From: IAN MOORCRAFT(UK)[email protected]
Date: 28 Sep 2002
Time: 20:10:45
Remote Name: 62.7.66.45
Hello, Regular readers of this page will remember that we had a lot of correspondence last year on the subject of steering arms (the cracking of), a brace was mentioned as being used by the 750 racing fraternity to help alleviate the problem, I got to see one in the flesh at Beaulieu this year, and was tempted to buy one, however on closer inspection of the display one fitted to a stub axle assembly I noticed a couple of shortcomings which I personally think could make them dangerous in use, the first thing concerns the nut that fits the steering arm onto the stubaxle, this nut has only 41/2 to 5 threads on it and when fitted with the correct spring washer only just comes to the end of the steering arm when tight, when fitted with the brace in place under normal tightening the end of the steering arm is short by about 11/2 threads, now I think the temptation would be for some to try to over tighten in an attempt to gain an extra thread, This then is a danger as I have seen as many steering arms cracked at the point where the boss goes into the arm itself as I have seen with cracks in the corner of the bend, to over tighten to any degree would put far too much strain on an already weak area. My other concern is that the fitter is instructed to drill a further split pin hole in the ball pin thread, now this would result in the original hole (7/64") now being under the nut, as far as I can estimate would only leave you 3 full threads to tighten up on, to me this is definitely a dangerous state of affairs, and furthermore should not have been suggested in the first place. In conclusion if I were to fit such a device (which I think in principle is a good idea) I would look at the possibility of removing a little material from each side of the swivel hub to enable the restoration of the thread "safety" , and also fit a new undrilled ball pin, If this could be achieved I would be quite happy to fit one. On checking my spare steering arm which I carry in the car I was very surprised to find that the original castle nut on the ball pin which I removed to count the threads for this article was in fact completely cracked through down both sides of the nut from top to bottom!!! I have never seen a nut crack in this way. Regards Ian