VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 Steering idler arm

What does the steering idler arm mounting bolt "lock" look like? Can a standard lock washer be used in its place? I am looking for the lock (if used ) that goes on the 1/2-20 217508 bolt. I have the 3691438 lock plate which is for the two lower bolts.

I have never seen a lock at that location but rather a heavy lock washer. The main thing is to make the bolt as tight as possible. I have seen cases where the bolt lossened-up.The factory says to tighten to 65 foot pounds but you can not get at it with a torque wrench - just make it real tight with a long wrench.

Right now the crossmember is out of the chassis so getting at it is no problem. MY parts book was a little misleading as it list the bracket in group 6.186 along with the bolt and lock so I thought the lock listed was for the bolt listed, but that is not the case. The lock listed is the one for the two lower bolts and I have yet to find where those are listed. I'll use a lock washer and perhaps some loctite on the bolt and keep my fingers crossed that I never have to remove the bolt as it is a pain the reach when everything is together.

The lock is in group 6.186 part
3 369138.
The lock washer for the top bolt is not listed because it was a standard part.

Yes that's where I found the number 3691438 along with the bolt 217508 but they don't go together. I have a couple of NOS locks but did not pay attention to the part number. After installing the lower bolts and lock I noticed there was no lock on the 217508 bolt so I looked in the parts book and found the 217508 bolt and 3691438 lock in the same group so I thought they went together until I looked at the package of the NOS locks and saw the 3691438. Just seems strange they list the top bolt and no lock and the bottom lock and no bolt in the same group and don't spell out that the lock is for the bottom bolts.

i tried all the things you did new bolts lock washers ruined the new front tires put a hole in the oil pan i finally made the bolt lock out of a piece of sheet metal has not moved yet enjoying the new radial tires a world of difference hope this helps

I agree on the radial tires as I put a set on 15 years ago. When the restoration is done it will have another set.

Last year when I replaced my steering idler arm(rebuilt from The Filling Station) taking the old original off my 50 chevy there was no lock on the bigger front bolt but lock plate on the 2 lower bolts. When I received the rebuilt fro The Filling Station it only had the new lock plate for the 2 lower bolts. Because I have a V8 swap install, I was able to get tork wrench on big front bolt and set at 65#

Thanks Cruiser . I tend to think that the top bolt was installed without a lockwasher. I kept all the parts when removed and no washer-not that I would remember if there was one.