Center link or Pitman arm problem

[chargerdon]

On my 1974 Challenger, I have some type of problem with the Pitman arm connecting to the Center Link rod.   

First noticed a lot of play in the steering and that the Pitman arm was moving good 1/4 inch on the center link before center link would move.   So way too much play there!!   In checking i saw that there was a gap between the castle nut and the center link rod, and if I tightened it up then the castle nut was in too far for the cotter pin to work.   My conclusion was that the Pitman arm ball joint was wore out giving too much clearance. 

So, bought a new Pitman arm from Oreilleys as they loan tools, and removed the old Pitman arm.   I noticed that in removing it the Main Nut on the Pitman arm it wasnt as tight as it probably should have been.  (manual says 120 ft lbs).   Now when I installed the new Pitman arm I saw that while there was a big improvement, that I still to tighten down the castle nut at the center link to the I believe 40 ft lbs was putting the nut in to far for the cotter pin to actually engage the castle nut.    OH no is my center link itself worn out that the joint end is going in too far??  All of the other connection seem to be real good with no apparent play. 

Also, after putting on the big nut to the power steering box and torquing it down to the 120 ft lbs according to the 1970 manual, the center link was drawn up maybe too high so that the tie rod end joint was touching the torsion bar.   Maybe that explains why the nut didnt seem to be all that tight to start with...previous owner may have left it loose so as to not pull the pitman arm as high??

Ok, so my questions are:   

1) Is my center link rod worn out??   If so, where can I buy a new one.    I cant find a replacement at any of the auto parts stores...   Searched Rock Auto, Advance, Carquest, Oreillys, Summit racing and none list a new center link rod.    Suggestions??

2) Is my steering box (power steering) simply mounted too high... ??  Or is there another reason why i'm not getting clearance between the center link and the torsion bar??   PS, the passenger side has at least 1 inch of clearance.   

[soundcontrol]

Thats sounds weird, your centerlink can be worn from it being loose for a long time but I doubt it will be so worn out that the links touch the T-bar. And you should have noticed that while changing the pitman arm. Has it been in an accident so the K-frame is crooked and the steering box is at the wrong angle? A slight wrong angle there can be much more at the end of the pitman arm...

[Chryco Psycho]

You may just have a short nut , you can put a washer under the nut so the cotter pin is engaged on the pitman arm .
 You can also shim the top mounting bolt for the steering box & tip the box downward maybe the mount on the K frame is tweaked ?

[chargerdon]

Just bought this car in May of this year, and it has gone thru several owners, so do not know its history.   

Regarding the "height" of the center link I'm starting to wonder myself if the K Member is bent causing the problem.   

With car sitting on ground the drivers side of the center link rod is definitely higher than the passenger side.   So, I'm going to try your advice and shim the top of the steering box to change the angle and see if that fixes the height problem.    Regarding the Pitman arm into the center link, is it possible that the center link "hole" itself has worn too big??   Is their a bushing in there in the center link that can be replaced??   

I tried a large Lock Washer under the castle nut, but even with it, to tighten it down but even then the castle nut wont engage the carter pin.    Thats both on the "original" as well as a new Pitman arm with new castle nut.   I have to believe the shaft of the ball joint is going to far into the hole.   Since its new that only leaves the center link hole worn too much??      Where can I buy a new Center Link?? 

[chargerdon]

Putting the shim behind the top plate of steering box, solved the clearance problem.   Center Link is still high on that side, but now clears.   Sure hope I dont have Oil Pan clearance problem!!   

Putting two lock nuts on the shaft allows the cotter pin to engage, but I cant get the bolt to tighten down as when the lock washers are on the shaft spins, so cant tighten down with torque wrench.   Still something wrong there.  If i could find a new center link id buy one and try it with the pitman arm. 

 

[soundcontrol]

Try Firmfeel, dont know if they have centerlinks,but they can probably point you in the right direction though.It is possible that the hole is very worn out, but I think you would have noticed that putting the new pitman arm in. I suspect somthing is wrong with the K-frame or steering box mount though.

[Chryco Psycho]

weird with the centerlink hole , being loose it could have stretched the hole , so getting a replacement may be nessisary , probably need to source a used one

[chargerdon]

Problem solved.   

I sourced a used Center Link bar as I could not find anyone selling new ones.   

I immediately noticed the difference between the original and the replacement.   The original had the hole somehow reemed out, which allowed the Pitman arm ball joint bolt to go the entire way down onto the center link.   I.e. the tapper was gone.    With the replacement center link  the ball joint stud stopped about a 1/2 inch before hitting the center link, thus the clearance problem with the torsion bar resolved and now no trouble tightening down the Pitman ball joint stud.   Whew!!

Thanks guys....   The strange part about it is that the only hole of the 4 too large was the one for the Pitman arm.   Actually looked like someone reemed it out.    Wonder why?

[twalker]

Thanks for the update.  No idea why it would be reamed out, strange.