Steering: Tight enough?

[Rafe Hollister]

I replaced my steering box when I went with Toyota EPS. So is the nut holding the Pittman arm to the Pitman shaft tight enough? Does it look right? I put a lot of muscle into tightening it. But then I am 72 so....
Rafe Hollister

[r1lark]

It's hard to tell from the picture, but that "looks" like an elastic lock but. If it is, is the shaft sticking thru the elastic portion by a couple of threads?

As far as being tight enough, what did you torque it to?

[Mike Van Veghten]

A "LOT OF MUSCLE", means very little if you used a short wrench !!! OR, it "could" mean you have too much torque, if you used a 3ft. long bar !!
"Tight" wise...check..."the Stude book" for the torque value required.

Nylock nut wise, as r1 says, the threaded shaft NEEDS to be "fully"...engaged into the nylon, or else the locking effect is useless. Two threads minimum for full safety.

You CAN buy shorter Nylock nuts to gain the required thread engagement, if the proper torque doesn't do the trick.

Mike

[Rafe Hollister]

Yes, I get the Nylock thing, not the best choice. I will probably replace it with a regular nut and loctite. But my concern was that the Pitman arm should seat farther in on the splines (then the NyLock would be fine.)
Rafe

[StudeRich]

Yes, the splines showing is Not a good thing.

[Rafe Hollister]

Thanks StudeRich. I will take a better look and see if I can get it to move over the splines a bit better. I did check for surface imperfections but will take another look. Any other reason it won't seat better?
Rafe

[Bo Markham]

There are several variables at work, play, here? Is the gear box original, or something modified you installed? Is the pitman arm original, or something else? It could be on as tight as the taper will allow it to move up the splines? If all of this is original, check the torque value in the shop manual and dis the nylon nut.

Bo

[Rafe Hollister]

None of it is original... new steering box, longer pitman arm, Toyota EPS. After checking again, thinner washer, loctite, bit more torque... I feel it is about right. But will check after driving it a bit.
Rafe

[64V-K7]

Isn't the sector shaft spline which the pitman arm bolts to, tapered? Too much 'tight' will split it...

[Rafe Hollister]

I'm not that strong... and I have a spare.
Rafe

[M-Webb]

Yes, I believe those are tapper fit. Could be wrong though, am no expert. If so, I don't think it needs to be super tight, just needs to be nice and snug and the nut not backing off. You definitely do not want that nut coming off while you are driving, otherwise you will likely find yourself in a world of serious uncontrollable problems real fast. I'd definitely make sure the lock nut has 100%+ coverage on the threads if nothing else. Maybe take that washer out if you need more depth to catch more threads. Or if that is a lock washer, maybe add thread loctite as mentioned and should be good. And check it for a while after you start driving it to make sure the nut is staying put, not coming loose.

[Rafe Hollister]

I had my car for a year or so, daily driver. I drove 250 miles to visit Bensherb. He went over my car with me, tips and tricks stuff... when he noticed there was no nut holding the Pitman arm on! Scary stuff.
I used a thinner washer, loc tight, and a little more effort... so I feel confident now.
I haven't driven my car since I installed Toyota EPS, T5 transmission, new radiator and hoses, battery in trunk, so I will definitely check everything over after a short drive, then a hundred miles later.
Rafe
Rafe

[bensherb]

Thom, you forgot to say that we did dig up a nut from my junk and put one on before you drove back home!

[Rafe Hollister]

We did dig up a nut from my junk and put one on before you drove back home!
Rafe

[Jeffry Cassel]

At 78 really tight isn't as tight as it used to be, but twisted off bolts are more infrequent. Use a drop or two of blue thread locker and a torque wrench. I have a card with torque recommendations for various bolt sizes and grades. It is good to have one. Those nylon insert locknuts are chinese and aren't the greatest. Don't re-use them and steel ones are some better. Castle nuts and cotter pin is best. (Isn't that the way they came?)

[Rafe Hollister]

I think I used that nut because it was the only one I had in my stash. I'll check to see of there is a hole for cotter pin.
Rafe