Steering box drop arm loose.

[wovenrovings]

I have a county which i have changed to a 4 bolt steering box. To do this i had to swap the discovery drop arm for the county one. What i am finding is that arm becomes loose on the spline after a while and then i can do the nut up some more. I am doing the nut up as tight as i can each time. What has happened now is that this last time, after tightening the drop arm is now touching the seal in the bottom of the box. So the question is what do I do if it comes loose again?
I have the drop arm off it, is it possible that it will be tighter than the one on the box? It was a mongrel to get off. If so will the link from steering box to wheel off a discovery/range rover work on a county?
I read another thread where loctite products were recommended to stop movement in this situation but I don't think putting loctite in there would move it away from the seal. Right?
My biggest worry is that the spline is now stuffed.
Appreciate any info or suggestions,
Dan.

[andrew e]

mine came loose a few times. The tab washer was doing nothing. I ended up filling it up with locktite, and putting 2 nuts on the bottom.

[Johnno1969]

mine came loose a few times. The tab washer was doing nothing. I ended up filling it up with locktite, and putting 2 nuts on the bottom.


Exactly the same for me; loctite and two nuts.....and I also replaced the drop arm. The splines on the old one were OK as far as lateral movement was concerned, but the "shoulder" on the uppermost surface had been rounded by the previous up-and-down movement. The new drop arm made everything nice and snug.

But the funny thing is that after a year or two it is a wee bit loose again.....

[PhilipA]

I have the drop arm off it, is it possible that it will be tighter than the one on the box? It was a mongrel to get off. If so will the link from steering box to wheel off a discovery/range rover work on a county?


I know that the sterring sector shaft of a County and an old RR were the same, so I assume the boxes were. Just look at the length of the drop arm. If the same then it should work as long as the rod ends are the same.
Isn't it easy just to offer it up and see?

As long as the spline in the drop arm is tighter it should help as long as you use the loctite prep fluid and make sure it all is very tight, but we cannot tell you this, you have to suck it and see.
Regards Philip A
PS, the reason it is loose may be that the nut has reached the end of the thread on the sector shaft, so you may need a suitable washer under it.