Need advice.

[Rudedog]

I have a 97 Ford Ranger XLT four-wheel drive and I am replacing the pitman arm seal and the pitman arm. I removed the old stock pitman arm and found a supposed TRW replacement pitman arm however the new pitman arm has a 4 inch drop where is the stock pitman arm was a 2 inch drop. What effect will this have if I install this new pitman arm? Thanks Rudedog.

 

[Curious Hound]

It will drop the upper end of the drag link slightly. I expect it should work fine. But I don't have a stock front end to look at to verify angles and clearances. If you have any lift installed in your suspension, it will be helpful and actually improve your steering slightly.

 

[19Walt93]

I'd exchange it for the right one, it'll probably work but will affect the way the steering feels and won't be returnable once it's installed. The seal is called the sector shaft seal, look closely at the sector to make sure there isn't a groove in it or rust on the seal surface.

 

[Rudedog]

Any advice on removing the old seal?

 

[19Walt93]

Drill a small hole in it, screw in a small screw, and pull it out. We always pulled the sector out of the steering box to change the seals, center the wheel, remove 2 bolts and pull it out the top. Make sure you have a new square cut oring for the upper plate and thoroughly clean it off before taking it apart so no dirt gets into the box. That will let you polish the seal surface of the shaft with fine sandpaper if needed.