: Need pitman arm help ASAP!!!!
1MutCJ7 10-07-2002, 10:00 AM My daily driver jeep is sitting in my garage without a drag link hooked up. I put on my hi steer arms with GM tie rod ends and new 1.5" tie rod and drag link with a waggy pitman arm. The waggy arm just barely puts the drag link over the tie rod and they hit.
I've been trying to search for a pitman arm that the same as a waggy arm, but about an 1" to 1.25" sorter. The only one I've found searching here is a doge 3/4 ton p/u, but it sounds like they are for manual steering and I need a P/S arm for a CJ.
Any help would be greatly appreciated so I can get my jeep back on the road.
Oxjockey 10-07-2002, 10:08 AM I have a similar setup going in because my SUA standard knuckle D44 would hit, as well. Are you using the TRE with the hole reamed out for the drag link? As a temporary solution, would the tie-rod fit fit between the knuckles, and you can run a drag link to the high steer arm?
Sam's makes a custom CJ pitman arm, might be worth looking into. Beefy, too.
Bryan
Scout Dude 10-07-2002, 10:11 AM There is a Ford one that is about 1/2" shorter... I don't know what it is off of though, I have just seen a lot of rigs using it.
Also, you can have a TJ or YJ one retapered to the larger TRE size.
1MutCJ7 10-07-2002, 02:26 PM Thanks for the replies guys. I'll check out the Astro Van arm at the PNP and if it doesn't work, I think I'll get the Sams arm.
4Bangler 10-07-2002, 02:30 PM I reamed my stock YJ pitman for the Waggy draglink and my draglink is parallel with my tierod at ride height, my SRS pulls the tie rod away from the draglink on compression so it doesn't bind anywhere.
4Bangler 10-07-2002, 02:42 PM The whole setup stays pretty parallel throughout the entire range of motion, I think you can see it in this pic....
1MutCJ7 10-07-2002, 06:20 PM I picked up a Dodge arm today and it was still about 1/4" (6"overall) too long. It looks like I'm going to need a completely flat arm that is about 5.5-5.75" long from hole center to center.
Does anyone have dimensions for Sams pitman arm?
Oxjockey 10-07-2002, 06:55 PM Originally posted by 1MutCJ7
I picked up a Dodge arm today and it was still about 1/4" (6"overall) too long. It looks like I'm going to need a completely flat arm that is about 5.5-5.75" long from hole center to center.
Does anyone have dimensions for Sams pitman arm?
It's sold & marketed as a CJ arm, I believe. I don't have a CJ arm handy, but it should be the same. I contacted them about mine and they said they'd ream it to whatever specs you want.
Bryan
1MutCJ7 10-08-2002, 07:37 AM Originally posted by Oxjockey
It's sold & marketed as a CJ arm, I believe. I don't have a CJ arm handy, but it should be the same. I contacted them about mine and they said they'd ream it to whatever specs you want.
Bryan
You're right. I just called them and it is the same dimensions as a stock CJ arm. They said I could cut it to whatever length I wanted and drill a new hole, but I can't see myself paying $120 for their arm and cutting it for a temporary fix.
Oxjockey 10-08-2002, 07:56 AM What's the dimension on the CJ arm? I would have figured it would have been in your ball park? Don't forget that the distance will change the action on the drag link. Bring it it closer to the center of the pivot will/can effectively reduce your turning radius & ratio.
Bryan
1MutCJ7 10-08-2002, 03:53 PM Originally posted by Oxjockey
What's the dimension on the CJ arm? I would have figured it would have been in your ball park? Don't forget that the distance will change the action on the drag link. Bring it it closer to the center of the pivot will/can effectively reduce your turning radius & ratio.
Bryan
It's 6.75" from center to center of the holes.
I can't figure out why this isn't working. I got a wagoneer pitman arm so that I could increase my turn radius, but it puts the drag link too far back and hits the tie rod. I need over an inch shorter for clearance between the two rods. I tried a Dodge pitman arm and I still need about a 1/4" more clearance.
The steering arms that I got are Bob Roggy's 1" raised arms. The only thing left that I can try is to use the Dodge pitman arm (6") and get some non-raised steering arms that are hopefully a 1/4" shorter to give me clearance. There is one place in town that has steering arms that I can see if it works. If not, then I'll have to put my D30 knuckles and tie rods back on my 44 so I can drive it again.:(
CJ-Jeeper 10-08-2002, 06:37 PM If you are getting new arms, why not get the ones that put the tie rod behind the axle?
Cheepin 10-08-2002, 07:34 PM Ok,this is going a different route.Why not move the steering box forward?Shouldn't be too hard.
1MutCJ7 10-08-2002, 08:24 PM Originally posted by CJ-Jeeper
If you are getting new arms, why not get the ones that put the tie rod behind the axle?
I've thought about that, but I have a few dilemas that keep me from running those.
1MutCJ7 10-08-2002, 08:27 PM Originally posted by blazin
Ok,this is going a different route.Why not move the steering box forward?Shouldn't be too hard.
I've considered that too, but I figured finding a pitman arm would be a little easier. Plus I was trying to have this put together before a rock crawling / truck show event here in town this weekend.
Cheepin 10-09-2002, 08:19 PM OK.Don't you love rushing to get stuff done.I was thinking if you move the box forward you wouldn't lose any turning,like you will with a shorter arm.
1MutCJ7 10-10-2002, 04:13 PM Originally posted by blazin
OK.Don't you love rushing to get stuff done.I was thinking if you move the box forward you wouldn't lose any turning,like you will with a shorter arm.
It seems like every project is a rush when its a DD :)
The whole reason I didn't go with the arms with the tie rod behind the axle was for simplicity. I was going to have to relocate my shocks, which I can't do until I lift my jeep more to put them where I want to. I thought that since my axle is in the stock location, everything would just bolt up and I would be on my way.:mad:
So........I've decided to change my whole game plan and put the D30 knuckles and tie rods back on for now. I'm going to sell the steering arms that I have and get the ones with the tie rod behind the axle so that I can run the wagoneer pitman arm and have a good turn radius.
Besides the shocks, I now have to sell the TRE with the hole to accept the drag link because it has been reemed out to accept the link. I also have to re-do the tie rod and drag link for the new arms since they will be different lengths.
Oh well........I think it will be worth all of the time and effort in the long run. The other benefit of putting the tie rod behind the axle is if I ever decide to run a shackle reversal in the future. I'll have to move the axle foward 2" and I won't have any steering issues then.
Thanks for all of the input, but I'll just have to run the wimpy D30 steering for the event Saturday :(
I've been having the same problem. Just bought a pitman arm off of a '68 Chevelle. After having it reamed it works perfect. It's about 5.25 inches.
utahjeepr 02-04-2003, 04:30 PM I'm running a stock TJ arm with my high steer. 5.5" Thinking about getting one from www.stockcarproducts.com that is 4130 and 5" long.
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