07-11-2021, 07:30 PM
Arms do not crack just at the radius but also sometimes at the shoulder, although the radius crack is usually bigger. The shoulder cracks are hard to see unaided. if fully seated and tightened would not occur but the seating often uncertain. Keeping greased reduces the considerable accelerating corrosion contribution but makes cracks more difficult to see.
Fatigue is a slow process so if no detectable cracks OK to use.
Lord Austin should have lost his title for continuing the arms so long.
Although maybe on low grip unsealed roads with lightweight occupants, parking spaces readily accessible, little trouble was evident into the 30s. Older motorists were also taught not to force the steering esp when stationary. (The steering on modern power steer cars must be made of tough stuff!)
Not certain that the pattern in the very corroded arm is a crack. There is a tendency for emery to burnish metal over cracks and conceal, although the magnetic black fluid method usually reveals.
My father never considered the steer arm failure incident with our car 70 years ago trivial! Got the fright of his life. Total mileage then about 60,000!
Fatigue is a slow process so if no detectable cracks OK to use.
Lord Austin should have lost his title for continuing the arms so long.
Although maybe on low grip unsealed roads with lightweight occupants, parking spaces readily accessible, little trouble was evident into the 30s. Older motorists were also taught not to force the steering esp when stationary. (The steering on modern power steer cars must be made of tough stuff!)
Not certain that the pattern in the very corroded arm is a crack. There is a tendency for emery to burnish metal over cracks and conceal, although the magnetic black fluid method usually reveals.
My father never considered the steer arm failure incident with our car 70 years ago trivial! Got the fright of his life. Total mileage then about 60,000!