I have searched high and low and can't find the torque value for the tie rod castle nuts. Anybody know?

 

I don't think it's something you have to get torqued specifics on... Just tighten it as much as you can with still getting the cotter key back in there.

 

just tighten them down then put the cotter pin in

 

The book says 35 ft. lbs. then back off until the cotter pin goes in the first slot. I've always just tightened it good then put the pin in.

 

I bought this '94 not too long ago. Thinking it is wandering all over the road it must have a bunch of worn out parts. I got my son to waggle the steering wheel while I laid on the ground saying "hmmm, yeah, that one's loose...oh, and that one too...and look at that POS.

Off to the parts store. $175 later (btw, the Moog and TRW draglinks are IDENTICAL except for the part number...and $40) I get back in the barn and jack the car up figuring I'll get 'er done.

Start to take things apart and lo' and behold' the parts looked awful new. Hmmm, I say. I wonder what's up with THAT? So the boy waggles more and I grunt more and then decide I'll come inside, get on the net, and find out what the TORQUE ought to be on all those castle nuts.

Turns out the torque is a dang sight more that the DPO used. I tightened all the nuts, installed fresh cotters, got the boy out of the pond long enough to waggle some more and, behold, 90%+ of the play is GONE.

I centered the wheel, greased it all up, took a test drive and the only wander that seems a problem now I could easily attribute to the 205,000 miles on the steering box. All the other parts seem pretty good to me. "Hotrod" good is what I'd call them. Not perfect like the day the car came down the North Jefferson assembly plant line but certainly not scary enough that I'm afraid to put my family in the car.

The moral of the story I guess is if the parts don't look like they've got 100k on them...maybe they don't.

I'm back to the store to get my $175 back.

 

 

And BTW, thanks you guys. I appreciate the fast response and sensible advice.

 

why we are on here