Archived Steering Box Shaft

[nfox]

I need help when i got home tonight my steering got really loose and thankfully i was about a block from home and got under the truck and looked and the nut that holds the arm on the steering box shaft is gone and the arm was about to fall off of the splines. Can anyone tell me what size of nut that is and maybe what thread pitch, so i can find a new nut and should there be a lock washer on that shaft also?

 

[John - K5AWO]

Can't help on the washer, don't have that model truck. Use a thread pitch guage to check the threads/inch if you have one. Count 'em against a ruler if you don't.



use a crescent wrench to "measure" the thread diameter and compare that against a ruler. Ought to help you find what you want at a good bolt supply. Ace Hardware in my area is absolutely the best with bolts and nuts. That nut might be a trifle big for their stock box though.

 

[jrobinson2]

I have the pitman shaft from my '99 4x4 on my desk and its 7/8 x 14 tpi (7/8 fine thread) be very carefull after re-tightening anything with a taper lock that has run loose, they have a tendency to re-loosen because of the uneven wear on the splines. You may need to tighten it several times and may be safest to replace the arm and shaft if the splines show wear.

Jared