I had to use a pressure plier to grip the linkage and another plier to remove the end with the ball shown in the picture. Is this the correct procedure? I wouldnt like to break the metal linkage.

Polishing up the new end makes sense, only the metal and stay away from the plastic ball.  Be careful to not take off the plating...  Then re-assembling the ball end with the threads should be easy.  Just be sure as previously stated to note the Center-to-Center ball distance from your original rod.  Once cleaned the ball can be easily screwed onto your good shaft, just clean your threads on the shaft before attaching.  The nut on your original rod is used to lock the threaded ball end at the correct length and orientation.  There should not be any significant force torquing the threaded ball end on.   

Good luck...

Edited May 30, 20195 yr by moritz55
Clarity

The plastic ball cannot be removed by itself it seems glued to the metal part so the only option is to unscrew the complete part from the linkage stem. How do you clean the threads once you remove the part?

Correct. Unscrew it from the rod. The threads can be cleaned with a fine wire brush.

I took a couple of pictures of one of the plastic ball ends of the long stock linkage that i have installed. Do you really think its worth all the hassle of removing the stock one and installing the other one? The plastic ball end does not look cracked just a little bit worn. 

You can pop those off in a second with some needle nosed pliers.  Put them under the ball against the metal and pull up.

Edited June 2, 20195 yr by siteunseen

No need to remove the ball if it's in usable condition. Save any good pieces of the linkage for repairs in years to come.

I’d grab one from a salvage yard. I see them all the time when I find a Z. I’ll start grabbing them now that I know they’re so expensive.


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You can modify these easily if you have a few spares.  Just get the appropriate tap and die and use an appropriate small tube to couple.  I used a brake line as a makeshift coupler. I cut it to lenght the  ran a tap into each end to make a thread. I then took a small ball and socket shaft and cut it in two. Each cut end was threaded with a die then screwed and glued into the brakeline mid section.  Here is crude example:

 

Since you now have two threaded removable ball ends, just buy a piece of rod and cut threads into the ends then attach your two ball ends.

A machine chop can turn a nice piece of ss rod to the right diameter and cut the end threads!

 

Edited June 2, 20195 yr by 240260280

how exactly do you remove the ball end with the nose plier without breaking the plastic?

On some rods, only one ball-end is molded on. You can unscrew and remove the other adjustable end.