Steering Arm routine bring up

[squeak]

Of all A7 components, whether deemed fragile or not, the steering arm has for many years been one whose condition needs to be  checked. The problem of cracking and its solution was well described in A7CA Mag 2004B. This can be seen on line at A7 Components web site where the article is reproduced. I would strongly suggest any viewer of this thread who has not yet picked up this article to do so now.
At around 2000 when this was a hot topic, about twenty steering arms were located in the Bristol Club Spares Shed and were carefully examined for cracks. All but two were shown to be cracked when subjected to magnetic particle inspection -i.e. it is not always easy to spot by cursory examination. The racing fraternity have been hot on this for years. It is subject to scrutineering. No used steering arms are now sold out of the Bristol shed. 

The point about fatigue cracking is that the component continues to give "normal service" while the crack propagates. If you are lucky, as happened with the failures experienced by a few BA7C members, it will finally fail under the stress of slowly going lock to lock when parking. Not so lucky if you are hairing round a corner and hit a pothole!
Thank you Bob for again raising this thread. The topic needs airing now and then if only to bring it to the attention of those who are new to austinneering.
Ron

I used to run a chummy with a performance engine in the sixties and was timed by a following car at 70 mph on an interstate border run. The car was then put into storage whilst I was overseas for some years. On my return I trailered the then unregistered  chummy to a local rally and rolling it off the trailer the steering arm totally collapsed at the elbow.
I now use David's new replacements and am on my fifth, with no failures. Call me overcautious but I am also thinking of getting in a supply of brake pedal rods.  cheers  Russell