Steering suddenly very loose 2 months after TSB

[Stacked JT]

Driving home from work tonight I noticed my steering became very sloppy all of a sudden. I made it home and inspected everything I could at 11pm. (Work second shift). I knoticed the Pitman arm nut was just hanging on by a thread. Like the title says, I had my steering gearbox replaced about 2 months ago and it was a huge improvement...until now. There doesn't seem to be alot of running torque on this nut(feels like it's going to loosen right up again). Just curious if anyone else has had this issue. Not sure if I really want to drive it 30 miles to the dealer to get it looked at either

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[Skull]

Not sure how far your dealer is but call them and have it towed(flatbed) to dealer ASAP ..all should be covered especially the dangerous situation a technician put you in.

 

[Jeepfitter]

I just had my gladiator in for yearly inspection and it failed because of steering . The pitman arm to drag link nut was coming off. I had the steering box replaced last August.

 

[brianinca]

Fuuuuuuuuu........ <runs out to check Pitman arm>

 

[bgenlvtex]

Surely they wouldn't replace the box and re-use the nut.

Surely.

 

[Stacked JT]

Surely they wouldn't replace the box and re-use the nut.

Surely.

Looking at the TSB, it says nothing about replacing it. Only gives part numbers for the bolts and box

 

[Gren71]

Surely they wouldn't replace the box and re-use the nut.

Surely.

They reused the nut for mine. I only know because i marked a couple things with a white paint pen to see if they replaced it.

I can say though, they torqued the hell out of it when it went back on. I started to reinstall my synergy brace the other day and gave up after realizing id have to heat it up to loosen the locktite. Just wasnt worth the time to me

If you have a torque wrench, impact gun, and loctite, id just re tighten it. I believe its supposed to be torqued to 190ft lbs or there about

 

[Mjolnir]

Just torque that sucker on and youre good to go until you can make it to the dealer (if you dont have a torque wrench to get to factory settings).

This is real shitty for the dealership, but it is a 2 minute fix.

 

[bgenlvtex]

They reused the nut for mine. I only know because i marked a couple things with a white paint pen to see if they replaced it.

I can say though, they torqued the hell out of it when it went back on. I started to reinstall my synergy brace the other day and gave up after realizing id have to heat it up to loosen the locktite. Just wasnt worth the time to me

If you have a torque wrench, impact gun, and loctite, id just re tighten it. I believe its supposed to be torqued to 190ft lbs or there about

I would consider that a critical, and consequently single use fastener.

If I were having my box changed (which I at this point have no intention of doing) and they planned to reuse the nut, I'd pay for a new one.

 

[Gren71]

I would consider that a critical, and consequently single use fastener.

If I were having my box changed (which I at this point have no intention of doing) and they planned to reuse the nut, I'd pay for a new one.

Fair

$8

https://www.quadratec.com/p/mopar/pitman-arm-nut-jl-jt-06036780AA

 

[bgenlvtex]

Fair

$8

https://www.quadratec.com/p/mopar/pitman-arm-nut-jl-jt-06036780AA

$8 says this is a (more than one) "mechanic" running the nut home with a 1/2" impact putting out 350lb/ft or more then "confirming" it's at least 190lb/ft with a torque wrench and is probably half again more than that.

 

[Riccochet]

I would put some blue loctite on it, torque it down and call it a day.

But, that's me. I tend to not go to dealers for things I can fix myself.

 

[jjmstang]

If that nut has to be 190 ft lbs you better have something to put your feet against to get leverage and a 4 foot torque wrench. My head bolts on my big block ford are 145 ft lbs and they are not easy with a 3 foot snap on torque wrench !

 

[bgenlvtex]

If that nut has to be 190 ft lbs you better have something to put your feet against to get leverage and a 4 foot torque wrench. My head bolts on my big block ford are 145 ft lbs and they are not easy with a 3 foot snap on torque wrench !

You need to drink your Ovaltine

 

[jfhull71]

If that nut has to be 190 ft lbs you better have something to put your feet against to get leverage and a 4 foot torque wrench. My head bolts on my big block ford are 145 ft lbs and they are not easy with a 3 foot snap on torque wrench !

I know what you mean, I'm a millwright in heavy industry, most of my torque specs start at 400 ft lbs and go up to 1000. Some 3000 ft lbs. Have some really interesting tools to get to these numbers.

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