Pitman Arm help

CheapThrillB2 · Oct 26, 2008

Helping a friend doing a SAS swap on a 84 B2. We need a pitman that is long, not drop long. But one that is further forward then stock. Where we want to put the axle under the frame, at flex it puts the tie rod/pitman arm into the diff cover. We want to move the mounting point of the pitman/tie rod further away from the diff cover. Any help? Drop distance not a concern.

mjonesjr · Oct 26, 2008

The only problem I can see is getting one that will fit on the splines and output diameter of the BII steering box.

I would assume they are cast, so extending the stock one is probably out.

What about putting a bow out in the tie rod like the '78-'79 F-150's have to clear the center section of the axle?

CheapThrillB2 · Oct 26, 2008

the tie rod angle or whatever doesn't matter as it would be drilled out anyways. We need something as flat as possible and the most distance between the gear box splines and the tie rod hole.

mjonesjr · Oct 26, 2008

I understand that, but what I am saying is, why can't you put a bend in the tie rod like the '79 F-150 tie rod to clear the diff cover?

4x4junkie · Oct 26, 2008

The arm from a IH Scout comes to mind, those things are lonnnnngggg. I have no idea if the splines would match up though.

IMO, I think it would be better to just relocate the steering box forward more.

mjonesjr · Oct 26, 2008

The Scout arms are long.

metalmacguyver · Oct 26, 2008

TireIron may have some input on this. He is going to be using a 2wd superduty pitman arm. It is 8" long or so and completely flat IIRC.

TireIron · Oct 26, 2008

give me a day or two to check on something with the superduty pitman arm. I have a 4wd but I went to install it today and it is the larger 36 spline and the rangers are only 32 spline. I need to measure and check the fitment of a 2wd arm and see if they have the same length advantage of about 1.25 inches longer than the stock 2wd ranger arm. the arms im looking at are the 99-04 ones. I'll keep you updated at what I find out.

CheapThrillB2 · Oct 27, 2008

TireIron said:
give me a day or two to check on something with the superduty pitman arm. I have a 4wd but I went to install it today and it is the larger 36 spline and the rangers are only 32 spline. I need to measure and check the fitment of a 2wd arm and see if they have the same length advantage of about 1.25 inches longer than the stock 2wd ranger arm. the arms im looking at are the 99-04 ones. I'll keep you updated at what I find out.

TireIron · Oct 27, 2008

Ok, this it whats what. 2wd or 4wd doesnt matter, but I just picked up a pitman arm for a 2000 (99-04?) F250 superduty and be sure it has 32 splines!!! they are made in 32 and 36 and are identical except for the splines. The ranger and explorer boxes use the 32 spline arms. The superduty arm is 6 5/8th inches from center of hole to center of hole and my factory ranger 2wd arm was 5 1/4 inch hole to hole.

Remember that it will change the speed of the steering and the total angle of steering, you want to try and match up the pitman arm to the steering knuckles as close as possible, the factory is about a 1:1 ratio, so this will get me closer at least. The dodge knuckles I'm using are 8 inches from center of balljoint to center of steering hole which is pretty damn large.

TireIron · Oct 27, 2008

Oh yea, the ford part number for the correct pitman arm is F81Z*3590*BA

This is my 2wd ranger arm with the superduty arm (the 36 spline arm is in the pictures, but the correct 32 spline arm is identical in everything but the splines)

TireIron · Oct 30, 2008

I got the superduty arm in tonight and yay, I got my steering range back! I can actually reach the steering stops at the axle now and have a good ratio where I dont have to make 30 point turns to get in and out of parking spaces.

Evan · Nov 22, 2008

mjones said:
I would assume they are cast, so extending the stock one is probably out.

You can extend the stock one. :icon_twisted:

metalmacguyver · Nov 22, 2008

They are probably forged actually. You could extend it but then you would just have something that would qualify for this page http://128.83.80.193/scarysteering/scarysteering.html

brendank · Nov 24, 2008

Does anyone know if the 2wd arm will fit on a 4wd box? It appears that there is no difference in the steering boxes, but I'm worried that the arm may be different. It looks like the 2wd arm is flat compared to the 4wd arm, and that's exactly what i need to bring my drag link angle up a bit to match the trac bar angle.

Pitman Arm help

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