Hey got a few pitman arm questions and a complaint. The complaints to summitracing.com who sold me the pitman arm thats NOTHING like the one on the car, even though they said it would fit.

Anyway so can i use a used one from crqigslist or something? Do i gotta buy a new one?? They arent cheap but used seem very reasnable.

And while im at it how do you replace it? It wasnt easy comming off.


Thanks for any help

 

The pitman is a non-wear item, so unless it's been damaged in some manner, it shouldn't require replacement.

JamesC

 

The groove things it goes into on mine was worn

 

Can't imagine how that would be possible under normal conditions.

JamesC

 

My steering was pretty messed up

 

You could have had worn out tie rod ends, idler arm or center link. Maybe even a worn out steering box but it's highly unlikely the pitman arm itself is bad unless it was damaged in an accident. It's a big piece of steel bent into a double elbow with 2 holes in it. Nothing to wear out.

To remove it from the steering box, you need a pitman arm puller.

Earlier cars like first and second gens have the ball socket as part of the pitman arm and that does wear out. Third gens have the ball socket moved to the center link so there's nothing on the pitman arm to wear out.