Center link playing violin with headers

[Moparfiend]

Not sure how you'd ever install it upside down, but turned 180 degrees would be a possiblity...

Here is correct...
View attachment 1931877

Thanks Wayne. So the center link is not symmetrical? Looks like mine is oriented similarly to your picture but I am not sure.

 

[pnora]

Thanks Wayne. So the center link is not symmetrical? Looks like mine is oriented similarly to your picture but I am not sure.

Yours is not the same as Wayne's. Yours looks to be curved towards the oil pan where it should be away from the pan. Usually the ones on wrong will also be very close to the oil pans drain plug.

 

[Moparfiend]

Yours is not the same as Wayne's. Yours looks to be curved towards the oil pan where it should be away from the pan. Usually the ones on wrong will also be very close to the oil pans drain plug.

So do you think mine is “wrong” because its 180 out or upside down?

 

[dadsbee]

I'd say you're 180 out..

 

[Ron H]

Had posted this exact problem a year or so ago on my '63 mentioning the violin too. This was after installing a FFII box. When on a lift we noticed the pitman zerk was sheared off and some marring on the torsion bar, the center link looked slightly unlevel. We tried a new pitman and it solved the problem, some of the suspension had been replaced; but not the pitman so it was original. Ordered a USA one from a vendor on here, I think mobileparts? Good guy to do biz with.

 

[RemCharger]

So do you think mine is “wrong” because its 180 out or upside down?

It can only go on 2 ways. Yours is wrong. So put it on the other way . As others have tried to tell you.

 

[Moparfiend]

Had posted this exact problem a year or so ago on my '63 mentioning the violin too. This was after installing a FFII box. When on a lift we noticed the pitman zerk was sheared off and some marring on the torsion bar, the center link looked slightly unlevel. We tried a new pitman and it solved the problem, some of the suspension had been replaced; but not the pitman so it was original. Ordered a USA one from a vendor on here, I think mobileparts? Good guy to do biz with.

So was it your pitman arm that caused this? I am using my original pitman arm but my idler arm is new. The geometry of these components can cause an issue like this and with all sorts of shitty manufacturers and vendors this poor fitment happens all the time in this industry.

 

[Moparfiend]

The reason I am asking so many questions about the orientation is I don’t have a lift AND I have a spinal condition that makes this work very painful and difficult. So knowing what needs to be done before I get in there minimizes the time.

 

[Ron H]

So was it your pitman arm that caused this? I am using my original pitman arm but my idler arm is new. The geometry of these components can cause an issue like this and with all sorts of shitty manufacturers and vendors this poor fitment happens all the time in this industry.

Was thinking some shimming was necessary, but my friend having more experience landed on trying a new pitman. Made sense looking at how it looked saggy. Not a big cost and he’s nicely equipped to do the work. The vendor I mentioned said his are made in the USA and not much price difference than I was finding online. I sure liked the made in the USA and buying from a fellow member. All I can say is after a couple thousand miles now the problem is solved. My car has a slightly built poly and TTI headers, a TIGHT fit, very little clearance and TTI was the only place I could find headers. Before the fix, when I would drive a good distance would hear what sounded like a tuning fork noise turning the wheel. Suppose with heat expansion that’s when the link was playing the violin as we say.

 

[Ron H]

The reason I am asking so many questions about the orientation is I don’t have a lift AND I have a spinal condition that makes this work very painful and difficult. So knowing what needs to be done before I get in there minimizes the time.

There may be other causes as mentioned, but in my case replacing the pitman solved it. Sort of job best done on a lift using compressed air tools. Used a ball joint separator to remove the old arm.
At my age, after two neck fusions, a laminectomy, and a few other surgeries to repair injuries, don't do much laying on my back under a car anymore..

 

[Moparfiend]

There may be other causes as mentioned, but in my case replacing the pitman solved it. Sort of job best done on a lift using compressed air tools. Used a ball joint separator to remove the old arm.
At my age, after two neck fusions, a laminectomy, and a few other surgeries to repair injuries, don't do much laying on my back under a car anymore..

Yup I currently have C6-7 fused with an ACDF Laminectomy. But now C5 is done and collapsing….sucks now I have to stop riding as well. I am actually at the Dr.’s office now lol

 

[Ron H]

Yup I currently have C6-7 fused with an ACDF Laminectomy. But now C5 is done and collapsing….sucks now I have to stop riding as well. I am actually at the Dr.’s office now lol

Best of luck to you all the way around!

 

[R/T Boy 67]

Take the end of the center link that is on the driver's side, and put it on the passenger side, while keeping the top side up.