pitman arm nut keeps coming loose....help!
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 620
Likes: 0
From: Canyon Country
pitman arm nut keeps coming loose....help!
I put on a pro comp 6" lift a few months ago and every week or two I have to crawl under the truck and tighten up that damm pit man arm nut...I can tell when it starts to get loose because the steering wheel gets sloppy...I have put red loctite and have gotten that nut as tight as I can get it with about a 3ft tube on the end of my wrench for extra leverage and still comes loose! anyone else have this problem? any solutions? I'm just about to grab my welder and fix it that way but there must be a better way!
thanks!
thanks!
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,974
Likes: 18
From: Millersburg, OH
The spec on the nut for thr Pitman arm on 2005+ is 350 ft-lbs. Sounds like you aren't reaching the the proper torque.
Also keep in mind that the output shaft of the box is tapered so I would torque it down and then loosen it then re-torque several times to help walk the arm down the shaft and get it seated properly.
Also keep in mind that the output shaft of the box is tapered so I would torque it down and then loosen it then re-torque several times to help walk the arm down the shaft and get it seated properly.
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
Had the same problem with a jeep that has a 5" lift. The drop pitman arm nut would come loose, I noticed that the replacement arm would set higher on the splines then the stock one. The nut would thread on but would reach the end of the threaded shaft before hitting the pitman arm. Added a second lock washer to act as a spacer. The nut has not come loose in over three years of off road abuse. Hope this helps.
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2008
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I have an 05 with 8" lift and the nut did the same thing. I talked to Fabtech about it and they told me that the nut is a one time only deal. Meaning(once on then off= replace.) Did it on my truck and everythings OK...
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Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 620
Likes: 0
From: Canyon Country
I don't know about 350ftlbs but it's gotta be damm near that when I'm tightening it...
I would weld it but if it ever has to come off I'm buying a new steering box!
Anyone know where I could get a new nut and lock washer besides the dealer? The lock washer is a good idea there is room for one.
I would weld it but if it ever has to come off I'm buying a new steering box!
Anyone know where I could get a new nut and lock washer besides the dealer? The lock washer is a good idea there is room for one.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,424
Likes: 2
From: Albemarle, NC
Yeah I had to put a washer on mine too as the nut was bottoming out before the arm was tight. Like posted above, it needs to be torqued to 350 lb ft. My tq wrench only goes to 250 so I torqued it to that then took me 3 foot long 3/4'' braker bar and give it a few more rounds.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,974
Likes: 18
From: Millersburg, OH
Good point on the washer. I was thinking of the opposite issue and barely having enough deepth like my stock arm/box combo. When I replaced my steering box with a Red Head there was barley one thread showing (both on the old and new box). I had to work on seating the arm just to get that much to show and then torqued to spec.
