Pitman Arm to Steering Linkage Torque? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Richard Dobson · 01-16-2008, 06:41 AM

What is the torque for the nut that holds the pitman arm to the relay rod (not the steering box) with the tapered shaft? It doesn't have a cotter pin so it needs to be torqued. Thanks

Slonaker · 01-16-2008, 10:13 AM

You might see if it is here:

http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/chas...n/frontend.htm

Slonaker

Richard Dobson · 01-17-2008, 02:29 AM

Thanks Slonaker guys like you are what makes this forum great. It says to torque the nut to 41 ft./lbs. Have a great day.

Richard Dobson · 01-17-2008, 02:39 AM

Oh, I didn't notice it says to put in new cotter pins. My 84 doesn't have a cotter pin, the tapered shaft on my pitman arm doesn't have a hole for one. Do you think this torque setting still applies to my truck?

Slonaker · 01-17-2008, 06:27 AM

I'm not familiar with the term "relay rod." Does it have any other names, or do you have a pic? I can go look at mine, and see if it has a cotter pin.

I'm no expert. When I rebuilt mine, I just reassembled everything the way it came apart, and torqued it according to the specs on that page.

Have you looked at the manual for your year of truck on autozone.com? They have some of that kind of info for free. I can also look it up in my '86 shop manual if I can figure out which parts you are asking about.

Slonaker

EDIT: I think this has your answer. It is hard to read, but it says something like "torque it with a regular nut to 40 ft lbs to seat everything, then remove the nut and replace it with a locking one."

http://www.slonaker.net/8577R08_Steering_Linkage.pdf

Let me know when you have the doc, so I can pull it down from my site.

PhilaTruck · 01-17-2008, 02:03 PM

As per my idiot book:

60 lbs for the Pitman arm to relay rod nut.

Richard Dobson · 01-17-2008, 02:31 PM

My pitman arm has a tapered shaft on the end where the relay rod attaches. I don't know if the previous owner modified something or not but there is no cotter pin hole in the tapered shaft. It also does not have a castle nut which needs a cotter pin.The nut that goes on mine is a lock nut which has the depressions on the side of the hex flats which I assumed were there because the nut was punched to deform the threads. Since there is not cotter hole pin in the shaft the nut needs to be torqued, which I assumed is the way all 84 steering boxes are made. Am I making any sense.

PhilaTruck · 01-17-2008, 03:22 PM

Yes, but you're beyond my experience. Is it possible to post a picture, it might help? BTW, that was a good description-

Slonaker · 01-17-2008, 03:28 PM

Look at page 2 figure 2 on my PDF. I think it is saying to first use a regular nut torqued to XX ft lbs to seat it, remove it, then torque the locking nut to actually hold it in place. That's the way I read it, at least...

Slonaker

EDIT: I assume this is because you can't get an accurate torque reading from the locking nut.

01-16-2008, 06:41 AM	#1
Richard Dobson Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Easley, South Carolina Posts: 491	Pitman Arm to Steering Linkage Torque? What is the torque for the nut that holds the pitman arm to the relay rod (not the steering box) with the tapered shaft? It doesn't have a cotter pin so it needs to be torqued. Thanks __________________ Richard Dobson

01-16-2008, 10:13 AM	#2
Slonaker Insert Witty Text Here Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 3,415	Re: Pitman Arm to Steering Linkage Torque? You might see if it is here: http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/chas...n/frontend.htm Slonaker __________________ '86 Chevy C10 (Sold 04/19/13 ) Stock '01 Silverado

01-17-2008, 02:29 AM	#3
Richard Dobson Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Easley, South Carolina Posts: 491	Re: Pitman Arm to Steering Linkage Torque? Thanks Slonaker guys like you are what makes this forum great. It says to torque the nut to 41 ft./lbs. Have a great day. __________________ Richard Dobson

01-17-2008, 02:39 AM	#4
Richard Dobson Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Easley, South Carolina Posts: 491	Re: Pitman Arm to Steering Linkage Torque? Oh, I didn't notice it says to put in new cotter pins. My 84 doesn't have a cotter pin, the tapered shaft on my pitman arm doesn't have a hole for one. Do you think this torque setting still applies to my truck? __________________ Richard Dobson

01-17-2008, 06:27 AM	#5
Slonaker Insert Witty Text Here Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 3,415	Re: Pitman Arm to Steering Linkage Torque? I'm not familiar with the term "relay rod." Does it have any other names, or do you have a pic? I can go look at mine, and see if it has a cotter pin. I'm no expert. When I rebuilt mine, I just reassembled everything the way it came apart, and torqued it according to the specs on that page. Have you looked at the manual for your year of truck on autozone.com? They have some of that kind of info for free. I can also look it up in my '86 shop manual if I can figure out which parts you are asking about. Slonaker EDIT: I think this has your answer. It is hard to read, but it says something like "torque it with a regular nut to 40 ft lbs to seat everything, then remove the nut and replace it with a locking one." http://www.slonaker.net/8577R08_Steering_Linkage.pdf Let me know when you have the doc, so I can pull it down from my site. __________________ '86 Chevy C10 (Sold 04/19/13 ) Stock '01 Silverado Last edited by Slonaker; 01-17-2008 at 06:44 AM.

01-17-2008, 02:03 PM	#6
PhilaTruck Right on the line, baby! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Phila, PA 19130 Posts: 1,486	Re: Pitman Arm to Steering Linkage Torque? As per my idiot book: 60 lbs for the Pitman arm to relay rod nut. __________________ 83 GMC 406 th400/3.73 Eaton Truetrac posi, headers, x pipe, & racePros. Tubular control arms, lowering rear springs, caltracs. Still ugly, but getting built right, although slowly Click and scroll down for site vendors! Subscribe here!

01-17-2008, 02:31 PM	#7
Richard Dobson Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Easley, South Carolina Posts: 491	Re: Pitman Arm to Steering Linkage Torque? My pitman arm has a tapered shaft on the end where the relay rod attaches. I don't know if the previous owner modified something or not but there is no cotter pin hole in the tapered shaft. It also does not have a castle nut which needs a cotter pin.The nut that goes on mine is a lock nut which has the depressions on the side of the hex flats which I assumed were there because the nut was punched to deform the threads. Since there is not cotter hole pin in the shaft the nut needs to be torqued, which I assumed is the way all 84 steering boxes are made. Am I making any sense. __________________ Richard Dobson

01-17-2008, 03:22 PM	#8
PhilaTruck Right on the line, baby! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Phila, PA 19130 Posts: 1,486	Re: Pitman Arm to Steering Linkage Torque? Yes, but you're beyond my experience. Is it possible to post a picture, it might help? BTW, that was a good description- __________________ 83 GMC 406 th400/3.73 Eaton Truetrac posi, headers, x pipe, & racePros. Tubular control arms, lowering rear springs, caltracs. Still ugly, but getting built right, although slowly Click and scroll down for site vendors! Subscribe here! Last edited by PhilaTruck; 01-17-2008 at 03:23 PM.

01-17-2008, 03:28 PM	#9
Slonaker Insert Witty Text Here Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 3,415	Re: Pitman Arm to Steering Linkage Torque? Look at page 2 figure 2 on my PDF. I think it is saying to first use a regular nut torqued to XX ft lbs to seat it, remove it, then torque the locking nut to actually hold it in place. That's the way I read it, at least... Slonaker EDIT: I assume this is because you can't get an accurate torque reading from the locking nut. __________________ '86 Chevy C10 (Sold 04/19/13 ) Stock '01 Silverado Last edited by Slonaker; 01-17-2008 at 03:31 PM.



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