What is this part?

[alber garage]

I had a little fender bender a few months back due to a brake failure. In order to avoid a more serious accident I turned pretty hard into the concrete barrier running along the exit lane. I believe this resulted in me bending my left front leaf spring as well as the part pictured below. What is this steering component called? Is it a center link?

I am noticing some sloppiness in the steering. Could this bend be contributing to that?

[G60michael]

That's a Steering Draglink

[Esteban]

... What is this steering component called? Is it a center link?

I am noticing some sloppiness in the steering. Could this bend be contributing to that?

As Michael said, it's the drag link. The bend doesn't look extremely bad, and with a press you'll be able to reshape it.

If you notice that some sloppiness developed after the impact, one probable cause could be that one of the springs inside the drag link assembly broke. Please refer to the following picture taken from the parts manual, Steering Linkage section (the components are reversed, since this picture corresponds to the wrong side of the road ). There is one spring #7 at each side. These are very strong springs that aid absorbing some sudden jolts to the steering linkage. If we look at the right side in the picture, the Stud-Ball #11 goes between the two Seat-Balls #6. Then the Spring #7, and finally the Plug-End #8. You adjust them according to the manual from time to time. There's a cotter pin and numerous positions to place it. The other side is the same, with a Stud Ball attached to the Pitman Arm.

Steering Linkage 1.jpg

Hope this explanation makes sense. I don't have pictures of these components. While you're at it, you might as well check the tie rods. These can be adjusted if they show some play. Please refer to this topic:

Tie Rod Ends, in Parts and Compatible Parts
http://www.60patrol.com/forum/viewtopic ... 23&p=18015

[Swerve]

How did you go , as from your photos all looks well, did you get a wheel alignment to start off with

[Ross Collins G60]

Swerve makes a god point! Tack it to a steering speshelest and get a wheel alignment. if there is a problem they will know wot to do. even if it is fine a wheel alignment woodent hurt.