Steering box shaft misaligned!

[hertahoe]

So I was replacing the pitman arm and both steering shafts. I recently replaced all front suspension parts and couldn’t get pitman arm out at the time. I followed the TRQ guide and removed the steering box. Put new pitman arm on, torqued bolt to 180ft lbs and put it back in truck. Tightened the 3 bolts holding box to frame and pitman nut. Went to top of motor to put in lower bolt to shaft and the steering box shaft was turned and facing passenger side. How did that happen? Been searching for solutions but can’t seem to find one. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated! At my sons la crosse game so can’t respond for a while.

 

[OR VietVet]

Likely happened when you torqued bolt/nut to 180 lbs.

 

[hertahoe]

Likely happened when you torqued bolt/nut to 180 lbs.

Ok, thx. TRQ gave wrong torque specs? Any fixes or just new one? Can’t believe this is turning into a cluster Thank goodness wife is gone until late Sunday night…

 

[Fless]

FWIW Haynes lists that torque spec at 184 ft-lbs.

 

[OR VietVet]

@hertahoe, am I misunderstanding you? I would assume there is a locating spline(s) that allow you to install the pitman arm in the correct place on the shaft. That shaft turns and may have moved when you installed arm.I would have just recentered the arm/shaft and mounted the box.

 

[hertahoe]

@hertahoe, am I misunderstanding you? I would assume there is a locating spline(s) that allow you to install the pitman arm in the correct place on the shaft. That shaft turns and may have moved when you installed arm.I would have just recentered the arm/shaft and mounted the box.

I was very careful when I removed the pitman arm and reinstalled the new one to make sure nothing moved. Maybe I missed something. I will remove the box and see if I can do what you mentioned! I just don’t want to make things worse. Of coarse, I have to have it ready for Monday…Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[OR VietVet]

Sometimes the location splines are in 4 places around the shaft and you may have reinstalled the pitman arm 90 degrees off.