Changing out my pitman arm was a total nightmare ! One of the hardest things I have ever done.....but I definately did some things that did not help me out !!

I got it back on yesterday but could not get it to pull all the way back on the steering box ! I left it alone and got back on it this morning. I got my father in law to help me (he's real mechanically inclided). He felt like I must not have it back on correctly but we took everything back down and re-did it ! And I had it on right and was doing things right........but even with 2 of us on a cheater bar........still could only get it about half way back on .

The congnito bracket is on......the lock washer and nut are on all the way over the bottom of the bolt ! The only issue is that I can see about 3/8" of the splines on the steering box . My FIL said he thought it would be fine but he was puzzled as to why it won't pull up anymore......but he wasn't there when I got the old one out !! I am wondering if I got one with a machining problem or something (?)

Would you take it to the track and drive it normally ? I don't think there is anyway in hell it will come off without a puller......and I can't really see where it will hurt anything.......but I know it's not "all" the way back on !! The idea of removing all of it again is just about "too much" !! :eek:

What would you do ?

what pitman arm did you go with as the MOOG and some aftermarket ones do not let the bolt thred all the way down. The stock GM ones fit the best especially with the cog brace's just went through this all.

dont use a moog pitman arm. the splines are not cut correctly and it will loosen up on on the output shaft of the steering box. Put the oem pitman on there now or you will be doing it again later.

It's an OEM arm ! My luck though !!

I think some of the splines are showing on mine too. If you can wait until later tonight I will get a pic of it and post it. I think your good and wouldnt worry about it.

Thanks......yeh I would like top see someone else's !!

does any one know why the sterring wheel feels like it is shacking back and forth

Bad idler arm ! or pitman !

Does it look like this....Can you get a pick of what you are seeing???

http://www.norcaltruck.com/gallery/chevy/47/16.jpg



Nor-Cal Nick

I'll try to get a picture Nic ! But yeh......from the bottom it looks like that ! If you look above the pitman arm to the steering box though........I can see a good amount of the splines !

I pushed the rubber seal(on the bottom of the steering box) up while moving things around ! Is it supposed to be flush with the bottom of the steering box or is it supposed to come down over some of the splines ??

I can see the splines on mine

I'll try to get a picture Nic ! But yeh......from the bottom it looks like that ! If you look above the pitman arm to the steering box though........I can see a good amount of the splines !

I pushed the rubber seal(on the bottom of the steering box) up while moving things around ! Is it supposed to be flush with the bottom of the steering box or is it supposed to come down over some of the splines ??


Are you talking about here??

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=38689&stc=1&d=1178075486


Nor-Cal Nick

Yep.....right there Nick !! I have the black rubber piece your arrow is pointing to pushed pushed all the way up to the steering box ! Now that I have though about it.........I probably just need to pull it back down so it covers the splines !!

I just didn't pay enough attention to all that while I was changing it out !!

Yep.....right there Nick !! I have the black rubber piece your arrow is pointing to pushed pushed all the way up to the steering box ! Now that I have though about it.........I probably just need to pull it back down so it covers the splines !!

I just didn't pay enough attention to all that while I was changing it out !!


Yea your right. Just pull it down.

:thumb:

Nor-Cal Nick

yep thats right, i just did this install the other day, replaced pitman/idler arms and installed the cognito braces, i noticed before i pulled the stock one off that there was about 1/4-3/8 of splines showing, and when i put the new one on and snugged it up it had the same amount showing, that little rubber seal should slide back down about that amount and cover it right up,

oh yea not a diesel guy here (wish i was but just have a gasser for now) but ive been lurking around the sight and it convinced me to invest in the cognito pitman/idler arm system, thanks guys it really did help it out