fbekholden.com

Looking to do the front end swap this weekend, for the HR disc. But still struggling with the pittman arm connection.

Greg posted the below comments on another topic http://www.fbekholden.com/forum/viewtop ... &start=135 , and I think he is right. I assume I will need a HR pittman arm. Is there anything else I may need and does anyone have a HR Pittman arm for sale or should I go to Rare spares or a wrecker

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EK283
Joined: 16 Mar 2006
Posts: 386
Location: SYDNEY NSW
Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 7:07 pm Post subject:

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Finny,
On the end of the drag link on the fb/ek there is a split pin that you remove and then unscrew the adjuster that will release the drag link from the pittman arm.
I dont remember but Im sure you need the pittman arm from a HR as well ( I could be wrong here ) haven't done one for years.
You will need a puller to get it off the steering box unles your lucky and its a little loose.
Thats all I can remember, someone else may be able to elaborate!

Regards Greg
_________________
So many cars so little time!

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You can use the original steering on your HR front, I have a red and tri on a HR front and the EK steering, works fine , Trev .

Thanks Trev, I am keeping the EK steering. It's just the connection at the bottom. It doesn't appear to be able to connect without replacing the EK arm with a HR pittman arm, which I didn't get with the front end.

I was just checking to make sure I did need it, and check anything else I needed, I where to get it

Yep Finny as Trev said undo your tie rod ends drop out the EK front and put the HR one in reconnecting the EK steering arms. Shouldn't need to touch the pitman unless its shagged.

I can't quite remember what i did, but its HR front end, new HR drag link and i must of had the pitman arm off because its nice and painted. So im guessing its a hr pitman arm which came with my frontend.


found a pic the hr front when i bought it and it looks like the pitman arm was with it, so in conclusion im guessing i had to use the hr pitman with the hr draglink

OK, I think I understand now.

Undo the tie rod ends on both sides. leaving the pittman, idler and all the middle section as EK original.

So on this picture I am only keeping 1 and 5.
2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 on this HR front end are NOT being used ?

Ignore the comments in the picture that was done earlier.


Is that right ????????

Looking at your photo its all there ready to go, others might disagree, but if the hr drag link is in good condition, i would personally get yourself a hr Pittman arm and be done with it.
And not bagging the fb/ek drag link, but the hr is later model technology

Thanks Ben, that was what I thought originally.

I just need to get it swapped over, but need to be able to steer it afterwards. Don't have the HR arm at the moment, could change it over to all HR later on. That's if I understand it right now. ????

I hear ya Finny. I think you just undo the outer tie rod ends on your hr front end and discard everything from 1-7. Again when removing the ek front end just undo the tie rod ends and leave the rest insitu. bolt up the hr f/end and bolt up orig ek tie rod ends to the hr stubs. I think the outer tie rod ends are common from fj-hr etc. so pick the best two out of the four.

The only part i could be wrong is that you also have to use the ek steering arms, ie the part that connects the outer tie rod ends to the stub axels.

I think you will have to source a hr pitman arm from the wreckers as its not something that wears out, ie lump of metal with two holes either end

Hi Finny,
I did this some time back and just used everything HR.

One point though - if you use the HR drag-link, the bend in the centre section is towards the sump - mine bumps into the sump, but only on full r/h lock - I have lifted the trans a bit and also the engine, but it still rubs.

If you use EK - this won't happen.

But be sure to adjust the ball sockets according to the manual if you use the original EK - if one of those ball ends comes out - you're a gonner

Dee

Thanks. I'll see if I can find a HR one today, otherwise I'll use the EK.

Dee, what motor are you using, not a grey (138) ? I believe you need a EH sump on the bigger motors to stop it hitting. If it's a grey, I don't know.

Now I have something new to worry about. Ball ends - gonner

i've had one of those ball end things come out on the pitman arm side so absolutely no steering lucky it was in a carpark going very slow

OK, couldn't find anywhere to get a HR pittman, didn't call every wrecker or supplier, but did a lot of them.

Could have got some hens teeth, but HR Pittmans must be too rare

There will be one Finny, all these guys that have rack and pinion would have one laying around. Will have a ring around over here for you in the week

Hi finny,
yes, I have a red - it has an EH sump but still hits.

Rare's did the mounts some years back - they may be just a bit forward of where they do them now - it's only under the last 20 degrees of wheel turn arc when it touches the sump - I can avoid it. but like everything else we seem to do...... if it's there - we'll use it.

Don't get paranoid over those ball sockets - they have been running around for years and very rarely do they ever fall out - mine did a long, long time ago - but only whilst I was under there greasing it and gave this a pull and and a reef....... it popped - and so did I!

The balls are held by two cups - it's those cups which wear.
There's a small hole through each cup to allow grease to keep the joint lubricated. There is also a groove around the ball to do likewise.

If grit and stuff gets in there, it will wear the cup and eventually the tension from the springs will decrease - they will just about have to be completely shot for the ball to pop.

It will take a long time for the ball to actually be able to pull out - but be aware of it - make sure you have a look each year or so and just check that the end plugs are screwed up and backed off as per the manual.
There is a split pin through the end of the steering link tube which stops the end plug from screwing loose.
To check - you have to pull out the split pin, turn in the screwed end plug fully, then back off the specified number of turns/half turns - finally put a NEW split pin in and job done.

Hope that relieves any fears you may currently have - FB/EK dragliniks are great - but just keep them lubed, adjusted and keep the covers clean of grit and stuff which might get in there.

I didn't get any better "feel" after fitting the HR stuff - just wanted to keep the whole system complete. The HR pitman fitted straight into the splines of the EK steering box shaft.

Hope that's enough - if you want more - pm me.

And hope others take heed of this and either check them - or have them checked - it's a five minute job all up...... takes longer to grease each side than that.

Dee