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Steering box change and pitman arm

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blompod Commited Dubber

57 posts · joined Nov 2014 ·

#1005490
Well I installed a new steering box and my right wheel is kicking off to the right and the left is straight. Have i got the pitman arm not keyed properly? I thought the fact that its keyed means you cant miss align it. 😠 I really dont want to take it all off again, can I just wind the tie rod so the wheel lines up straight?

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#1005505
Yes, you will need a wheel alignment as the steering box can end up in a slightly different position on the beam. Adjust the tie rod length to improve things but then get a proper wheel alignment done.
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

blompod Commited Dubber

57 posts · joined Nov 2014 ·

#1005517
cool thanks, but how can it be so out, and why only the right wheel? I adjusted the tierod but theres a lot of threads showing on the inner to get the wheel looking straight, hope theres not just a couple of threads holding it in the rod now.....

HappyDaze Superannuated

2,887 posts · joined Jun 2009 ·

#1005518
Please get some professional help [with the steering, I mean 😏]. It is so important to have the car road-worthy - for you and, other road users.
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!

blompod Commited Dubber

57 posts · joined Nov 2014 ·

#1005523
Will do, probably in both cases 😀

bajachris88 The international telephone dialing code for Antarctica is 6

6,661 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#1005548
Not a new pitman arm is it?
yanks had lhd pitman arms and they tend to dominate the market for new ones without being advertised as LHD. i got caught out. Put my steering well out of whack.
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!

psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 ·

#1005550
bajachris88 wrote:Not a new pitman arm is it?
yanks had lhd pitman arms and they tend to dominate the market for new ones without being advertised as LHD. i got caught out. Put my steering well out of whack.
I thought they just flipped over depending on which side the driver is on?

For the OP if the beam doesn't have the tags that the box fits over then it can end up in the slightly wrong place.
madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍

blompod Commited Dubber

57 posts · joined Nov 2014 ·

#1005551
Im not sure about the pitman arm being upside down or right side up, how can you tell? The beam has the locating tabs so thats cool. I had heaps of adjustment left in the inner tie rod end, by comparing it to another one, 30mil of thead still in there so thats cool too. Got a wheel alignent done took off the steering wheel pointed it straight and its all done. The new box has about 3cm of play compared to the other one that had about 20cm of play that could not be adjusted out.

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#1005558
Pitman arm can't be flipped as the tie rod ends have tapered shafts so the taper ends up the wrong war around.
Also, the location tabs are only part of locating the steering box. Depending on how the mechanic tightens the clamp bolts, steering box rotation gets effected as the tabs only locate the clamp.
Glad you got a proper alignment 👍
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE