Drag Link Breakage?

[Lock93]

Broke the drag link at the shop on a test drive and lost all steering. Is this common, or weird. Don't want to pay for something the shop broke while replacing the oil pan.

 

[TKingsbury]

I don't know how you would break one on a test drive unless one of the joints was sloppy and popped out. Maybe they tested your 4 wheel drive for you. Or hit a curb .

Travis. .

 

[boatpuller]

I would say that is weird, those things are pretty tough.



Why were they test driving it after replacing the oil pan??

Maybe it was damaged when the truck was rolled and just never noticed before. Did it actually break in the link or was it one end or the other?



Sounds like it's lucky no one got hurt.



Later,

Caleb

 

[Lock93]

Caleb,

Test drive was due to them replacing a couple transmission lines that were leaking also. I figured it must have been weakened from the roll over. It broke on the end. I wonder what else may be weak from that accident. Got me worried now since my little ones ride with me on occasion...



Any way to check other components for damage? I don't know if the pitman arm, or steering knuckles could be damaged without noticing it. The knuckles are cast, so I know finding a crack would be like finding a crack in an manifold. Not sure about the tie rod either without further inspection. I grease the zerks on the drag link ends at every oil change and never noticed a crack or unusual bend.

 

[boatpuller]

That's strange, might want to look at your wheels to see if maybe they ran into something real hard with a front wheel? I would sure crawl around under there looking for anything else that might be damaged.



Good luck,

Caleb

 

[JLEONARD]

The drag links are supposed to made of a malleable material so it doesn't break. It is a safety critical steering component.

Did someone heat it in an attempt to straighten it at some point?

That could have made it brittle.

Jay

 

[Lock93]

Dont' know if the previous owner tried to straighten it. The truck was reassembled really nice, couldn't tell that it had been on its lid. I wonder if the shop used it to pry against when changing the oil pan or something? Anyway, fixed now with new parts...