Pitman arm for 1946 Mercury
 

Hi, I need help to get on the road. My pitman arm 21A3590B has a lot of play in it, does anyone have a new one or know where i can get a new one. I've seen some used ones for sale on ebay, but I, as you, would prefer a new one..any suggestions? Can they be rebuilt or substituted to use in my stock 46 Mercury?

Thanks for all the help, found a NOS arm and look forward to it arriving. As some say, the problem might be deeper than just the arm

Re: Pitman arm for 1946 Mercury
 

Not sure how there could be play in that arm unless something is damaged. There is a NOS one on ebay for $70+shipping right now.

Re: Pitman arm for 1946 Mercury
 

Can you give more information. The Pitman arm itself should not wear. Unless it has not been tightened at either end. In which case the spline or knuckle fitting are probably damaged as well

Re: Pitman arm for 1946 Mercury
 

Thanks for the input, it is possible there is more damage than the arm itself. I'm starting with the pitman arm to see if that fixes it, if not I'll pull the box. I can visually see a lot of play between the arm and the box.

Re: Pitman arm for 1946 Mercury
 

Thanks, I've gotten a few private replies, I'll check out the ebay one. A few days ago i checked and only saw used.

Re: Pitman arm for 1946 Mercury
 

That connection is a tapered spline. You should tightened it ASAP. Drop it down and give it a visual inspection. Make sure you connect it in the same orientation, have the wheels straight ahead and the steering wheel centered. If it has had movement for a while I would guess both surfaces will have wear. Tighten it now and then try to tighten it again after some use. If there is no movement, it won't get any worse

Re: Pitman arm for 1946 Mercury
 

Make sure you have the proper cone washer (lack of proper name) or it won't tighten properly. Someone put a flat washer on mine when I bought 47 car and just wouldn't tighten that's how I found out.

Re: Pitman arm for 1946 Mercury
 

Wow, where did you find the cone washer? Mine also has a flat washer and there was a lot of play between the arm and the spline from the box. Someone did offer a NOS arm and it should arrive soon, I ask them about the washer. This is a great help. I like your Canadian coupe, I should post a picture of mine at some point in the future.

Re: Pitman arm for 1946 Mercury
 

Thanks for the advice, I'll check it out once the new arm arrives.

Re: Pitman arm for 1946 Mercury
 

I’ve taken dozens of old Ford steering boxes from 32 to 52 apart and never seen a cone shaped washer on the sector. Just the pitman arm, then a large lock washer (make sure it fits over the splines if any stick through the pitman), then the nut. Sometimes the nut uses a cotter pin instead.

I too think the OP just needs to crank the big nut down more. If it’s been loose long enough to mess up the splines in the pitman, the splines on the sector are probably screwed too.

Re: Pitman arm for 1946 Mercury
 

Totally agree. Never seen a cone washer, or a worn pitman arm for that matter. In the
beginning of this thread I thought the OP must have wrong terminology, and really means the drag link, not pitman arm. Any photos ?

Re: Pitman arm for 1946 Mercury
 

Hard to photo the play between the sector and pitman arm, but I did measure the ID of the lock washer and it is .9 of an inch, and won't fit over the spline on the sector...might be to small to snug up the pitman arm...if so, new washer and problem might be solved.

Re: Pitman arm for 1946 Mercury
 

Re: Pitman arm for 1946 Mercury
 

I installed the new pitman arm and that solved the shimmy. I took the advice on the lock washer and got a one inch that would allow it to go over the spline if needed. The arm went in easily and my steering is tight. Thanks to all that offered suggestions or parts.

Re: Pitman arm for 1946 Mercury
 

thanks for the remark on my coupe,also post pics of yours