At 07:10 PM 2/5/2009, Matt Drew wrote:
>Driver's side is ok, but the passenger's is stripped down to pretty much
>flat.

Clean the shaft splines out with a pin, thoroughly.  Put the arm on
in correct position, tighten the nut through firm resistance until it
suddenly comes up hard.  Take it off and look -- if you have good
spline depth in the socket then you're all set.  If not, you've used
up that arm.  A new arm should be good for more than one of these and
I imagine will come without splines in the first place.

This is a deliberate shear point to protect the internal works from overtorque.

>If I do have to order, are there any quick fixes to get me through the next
>5-7 days?

Leave that arm off, or go with whatever spline depth you managed to
get, and hope.  Remember, if the passenger can see the crash coming
it will only disturb him and his loud cries may distract you from
necessary action. <g>

--
David Beierl - Providence RI USA -- http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage," '85 GL "Poor Relation"