Drag link - LHD vs RHD?

[Sobek]

Hey everyone,

So I now have basically everything ready to go on the XJ to replace on the front suspension, besides the drag link bar and its fixed tie rod on the left front. I was just going to get one from rock auto, but then I thought, are these LHD and RHD, or are they interchangeable? I'm talking about these specifically (the last few in each category, the full arms with integrated tie rod end);

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...e+rod+end,7428



I tried to do some searching on the forum here and I found some old threads that I THINK are referencing this specifically saying it wont work, but people were using picture comparisons to discuss it mostly and the pictures are all long broken and gone.

If those parts from Rockauto aren't going to fit, where would you guys look? Given one of those could be shipped for under $100 AUD, I can't think where else to look. Everything on eBay and 4x4point etc are all $200+ at a minimum...

I'm pretty sure mine needs doing as I can just grab the drag link and rotate it pretty freely with one hand. It's also 25 years old and original so... yeah. I fully expect that once I remove it to replace the tie rod on the other end, it's going to be sloppy. I've already got my 3 main replaceable tie rod ends ready to go

Cheers

[Fishframe]

I think it may be LHD different RHD from memory.

[awg]

different...I recently bought a RHD Oz ebay item for $190 free shipped, it was the 2nd last one.

pics in my vehicle thread

[alexbrown64]

This RHD one isnt too badly priced with shipping..

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Drag-Lin...gAAOSwvApaO6BC

[Sobek]

That's not too bad, $200. Has anyone ever produced a version of this link with BOTH tie rod ends removable? Seems an oddity to have such a large and expensive link with a fixed failure point that requires the entire arm to be scrapped!

I'll see how bad mine is once I remove it and if need be, bite that bullet haha

Thanks again everyone

[alexbrown64]

I think mine is still the original with 330,000 on it.
But yes, u would think you could just swap the end out.

Cheers,

[Sobek]

I had the knuckle off today doing ball joints, and the fixed end of my drag link is really floppy, no resistance to it at all. The ball joint doesn't have any bad movement to it beyond that, ie no up/down motion that would indicate bad wear in the joint. So for now it'll do but I'll be ordering a replacement link soon as I am able. Be silly not to now that I'm getting everything else good as new!

Cheers