Steering gear box loose

[Howard H]

My steering gear keeps coming loose. Anyone else had this problem? Loctite and 90 ft/lb and 200 miles later, it's hanging off again! Any help or advice please?

 

[Howard H]

It's a 68 Coronet RT btw

 

[PurpleBeeper]

Holy crap Batman, that's a problem! Well, if the bolts don't look too worn down, you probably have some crazy vibration up front, huh? I haven't had the problem, but I think I would try new bolts, lock-washers + locktite. If that didn't work, then maybe a tack-weld on the bolts since you cannot afford to have that coming loose.

 

[Howard H]

- Yeah, I took my wife down the road, there's an interesting S bend... that was a handful, a bit of steering to scoop up before we were heading in the right direction again!
I wondered about vibration too, the engine is solid mounted.
And also if the threads are a bit warn, but you wouldn't expect them to be, but yet to check.
I was thinking maybe I could bolt them through, i.e. putting a locking nut on the end, but I don't think there's access to 2 of them.
Another thought, I happened across 'Nord Lock' washers, they sound like they kinda make sense:

 

[ws27]

Couple of things. Are you sure you are not reading the N-M scale? Does the box sit flat on the K frame? If it rocks, that could be a problem. Loosen all three bolts and make sure the box doesn't rock.

Lastly...LOL...you don't need glasses do you? I've been making quite a few really stupid mistakes over the last couple of years before I realized I needed glasses.

 

[Howard H]

This time I had the Mopar man of choice take a look, including cleaning the surfaces, to make sure it's sitting flat, clean and Loctite the threads etc. (I'm only Meccano level 2!!), and I wear glasses. I'll be able to take a look later today, I am kinda presuming it's the same problem, but I need to check if anything else comes to light...

 

['68 Charger]

If you need new bolts I have a set of OEM ones.

Good luck.

 

[kingzj]

fyi,

I use nordlocks all the time and they are incredible. I think they are better than locktite. I have never seen a properly installed nordlock come loose.

 

[67 coronet]

make sure to check for any small cracks as well.had that prob on a 79 pup and turned out to be some small cracks that allowed flex.

 

[eagleone1983]

I had the same problem. Noticed a loud clunk when I hit bumps or was turning into a drive way. Thought it was suspension related but decided to have my wife shake the steering wheel so I could see if anything was up. My whole gear box started moving, I was like...HOLY SHIZ! I'm glad I checked that. I tightened it down and it hasn't come loose yet, I've got about 200 miles on her since and to be honest this was the first time I've retightened the steering gear box since I finished restoration back in 2012. It's hard to get a good torque on a couple of the bolts and the 12 point heads are wearing out. I think I'm going to replace them with some grade 8 hex bolts.

 

[mmissile]

The bolt holes haven't elongated, have they? I've seen worn ones from being loose, and seen elongated to move on cars for headers.

 

[Howard H]

Thanks for the help and advise.
Well, I found metal broken away around one hole... Not ideal, but there's enough left to grip against. So it's all going back together, with new bolts, Nord Locks, Loctite, and nyloc nuts on the back where there's access... I think that should give peace of mind... but if anyone thinks otherwise, please let me know!!

 

[coloradodave]

Pictures of the area you're talking about would help...

 

[68 HEMI GTS]

The one on my dart come loose at the drag strip once. made a 10.40 pass seem real scary. Took a minute to figure out what was going on.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Dumb question, but did you have lockwashers under the bolts?

 

[Howard H]

Not dumb! I do have lock washers fitted Richard

 

[Howard H]

Happy ending: all stayed tight for a 400 mile round trip and and three tenths shaved for a NPB

 

[440beep]

Funny after reading this discussion a few days ago, today my steering was feeling funny so when I got home and checked it, yep, my steering gearbox is also loose. Scared the hell out of me going through an S curve! I replaced the stock box earlier this year for the much smaller Borgenson box. Will need to look at it tomorrow or Friday.

 

[Howard H]

Hi Lee, it doesn't take much looseness to have a very loose feel on the wheel -if that makes sense! It just needs 1 - 2 mm and the steering's all over the place! Talking to a friend at the weekend and he's had the problem on 2 or 3 cars. If you can get a nyloc and loctite on 2 of the bolts, I think it's really going to help...

 

[440beep]

Howard, thanks for the tip. Loctite was my first thoughts, and also those lock washers mentioned up above, but the nyloc should also work.

What size nord lock washers did you get? They are really close to me, at least I think so.

Yea, I had the wife turn the steering wheel and the whole gearbox moved! Not much, but visible.