Transit Drag link nut really tight

[CTWV50]

What the deal with the adjuster nut on the front top ball joint which I believe are transit drag links. Looks like the nut has the threads pinched over in 4 locations and it's making it ridiculous to thread it onto the balljoint threads and is actually flatting off the top of the threads as I put it on. Is this normal?

[Davidbolam]

Mine were the same. I assumed they are to stop them coming loose. They were very tight and needed to be held with the vice.

David

[CTWV50]

Thanks for putting my mind at easy. Feels wrong putting them on! I was going to message you actually. iirc you're using the ford escort track rod ends with 1.6 front hubs aren't you. Have you noticed that they don't fit? If I'm right I have come up with a solution but it's not for the faint hearted, let me know and I'll put up pictures and explain what I've done. :eek:

[Davidbolam]

Thanks for putting my mind at easy. Feels wrong putting them on! I was going to message you actually. iirc you're using the ford escort track rod ends with 1.6 front hubs aren't you. Have you noticed that they don't fit? If I'm right I have come up with a solution but it's not for the faint hearted, let me know and I'll put up pictures and explain what I've done. :eek:

Yes I've got ford track rods. There is quite a bit of play in them but they haven't been tightened yet. Please put up the pics.

David

[will_08]

I dont think my drag links came with a locking nut. I was going to buy some half nuts off ebay. Is it a funky special one?

[CTWV50]

I dont think my drag links came with a locking nut. I was going to buy some half nuts off ebay. Is it a funky special one?

Yes they are a bit weird!

[Davidbolam]

Are they called pinch nuts?

[snapper]

1/2 nuts are easier to put on, take off, and adjust
The track rod won't come off as you would need to rotate the whole thing in the wishbone
The nut on the taper which should be inside the dummy strut should be a locknut or pinned