Can't for the life of me get my center arm back together after putting in ccot rebuild kit. the problem is getting the washer with the nut welded to go down and stay down so i can thread on the big ass top. do i need to remove the whole assembly from the truck and take it to a specialty shop???

grrr.!!!!:mad: :mad:

FAWKIN NEWBIE!!!!!!!!


These are a PITA, my son called me over to help hiim assemble one, it was off the truck we struggled with two large screwdrivers for few minutes, when all of the sudden the washer kind of got wedged, allowing us to start the nut. It takes two people ....unless someone has a better way.
BTW :flipoff2: :flipoff2: :flipoff2:
Butch

The best solution is power steering ;)

Originally posted by Jason M
The best solution is power steering ;)

Damn! ya beat me to it. :D

all of us have been on your end. fighting with a centerarm. proclaiming that "this is fine" "I dont need PS"

only to find, ya still have slop, ya still wander, and ya end up fealing like an idiot for blowing $100 on the kit . when that $100 could have got ya 1/2 way to PS.

I was a hold out. with allmost every thing. and I blew allot of money doing things twice because of it.

PS,....It is NICE! :)

for a long time so many vendors sold center arm kits for $99.

realization that ripping off people has made some at least drop the price. CCoT and Heart Of Texas are both $50 or less. Tie rods also are coming into a decent cost. If the costs of keeping the OE steering parts are too high, many will opt for other options. This service also has to be done every decade and not wait 30 years to think about it for the first time....

I am a believer in saginaw, esp for dedicated trail rigs and the obvious choice for early center arm style trucks that are not resto/rare. Adding saginaw to a swb removable top is a dicey conversion. Bolt on bolt off can still preserve a value unlike weld on, cut off. Stock steering is good for light trail/road use vehicles. 1973+ steering vehicles and their steering boxes are the best. On a late model 40 series (1979+) non 40 steering is a strong minus (even mini truck).

so this leads back to the PITA of center arm repair. clamps or extra hands are the best choice. The adjustable (1969 and later) center arms are worlds better than the non service type.
..stick with it.