Quote:
Originally Posted by Cabinhill
DENSHER you were right. I do have the movement in the pitman arm and the gear box shaft. Let me know what you did to make this a tighter and better fit.
Thank you so much. Just got out from under it and I could feel the shaft move prior to the pitman move.
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It took me 3 attempts before coming up with this final solution.
1. Remove the clamp bolt so the arm can be moved vertically on the splines. Am most likely will not come completely off the splined shaft.
2. Used Loctite 271 (high torque) and worked this into the splines by raising the arm and applying Loctite into splines form the top. worked the arm up and down a few times repeating Loctite application until I could not get any more to run down between the splines.
3. Set arm back in position and reinstalled the bolt, turning the bolt so any surface wear on the bolt faced away from the shaft. Could replace the bolt but I didn't have on that size and didn't see the need for it.
4. Before tightening the bolt, the end of the pitman arm at the drag link end needs to be supported, pushed upwards slightly to keep splines aligned vertically. I believe the massive weight of the pitman arm itself plus the heavy drag link is cause of the wear to start with.
5. After everything in place and bolt torqued I spot welded the end of shaft to the pitman in 2 places 180 degrees across for each other inline with the axle.
I tried this without using Loctite in step 2 and without spot weld. It held for some 50 miles then worked loose again. I don't know if it will hold for any length of time without the spot weld as I did both at same repair. The spot welds were for added insurance plus if I start to feel some steering slop, quick inspection of the spot weld will tell if it has moved. Welds would be cracked. Some 6000 miles now and still holding fine.