Steering box/pitman arm

[bobplyler]

I've gotten a new steering box and new pitman arm.

When I put the arm on the steering box, and torqued it down to specs,
it appears as though there is about 1/8 inch gap between where the arm
should be and where it actually is.

I see three options.
1- Leave it as is.
2- Heat up the arm and either:
a- Try and get the arm farther down.
b- Remove the arm, heat it even more, and put it back on.

Any opinions?

[BEEK]

are you saying that because there are splines left behind the arm, meaning towards the box? This could be usual as this is a press fit, not a seat fit. can you compare to your original box? Sorry, i have never removed one in the 30 years of my messing with fiats, i have always just installed a good used steering box and gone on. they rarely go bad. But having said that , i had a bad one on my personal car many years ago. it was a replacement box that the trained professionals at the dealership never put any oil in....

[bobplyler]

Yes, compared to the original box, there is about an extra 1/8 inch gap.

[vandor]

Unless it causes any obvious problems, I would not worry about it.

[bobplyler]

Thanks for the responses. I'll just leave it as it is.