Pittman arm position.

[84 M1008]

Gentlemen, can the pitman arm be removed and reinstalled 90° from it's stock position, or is it spline specific to it's position on the shaft. I have a complete front axle to be installed but it apparently takes the short drag link to the left knuckle instead of the long one to the right side knuckle.

 

[Craig 85]

I put a Skyjacker CA50 dropped arm on my K30 last year. Here's a couple of pictures of the arm from google. The last one is shown installed on my truck. I don't think you can rotate it based on the splines and the retainer bolt location.

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[84 M1008]

Thanks Craig, do I need a different box ? The pitman arm on mine is parallel to the frame in the neutral position.

 

[bucket]

Thanks Craig, do I need a different box ? The pitman arm on mine is parallel to the frame in the neutral position.

Sounds like you have a crossover steering conversion. What's the current axle and what's the new axle?

 

[84 M1008]

I believe it's the stock setup with the pitman arm going to the right side knuckle. The axle needs to be rebuilt, and the ring and pinion are go7ne due to lack of maintenance by the po. I bought the new axle with the intent on swapping it in. The axle is identical to the one Craig pictured.

 

[84 M1008]

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[bucket]

Yeah, your truck has been converted then. It uses a 2wd steering box. It's a better setup, so if both axles are Dana 60's, just switch the arms around to keep your current setup.

 

[84 M1008]

Ok so if it is a crossover setup, the drag link isn't where it's supposed to be. It's behind the tie rod on the right knuckle instead of crossing over it. That could explain the bend in the drag link. It was apparently installed wrong going on what you have described. No wonder it steers like crap. So I have to swap the crossover setup to the new axle, correct? I'm not familiar with crossover steering. I had an M1031 prior to this truck and for the life of me I can't remember how the steering was setup.

 

[77 K20]

http://offroaddesign.com/catalog/Dana60crossover.htm

This might help you visualize crossover steer.

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[77 K20]

http://offroaddesign.com/catalog/Dana60CrossoverAndHighSteer.htm

And it might have the high steer option... when you said "the drag link is behind the tie rod" then maybe they relocated the tie rod so it will be above the leaf springs.

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[84 M1008]

It looks like the first picture. I can't understand why someone would go through the trouble of putting a crossover setup on a truck and neglect the axle to the point of needing a complete rebuild.

 

[84 M1008]

I think the 37s on this truck wasted the front axle.

 

[77 K20]

And if there were 37s on there with crossover steer then I'm willing to bet that it was used hard. Components suffer greatly then.

 

[84 M1008]

A farmer used if to pull a gooseneck hay trailer. In sure it was in the mud. I have a dually conversion for it with 245/70 19.5 tires going on it. It should be a lot less abusive to the axle.

 

[75gmck25]

One big advantage of the crossover steering is that you apparently can use any 2WD steering box.

All the high quality replacement steering boxes with less play in them or with different ratios are 2WD boxes, so you now have that option. Replacing it is still pricey, but you have many more choices.

Bruce