[bkw3614]

No doubt, this issue has been discussed before.

I have a Cub Cadet 1250 and have rebuilt the steering column, but I still have nearly a quarter of steering wheel play, and the front axle is loose in its carrier. When the steering wheel is turned, the axle moves before the front wheels do.

It has been said that the correct fix is to remove the axle and get a 3/4" bolt and nut and squeeze the axle mount to fit the axle width, and then replace the carrier pin. I have a new carrier pin and it seems as if it is a better design than the one that I removed from the axle/carrier.

It seems to me that the method of compressing the axle carrier with a bolt would change the geometry of the carrier, throw things out of alignment and could stress or break welds. Thus, I have two questions. First, would shimming the axle in the carrier be a better fix? Second, does this method of compressing the axle carrier really work? I have measured over and over again and cannot see that things are that far out of whack. I am really confused and really don't know what to do about this most current nightmare with this tractor.

A new one is looking better all the time.