The Pitman arm is used every single time you turn the steering wheel whether the engine is running or not. However, it's incredibly durable and with the right service and maintenance schedule, it should last for the lifetime of your vehicle. Yes that's normal, the Pitman arm is supposed to have a very tight fit so take the nut to ft-lbs. You may want to slip a floor jack handle over the torque wrench handle for a little more leverage.
Hence, a steering wheel that gives you poor to no resistance at all is dangerous. It's a sign that your idler arm could be the culprit. Death wobble is often blamed on a failed steering stabilizer or shocks and struts. Worn tie rods, idler arm , track bar, wheel bearings, pitman arm , steering center link and shaft, ball joints, alignment and even tire pressure can combine to cause the death wobble.
Also known as road wandering, this scary phenomenon occurs when a vehicle seems to wander or weave back and forth on its own. Play in the Wheel. If you have suspicions that the idler arm is in poor condition, this symptom can be tested under safer and easier conditions than road walking. Free Wheeling. If an idler arm is loose you will be able to see it moving around. Symptoms of a bad idler or pitman arm include lack of steering control, reduced steering response, swaying, car pulling to one side, and uneven wear on the tires.
It's dangerous when a pitman or idler arm is bad. A bad or failing idler arm or pitman arm can cause your vehicle to not respond appropriately when you turn the steering wheel. As a result, your vehicle may pull to one side of the road or the steering seems difficult to control. If your vehicle has a pitman arm design with a ball joint on one end.
Usually when a pitman arm goes bad it can be traced back to their childhood. The Pitman arm is a steering component in an automobile or truck. As a linkage attached to the steering box see recirculating ball sector shaft, it converts the angular motion of the sector shaft into the linear motion needed to steer the wheels.
The pitman arm should be replaced before the problem gets to this point. This is a dangerous situation, so if you notice any of the symptoms above, they should be looked at before the pitman arm completely fails. If you do lose the ability to steer, do not keep driving.
Slow down to a stop and call for assistance. Over time the bearings in the arm's bushings become worn, causing slack in the connection. Got it together? We're ready to replace that Pitman. We have to get it in the air, so jack the left side most cases, see your repair manual if you're not sure of the truck up under the A-arm and put a jack stand under the frame on the left side. 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. I was all ready for a battle, and it turned out that the nut was hardly tight at all. It came right off, which was not a good thing. Loose is never good when you're talking about steering. Take your Pitman arm puller and remove the arm from the steering shaft. It will release from the shaft and drop down some, but the arm is still being held up by the centerlink. Next, remove the cotter pin and the large nut that holds the Pitman to the center link.
Use a pickle fork or a puller to separate the Pitman from the centerlink. You should be able to remove the Pitman by pulling down on the centerlink and slipping it out.
If you're doing both the idler arm and the Pitman today, this is where you will appreciate the fact that you have not installed the idler arm yet. If you can't get the Pitman arm out, drop the idler arm down by removing the 2 bolts that attach it to the frame.
Put some antisieze grease on the steering box's tapered bolt. Pack grease up into the steering box around the top of the tapered bolt. This will help keep out dirt and moisture. 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. It is time to have your pitman arm looked at. A bad or failing pitman arm can cause your vehicle to not respond appropriately when you turn the wheel. Not only can it have lots of play, it can be highly inaccurate or seem to have a mind of its own while you are driving down the road. This can be especially dangerous during hazardous weather conditions or on a busy highway. When the pitman arm completely fails, you will lose all steering in your vehicle.
The pitman arm should be replaced before the problem gets to this point. This is a dangerous situation, so if you notice any of the symptoms above, they should be looked at before the pitman arm completely fails. If you do lose the ability to steer , do not keep driving.
Slow down to a stop and call for assistance. If you have poor steering, your vehicle seems to wander, or you have lost all ability to steer, chances are your pitman arm needs to be replaced.
In addition, if you drive off-road often, inspect your pitman arm for wear and replace it as needed to keep yourself and others safe. This article originally appeared on YourMechanic. Autoblog is partnering with YourMechanic to bring many of the repair and maintenance services you need right to you.
Get service at your home or office 7 days a week with fair and transparent pricing. We get it. Ads can be annoying. But ads are also how we keep the garage doors open and the lights on here at Autoblog - and keep our stories free for you and for everyone. And free is good, right?
0コメント