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My power steering cylinder/control valve area has been a little weepy for a little while. The last time I took the car out I had a good drip. Yesterday I cleaned the area took a look and found one of the hard lines loose and tightened it up. While I was there I went over everything to make all was snug. The nut on the piston rod was/is also loose. I held the rod and started to tighten the nut but after about a turn and a half it did not tighten up. I thought maybe it was supposed to have a locknut/jamnut and got out the AIM. The AIM showed a cotter pin going through what looks like a castle nut. I have a plain nut, and no hole can be seen it the rod. I backed the nut off a bit and the hole is not under the nut. So I assume the hole is further down on the rod. So do I tighten it down and will it stop when tight? I guess there is a step on the rod that bottoms out? And the big question is will I have to re-center the piston after tightening? The car is a '70.
Second, no you will not need to recenter the control valve. Its very easy if you ever need to do it. About 90 degrees between extend and retract in my case. Just go in between that estimated middle point and pop the end cap back on.
As I recall, the shaft has a step on it that registers in the washer and won't allow it to go too far. Pull the existing nut and washers off to make sure the shaft has a cotter pin hole and where on the "clock" it is located in relation to the shaft's wrench flat. The '72 AIM says torque to 20-26 lbs/ft and then further if needed to align the hole and nut.
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Power steering rod nut
