View Full Version : Steering arm issue
zanman
03-12-2022, 09:00 PM
I received my power steering rack today and my son and I immediately went to work installing it. I am having an issue that is completely stumping me. I searched and read as many threads as I could before assuming I just got the wrong steering arm part on my kit from FFR. So I could use some help here. I’m pretty sure I have the steering arms installed correctly facing outward. Check out my pics. Issue is the driver side seats the tie Rod bolt perfectly. The passenger side has the flare opposite meaning the wider part of the hole is on top essentially not allowing the tie Rod bolt to seat. Uggghh. Simple assumption is that I got 2 driver side steer arms incorrectly. But I haven’t had a parts issue yet so I feel like it’s me. Am I doing something wrong here??? If I just switch them I will have the same problem it seems. 163868163869
CraigS
03-13-2022, 07:17 AM
Looks to me like you got 2 of the same arms. It has been a long time since I looked at one closely but the arms are labeled left and right or driver/passenger. But the labeling is correct when used in a 33 hot rod. In a roadster you install them opposite of the labels.
Jeff Kleiner
03-13-2022, 08:03 AM
Yes, you have two of the same (driver’s side) arms. Look closely at the tie rod hole and you’ll see that the side with the wide end of the taper is rough “as cast” and the narrow end is a flat machined surface to accept the nut. Long story short, your drivers side is correct. I’ve not ever seen this error before but FFR will take care of you.
Jeff
zanman
03-13-2022, 01:43 PM
Yea I’ve accepted the fact that I got two driver side steer arms at this point. I was in denial
I think haha.
Just spit balling here - any chance I could drill this out and make it work? Looks like the toe bolt is somewhat tapered for a tight fit so I doubt it. Just investigating options where I don’t need to take the whole darn caliber and spindle off. Although I’m prepared to do so.
Add it to my lessons in self control I suppose. With my 10 year old boy by my side on every bolt of this build self control with language is always a priority!
Yea I’ve accepted the fact that I got two driver side steer arms at this point. I was in denial
I think haha.
Just spit balling here - any chance I could drill this out and make it work? Looks like the toe bolt is somewhat tapered for a tight fit so I doubt it. Just investigating options where I don’t need to take the whole darn caliber and spindle off. Although I’m prepared to do so.
Add it to my lessons in self control I suppose. With my 10 year old boy by my side on every bolt of this build self control with language is always a priority!
I would get the proper part and install it correctly. Do you really want to short cut such a critical safety component of the car? If you drill it, then the taper will be gone or too large and the ball joint won't seat properly. This will lead to failure of the joint down the road.
Jeff Kleiner
03-13-2022, 01:55 PM
Just spit balling here - any chance I could drill this out and make it work?
Realisticly no.
Jeff
Yes, you actually can drill them out, if you were to install a bump steer kit such as F5R's P/N #12078. It's currently out of stock, but other vendors make them.
EDIT: They'd probably need to be removed from the car and clamped to drill press though...
Yea I’ve accepted the fact that I got two driver side steer arms at this point. I was in denial
I think haha.
Just spit balling here - any chance I could drill this out and make it work? Looks like the toe bolt is somewhat tapered for a tight fit so I doubt it. Just investigating options where I don’t need to take the whole darn caliber and spindle off. Although I’m prepared to do so.
Add it to my lessons in self control I suppose. With my 10 year old boy by my side on every bolt of this build self control with language is always a priority!
Derald Rice
03-13-2022, 03:15 PM
Yes, you actually can drill them out, if you were to install a bump steer kit such as F5R's P/N #12078. It's currently out of stock, but other vendors make them.
I thought that the FFR spindles were designed to eliminate bump steer, so the BS kits were not necessary ???
I think you're right, but he wanted options. :D
EDIT: Pic from the install instructions.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=163892&d=1647203382
AROCK
03-13-2022, 06:07 PM
I received two driver side steering arm
S and I formed Brent Mellow and he sent the correct one that week.
zanman
03-13-2022, 07:16 PM
Thanks guys. I’ll reach out to FFR tomorrow and get the correct arm. Im not gonna risk safety for any reason.
drewr
03-14-2022, 10:25 AM
The same thing happened to me, two passenger side arms. Think they are having an issue with this part. Supposedly a drivers side arm is on the way to me.
Jeff Kleiner
03-14-2022, 12:47 PM
zanman and drewr,
Ya'all need to take FFR out of the loop...exchange addresses and swap your extras :)
Jeff
zanman
03-17-2022, 10:28 AM
Jeff I actually considered it haha. But FFR got back to me right away and are shipping the passenger steer arm. I already got the wrong one off and confirmed the error. FFR wants the arm back as an exchange. 164090
I was dreading taking the caliber and spindle off to get to the steering arm to replace but it actually only took me about 5 minutes. Once again a lot of worry for nothing. I’m happy it will be done right.