Pitman arm.

[chrger1967]

I put in a new pitman arm today, but I wanted to make sure of something. I used a breaker bar to tighten the pitman arm and cannot get it any tighter, but there is a gap between the arm and the steering box. The nut is just a little past flush with the shaft. I should have looked to see how far the arm was before I took it out, but I did not.

 

[Ron H]

I needed to replace the pitman on my car, the zerk was shaved off, marred the t-bar, and center link playing the the violin on the header. Up on the lift could see the center link wasn't quite level, may have been just due to wear/age causing a sag. IMO, check the operation of the steering linkage to assure it is not binding or causing any odd looking stress or shift on the linkage, center link is even. If it's out of position I'd think an indication of the arm not seated properly

 

[chrger1967]

When I first stated this job I noticed the same thing about the zero fitting. It looked like it was close to hitting the torsion bar, but I didn’t see any marks on the torsion bar though. It’s close though. I’ve included two pics of it installed.

 

[chrger1967]

I used a cotter pin to see how much thread is not on the shaft, it looks like about ¼” of the pitman arm isn’t on the steering box shaft. And let the tell ya, I can’t get it any tighter. Now that I think about it, if the pitman arm was butt up against the steering box with no gap, could you get a puller behind it?

 

[Ron H]

Yes it does look like the arm can go a but further on the spline, the clearance with mine is really minimal, less than I’d thought, talking ¼” and less. Even with the new arm, man the clearance with the zerk is close with the bar and headers I have make it tight. That fitting is the worst one to reach having the wheel turned just so and using a flat grease fitting. But it all clears.

Yeah, IMO sure looks like the arm should go further up…make those checks. One thing as mentioned is see how level the cross link looks.
My old arm had almost no gap and was a bit tricky getting it out.

 

[ckessel]

The arm will only go onto the shaft a given amount. The hole in the arm is tapered plus the Pittman shaft is tapered.

 

[Fran Blacker]

Don't think you'd want pitman arm against the box.

 

[Ron H]

The arm will only go onto the shaft a given amount. The hole in the arm is tapered plus the Pittman shaft is tapered.

True, you might see what the torque specs are in the FSM

 

[R/T Boy 67]

The grease fitting getting cozy with the T bar on the driver's side, is usually a worn out lower control arm bushing. On the passenger side it could also be a worn out idler arm, especially on pre 68 cars. As long as the splines were clean and not dinged up, you pitman arm is fine.

 

[Lefty71]

Don't think you'd want pitman arm against the box.

For sure!!!

His pix look really good, like he needs to quit while he's ahead. Before he tears something up that's already good and done.

 

[Bird 426]

It's probably an optical, the arm looks like it's tilted on the shaft.

 

[T2R9]

That gap is normal. If it's torqued to spec your good.