Steering Arm question

[kmseddon]

Hello - we are doing inventory and initial build. Are the right and left steering arms identical on the MK4 complete kit? The inventory sheet says they are different part numbers (14848 for left and 14849 for right) suggesting they are different, but we can't tell any difference between the two we received. I either have two of one kind, or the parts are interchangeable. (fwiw, car was ordered with power steering).

Thanks,

[CFranks]

ABSOLUTELY DIFFERENT sides. The ends are tapered, make sure the larger part of the taper is on the bottom for the tie rod end to insert into. Best to get right now, pain to get back to once you have everything up front torqued up. Not going to tell you why I know this.....

[edwardb]

Power or manual steering doesn't matter. The spindle assemblies are the same. For the arms -- they may look exactly the same. But if you look closely, you should find the taper on the tie rod holes that CFranks mentioned are different. One should taper wide to narrow from the opposite side than the other. It's pretty subtle. Until you try to assemble them... They also say left and right marked in the casting. Which happens to be wrong for the Roadster. Maybe that's been eliminated because I know it confused a lot of people and suspect you would have seen it before asking.

[kmseddon]

139391 Thank YOU Paul and CFranks. To confirm then, the one on the bottom is the driver's side because the tapered (angled ) edge is on the frontmost side facing down? (I couldn't find part numbers or L/R) on them.

[mosh1999]

Install them so they angle out towards the wheels and the front of the chassis. The larger side of the tapered hole is towards the ground for the outer tie rod to enter from underneath.

[edwardb]

Install them so they angle out towards the wheels and the front of the chassis. The larger side of the tapered hole is towards the ground for the outer tie rod to enter from underneath.

X2. Absolutely correct.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/ab234/edwardb123/Factory%20Five%2020th%20Anniversary%20Mark%204%20R oadster/Front%20Suspension/.highres/IMG_3396_zpsaoq9daop.jpg?width=590&height=370&fit=bounds (https://app.photobucket.com/u/edwardb123/a/8e66151d-63b8-4ed5-bcfb-7f4c338bbf3c/p/9a83b039-bf13-4784-bce6-1df62a965a7a)

[kmseddon]

Thank you gentleman. That's a big help!! One other question: The book says you are suppose to torque the castle nut of the spindle onto the lower control arm to 80-90 foot pounds. The FFR video just shows him tightening with a wrench by hand while holding the spindle with the other hand. How do you torque that castle nut with the spindle turning all the time without damaging anything? Even after we get the shock absorber on there's not enough room to get my low profile 24mm socket and torque wrench in there to tighten it. Thoughts?

[edwardb]

Thank you gentleman. That's a big help!! One other question: The book says you are suppose to torque the castle nut of the spindle onto the lower control arm to 80-90 foot pounds. The FFR video just shows him tightening with a wrench by hand while holding the spindle with the other hand. How do you torque that castle nut with the spindle turning all the time without damaging anything? Even after we get the shock absorber on there's not enough room to get my low profile 24mm socket and torque wrench in there to tighten it. Thoughts?

I personally haven't had any problems getting the spindle to "catch" in the taper enough to not spin so could tighten the nut. I don't know what to say other than try to wedge it in the hole a little tighter. As far as torque values, some of those nuts are basically impossible to reach with the usual torque wrench. You could mess with a crows foot, and if installed properly on the wrench (at a right angle) reads the same. But to be honest, most of us go by feel. 80-90 foot pounds is very tight with a normal length wrench. Go there, then tighten just enough more to line up a hole for the pin and you will be fine.

[mosh1999]

If the taper on the ball joint stud and the spindle hole is clean, it should not spin. Also check, I think the washer has a taper that needs to be towards the ground.