let me just have a question regarding on squeaking. I also have a kind of squeak when turn the steering wheel especially when changing direction slowly (like reverse-forward-reverse). Did you have similar issue?
4 Degrees is well out, so that is quite a lot of your problem!
A common fix on the filter housing when someone over tightens and strips the threads is to drill the thread out and put a longer bolt in with a nut. If yours has had this done already, maybe the nut has loosened and fell off.
6mm recoil/helicoil kit
That would be my choice as I hate bodge jobs. In fact it’s beyond me how folk strip these threads in the first place as they don’t need to be that tight.
I’ve never done it, so not sure. Have a look and see though. If you can get your finger under the hole I would guess you can get a nut on it. I would use a Nyloc nut or spring washer on it.
More or less agree, but as so many of us buy these secondhand we can never know how ham-fisted a previous mechanic/owner has been. And steel in an ally thread is a recipe for disaster at the best of times. I too have had this problem and I am as careful as heck with threads in ally. At the mo one thread is fine and the other is dodgy, but there is sufficient there to hold it. If the dodgy one get worse I'll go for the long bolt, nut and lock-washer method. As I don't have a Helicoil kit and in the past I have had bad experience with them. Fitted by a garage, the Helicoil itself started winding out!
I use a grease I have for steel to ally fixings. Can’t remember what it’s called but it’s not Copper Grease. Failing that Vaseline.More or less agree, but as so many of us buy these secondhand we can never know how ham-fisted a previous mechanic/owner has been. And steel in an ally thread is a recipe for disaster at the best of times. I too have had this problem and I am as careful as heck with threads in ally. At the mo one thread is fine and the other is dodgy, but there is sufficient there to hold it. If the dodgy one get worse I'll go for the long bolt, nut and lock-washer method. As I don't have a Helicoil kit and in the past I have had bad experience with them. Fitted by a garage, the Helicoil itself started winding out!
TBH the "front end shop" that did the tracking, if, or if not,they fitted the drag link, should have ensured the wheel was centralised before giving it back to you, that is part of the job.
