2024 579 Peterbilt drag link

If its anything like MY 579.....yea thats actully normal. The one in my 2017 would be easy to move by hand and make knocking over bumps the entire time i owned the truck. Even had it replaced twice out of parinoia by two diffrent shops and did it once myself.

Nope totally normal. That said my 579 was build on the end of shift on a thrusday half day before a 4 day paid holiday. Then worked on by cleetus and friends when they were both drunk and high while suffering from full frontal lobotomys before i got it...so maybe not the best comparison

 

You can grab it and twist it? Normal.

The ball stud moves in/out or side to side within the socket? Worn.

 

Each end is a lubricated ball in a socket, it does need to swivel and rotate. It's when you get wear between the ball and socket that causes slop that it needs to be replaced.

 

Knocks when it stops or as you twist it?

 

Thats one of them new designed links that are made of the new magical chinesium moly steel that is so strong it allows them to forge it at a 10x smaller diameter then the ones in the past. Slim is much better for smartway fuel savings and factory co2 output.

 

Your knock is not coming from the drag link that just has rotational movement.

Most knocking/ popping noises come from springs or pin/ bushings on steer axle.