Is there an after market or OEM longer pitman arm for lifted trucks?

[TomGolden]

Hi All,



I found another issue with my lift kit last weekend after it was installed. The steering wheel was completely upside down. When I took it in for front end alignment and asked the tech if he could fix it, he checked it out. He showed me the adjustment "coupling" in the middle of what I think is the pitman arm. In order to get my steering wheel back to it's normal orientation, he had to pretty much adjust the pitman arm to the very end of it's limits, and I'm a bit afraid that next time I do any serious off roading where the rouchness of the road may cause undue jolting to the steering mechanism, the pitman arm could pull apart at the adjustmane area.



The alignment tech said I should be able to get an after market pitman arm that is longer to make up for the lift kit.



I don't have a picture top post right this minute, sorry. I may have my terminology wrong, but hopefully you'll know what part I'm talking about. It is the arm that comes off the end of the S shaped arm from the bottom of the steering gear box, and has the adjustment clamp in it.



Does anyone know if I can get an aftermarket replacement part for this?



Thanks,

Tom

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Here you go Tom. Skjacker makes them.



http://www.skyjacker.com/products/Steering/slist.asp?type=dodge

 

[Big P]

Tom, something just doesn't sound right. I installed 2" coil spring spacers on my 2001 2500 4x4 and I experienced none of the issues you are having to deal with. I haven't seen these problems on any body else's truck with spacers or Skyjacker replacement coils on this site. I know you got the whole system but again something just doesn't seem right. Hopefully I'm wrong!

 

[Idaho CTD]

Tom,

I installed my 2. 5" lift myself and the steering wheel was only off about 1/8 of a turn. Mine is only the standard lift not the double-flex. I'm wondering if that is some of the problem. When I first got my lift they sent me 1/2 ton coils. Talk about funny, the front was lower than stock. The number on the box was right but the coils were wrong. From what I have heard, you dont need a drop pitman arm until you go past 3" of lift. I'm with Mpagnucco when he said something doesn't sound right. I too hope everything is ok but I haven't had your problems either.



Nathan

 

[TomGolden]

I guess I have my terminology a bit off. I didn't mean the curved arm that comes directly off the steering gear box, which I guess is actually what isd called the pitman arm. There is a long basically straight piece that connects to the pitman arm on one end and then connects at the other end to the passengers side wheel assembly. In the middle of this long straight piece is an adjustment piece. That is what had to be adjusted to allow my steering wheel to be turned back to normal orientation. I will take pictures when I get home this weekend.



I will also look at taking the truck into another 4WD shop and have them check the lift kit installation.

 

[Big P]

Keep us updated.

 

[Spaceace]

What a drag!

TomGolden,

You're describing the drag link. And from wheel to wheel is the tie rod.

 

[Beast2B]

Hey Tom,

I have the 4. 5" Skyjacker lift on my truck and it came with a new Pitman arm and track bar lowering bracket, but the geometry should still compare. Another piece that might affect the steering wheel is the track bar. Did your kit come with a new track bar lowering bracket? Did you replace the stock track bar with a DT stock length or lifted length? If you had to adjust the drag link to its max length, it sounds like the front axle moved way far to the right (passenger side) OR the drag link needed to be adjusted shorter to correct the steering wheel. Get the front wheels off the ground on jack stands and turn your steering wheel lock-to-lock. Once you know how many turns it takes total, go as close to half way through the rotation as you can and see if the tires are straight and the steering wheel is about centered...

 

[TomGolden]

Ok, here sre the pictures of exactly what I'm talking about. The adjustment "coupling" is circled in the blue box. That rod or arm that it is part of is what I'm interested to know if there is a longer one available. The two ends of the arm that are in this coupling are just barely long enough now, and there is only like 1/2" inside each end of the coupling.

 

[TomGolden]

And another picture...