I bought an all new steering kit for my 56 as part of a ton of suspension/driveline/steering upgrades to make the car very modern to be my real, sole daily driver. Part of that was a 5557SLK-CP CPP steering kit (purchased via summit.) I had 2 issues with the kit.
First, one of the fancy tie rod sleeves had a burr on it about 1/2 way in. I was able to thread it easily by hand onto the tie rod ends, but it got slightly stiff. No biggie, better than stamped steel sleeves. I went to run it out some under the car and it bound, and i had to take it apart with 2 wrenches. It was stripped! The arms were fine, i bought another brand sleeves ($60+ >:-< ) and kept working. I DIDN'T cross-thread it, i want to be clear that i ran it most of the way by hand with no issues until just a bit of resistance about 1/2 way in. Nothing crazy.
The second happened today, after 500 miles of easy break in driving (new trans and engine, and brakes so have been just cruising around, some highway, some local.)
Anyways, went to back out of the garage this AM to go sled-riding, and i just have no steering. It's easy and no noise but no turning. I look under the hood expecting some kind of rag joint issue, and i see the pitman arm stud weld broke and it came out!
I swapped in the used factory one i had left over from the project, but WOW! Lucky it happened backing out! The stud slides in very easy by hand (which i'd think you'd make a press-fit and just weld for safety.) The weld end doesn't look like the weld bit into the stud AT ALL. Like the weld is all on the arm.
In the future, i'll be welding on top and on the stud side to be safe. Summit is 45 min from me, i checked, only the same arm in stock. No thanks.
The price of the arm is inconsequential to wasted time, possible death, loss of trust in the rest of the steering/other parts from CPP, and now my steering wheel is off center when straight so obv the arm is a little different than stock, so new alignment time.
First, one of the fancy tie rod sleeves had a burr on it about 1/2 way in. I was able to thread it easily by hand onto the tie rod ends, but it got slightly stiff. No biggie, better than stamped steel sleeves. I went to run it out some under the car and it bound, and i had to take it apart with 2 wrenches. It was stripped! The arms were fine, i bought another brand sleeves ($60+ >:-< ) and kept working. I DIDN'T cross-thread it, i want to be clear that i ran it most of the way by hand with no issues until just a bit of resistance about 1/2 way in. Nothing crazy.
The second happened today, after 500 miles of easy break in driving (new trans and engine, and brakes so have been just cruising around, some highway, some local.)
Anyways, went to back out of the garage this AM to go sled-riding, and i just have no steering. It's easy and no noise but no turning. I look under the hood expecting some kind of rag joint issue, and i see the pitman arm stud weld broke and it came out!
I swapped in the used factory one i had left over from the project, but WOW! Lucky it happened backing out! The stud slides in very easy by hand (which i'd think you'd make a press-fit and just weld for safety.) The weld end doesn't look like the weld bit into the stud AT ALL. Like the weld is all on the arm.
In the future, i'll be welding on top and on the stud side to be safe. Summit is 45 min from me, i checked, only the same arm in stock. No thanks.
The price of the arm is inconsequential to wasted time, possible death, loss of trust in the rest of the steering/other parts from CPP, and now my steering wheel is off center when straight so obv the arm is a little different than stock, so new alignment time.