How to replace your pitman arm or steering arm?
Lower the truck down on the jack stand and remove the wheel. You have to remove the big nut that holds the Pitman arm to the steering box. In this case, it was a 1-5/16 nut that was torqued to 180 ft lbs. I used a 3/4″ drive socket and a big mother breaker bar. I was all ready for a battle, and it turned out that the nut was hardly tight at all.
What do Pitman arms and idler arms do?
Idler Arms and Pitman Arms are part of your steering system that links your steering box to the center link, and then on to the hub assemblies. The Pitman Arm, also known as the “steering arm,” is the main player while the idler arm supports the other side and allows the proper movement to take place when you turn the wheel.
When to know if your pitman arm is bad?
If you notice your steering has lots of play while you are driving, such as the wheel turns more than it should before the wheels engage, then chances are your pitman arm needs to be looked at.
Can a new arm fix a steering wheel?
No, it is not…When your mechanic installed the new arm, he allowed the drag link or the steering shaft to move a little, moving the wheel off-center. An alignment is not the cure…
Lower the truck down on the jack stand and remove the wheel. You have to remove the big nut that holds the Pitman arm to the steering box. In this case, it was a 1-5/16 nut that was torqued to 180 ft lbs. I used a 3/4″ drive socket and a big mother breaker bar. I was all ready for a battle, and it turned out that the nut was hardly tight at all.
Idler Arms and Pitman Arms are part of your steering system that links your steering box to the center link, and then on to the hub assemblies. The Pitman Arm, also known as the “steering arm,” is the main player while the idler arm supports the other side and allows the proper movement to take place when you turn the wheel.
No, it is not…When your mechanic installed the new arm, he allowed the drag link or the steering shaft to move a little, moving the wheel off-center. An alignment is not the cure…
How do you replace a cotter pin on a pitman?
Prepare a new cotter pin by cutting down the length of one side to match the one you removed. Take a rag and wipe the junk away from the steering shaft and the centerlink hole. Take a good glob of grease and pack it up all around where the steering shaft sticks out of the steering box. This will help seal the steering box from the elements.