cross member, I have a pot metal piece that attaches to the bottom of the bracket and covers the lower end of the pivot point. Mine is busted up pretty bad

What is the purpose of this piece? do i need it? and where can I find another?

Guessing they may have jacked up the car on that center link and cracked the pot metal pretty bad.

Comments

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    schillaz - I can't see what a pot metal piece would be doing there. I understand there were some aftermarket kits to take out some play in that area. That may be a part left from one of these kits. Norm
  • schillaz
    schillaz Expert Adviser
    yah none of my other cars have that on it so im not sure if it was just this model or something? u might be on the right track.

    does anyone have pix of this aftermarket part then i could look at to see if its indeed what the broken pieces of mine looks like?

    thanks
  • Lee ODell
    Lee ODell Senior Contributor
    edited September 2012
    Schillaz toss it.

    There were all kinds of gizmozs back in the day that supposedly took away slop of steering parts. Unfortunately, they were all cheep band-aids. The parts were still worn out and the band-aids allowed the parts to wear dangerously thin to the point I have seen some cars towed into my shop because the parts had broken apart. I'm suprised to hear of a part like that still on the car after all these years. Too many people were fooled into a false sense of security when these gagets were installed and they were shown no more slop thinking the part had been repaired.

    If your center link is loose its time to fix it. That goes for all loose suspension parts.

    Lee O'Dell
  • lostmind
    lostmind Expert Adviser
    Jamco was the name of the company that made patch kits for steering and suspension parts.
    Probably went out of buisness when the lawsuits started.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Yes that is an aftermarket fix . I had a couple at one time. Dont recall the name,
    Roger
  • schillaz
    schillaz Expert Adviser
    So guessing the guy before me must have had some trbl with steering and bought this aftermarket kit, so i should look into getting a kit from 21st century and replace the pivot pin?

    thanks
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    just installed one of 21st century center links. Can tell you that the link is very good getting rid of the roller bearings and changing it to a bushing. the only issues i had were drilling out the tapered set pin and then needing to shop it all out to drill the new rod for the new tapered pin. a tapered drill bit costs as much as having a pro do it for you. went from having 180o degrees of steering wheel play to about maybe 10o. but mine was very bad.when you do this i will talk with you if needed on your part.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    If yours is not too bad you might have the option to just replace the roller bearings if the parts are out there.the hard part is removing the center link from the car and if the engine is still in the car more so and then getting the tapered pin out with out harming the pivot arm.understanding of course my abilities to do this sort of thing.
  • Fred
    Fred Expert Adviser
    I just replaced the roller bearings in my 48 Commadore 8. The pin was in good shape. I had a nylon insert in for the last ten years,but the "play" had returned. I also have the aftermarket " Fix" from the old days but decided against useing that. From the comments a good decision. Just took a couple of hours and I'm 79 so I was proud just to be able to get it done.
    Fred
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    So you see how those aftermarket guys were able to get $10.00 for those kits then ?
    Roger
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