I gotta question for y'all:
Over the past month I have asked my fellow posters what they thought about me swapping out my fixed steering column, for a tilt steering column, out of the same year truck (2001 Ford Ranger).
Y'all gave me excellent advice, and I am grateful for it. I did the swap on Saturday, and I am so glad that I did...I am a tall guy and the tilt column gives my legs extra wiggle room.
I did not use a torque wrench on the steering wheel bolt or the pincher bolt at the bottom of the column, but I did tighten both (screw and nut) *very* tight. I coated both the steering wheel nut threads, and pincher bolt threads, with loctite blue; up and down the threads, top to bottom.
The truck drives fine, but it was suggested that I recheck the pincher bolt for tightness after a week or two of driving. If I do this, will I not break the loctite seal? Since I did not use a torque wrench when I installed the new column - at best, I can take it to my mechanic, and have him test the bolt for tightness with his torque wrench. I am assuming that the bolts are spec+ (again, they were very tight), when my mechanic sets his torque wrench to the bolt, since it should be within spec, the bolt will not move, and the loctite seal will be preserved. On the other hand, is it necessary that I take a wrench to the pincher bolt, or is a visual inspection sufficient? After tightening the bolt, a 2/8 of an inch of threads were exposed - and I should see the same now. I did put quite a bit of loctite on the threads, and I can't see them moving anywhere.
I do realize that I am coming to y'all with a few unknown variables here. Any advice?
Over the past month I have asked my fellow posters what they thought about me swapping out my fixed steering column, for a tilt steering column, out of the same year truck (2001 Ford Ranger).
Y'all gave me excellent advice, and I am grateful for it. I did the swap on Saturday, and I am so glad that I did...I am a tall guy and the tilt column gives my legs extra wiggle room.
I did not use a torque wrench on the steering wheel bolt or the pincher bolt at the bottom of the column, but I did tighten both (screw and nut) *very* tight. I coated both the steering wheel nut threads, and pincher bolt threads, with loctite blue; up and down the threads, top to bottom.
The truck drives fine, but it was suggested that I recheck the pincher bolt for tightness after a week or two of driving. If I do this, will I not break the loctite seal? Since I did not use a torque wrench when I installed the new column - at best, I can take it to my mechanic, and have him test the bolt for tightness with his torque wrench. I am assuming that the bolts are spec+ (again, they were very tight), when my mechanic sets his torque wrench to the bolt, since it should be within spec, the bolt will not move, and the loctite seal will be preserved. On the other hand, is it necessary that I take a wrench to the pincher bolt, or is a visual inspection sufficient? After tightening the bolt, a 2/8 of an inch of threads were exposed - and I should see the same now. I did put quite a bit of loctite on the threads, and I can't see them moving anywhere.
I do realize that I am coming to y'all with a few unknown variables here. Any advice?