GD Steering arm bolts....

[Andy302]

Gents, did anyone drill the new steering arm bolts for lock wire? Do you have to do this or can you get away with using threadlock?

If you did drill them how did you do it? I can see its worth buying a jig just for four bolts!

Also did you follow the video and stick the arms on after assembling the uprights to the chassis? I figured Id stick them on whilst Im building up the assembly on the bench?

Any ideas?

[PAULGD]

Yes you do need to use locking wire: the easiest way is to order new ones from Wards; not expensive & fast delivery.
Paul

[Purple AK]

Andy.There have been several instances of "NON" Jag bolts "AND" re-used Jag bolts giving way (See post copied over from the Sticky in Gen Tech)
Best if you can, to obtain new "genuine" Jag bolts that can be wired. Or, Use New bolts of the correct hardness with spring washers and thread lock. This second option is used solely by all modern manufacturers. Either way the correct torque is all important.

Danger! - steering arm bolts – Jaguar Running Gear
I had cause to replace my steering arm, so armed with new bolts from John Gordon Jaguar Spares I started……….
I nipped the long bolt up with a socket prior to using my torque wrench………..the bloody head snapped off!
On close examination of the pictures attached you can see


The cross drillings for the retaining wire are not on the same plane with the lower hole dangerously close to bottom of the head, therefore seriously weakening it. As you can see from the original bolt, both holes are on the same plane in the middle of the head.


The new bolt does not have a hardness value stamped on it unlike the original

I rang John Gordons to get their view on the situation – they said that they have not heard of a bolt head snapping before and that Jaguar discontinued that bolt.

I rang our local Jag specialist – they said they had one bolt in stock but would order more - and, yes, they have a hardness value 8.8 with the retaining wire holes on the same plane.

The other 2 bolts are fine as they are supplied with the hardness value stamped on them.

May I strongly suggest that everybody with Jag running gear check the steering arm bolts for the hardness value before a catastrophic accident occurs!
_________________

[Andy302]

Thanks Gents, not sure if I made myself clear though.

In the GD instructions it states that you replace the original Jag bolts with 2 from the bolt kit, it is these that must be drilled for lock wire. Having seen the posts about sub standard hardware before I decided that all my other bolts should be new and were ordered from Wards, hopefully they should be up to scratch.

My question relates to the two new bolts from the GD bolt kit.

PaulGD are you saying not to use the GD supplied ones and use Jag ones? (Ive already ordered Jag ones before I realised GD supplied their own)

Cheers

[Dutch Paul]

Andy

To answer your original post, yes I drilled the bolts (I can`t exactly remember what size - probably 0.5mm bigger than the lockwire thickness).
I just centre punched them and drilled them in a small drill press, holding them in the drill vice perfectly level and square to the drill. You have to drill quite gently as the hole is deep relative to the diameter, constantly lifting the drill back out of the hole to let the swarf out.
Don`t forget to gently drill the ends of the holes with a larger drill to remove the sharp edges.
I don`t know whether the SVA will accept thread lock or not??
Regards to whether to fit the arms first, or later - I honestly can`t remember????