Shortend Pitman Arm

[bsoultz]

Does this realy make steering much easier?

[msmaron]

I dont know if i would use the word easier.. it has to do with the turning radius more, at least that is what i have found, so in essence i guess it would make it easier on that account. I also used a steering stabilizer and with the two i did find it nice to drive. I have since taken that off.

[Richard in NC]

This question has been answered over and over. Here is what I KNOW about it. I shortened my Pitman arm years ago by 1.5 inches. It is simple to understand that you get an increased leverage factor that helps by decreasing effort but increases the amount you turn the steering wheel. My car is a 31 with a 2 tooth box. It has alot more rotational travel than was originally used with a std pitman arm. The splindles still hit the stops so the turn radius is not in any way decreased. This may not be the case with a 7 tooth box. To me, the A and T models steering is way too fast (like a go-kart steering) so it helps to slow the ratio a bit. Drive most any 30's or 40's car and see what a really slow steering ratio feels like. Anyway, I like mine and will probably leave it that way.

[bsoultz]

Thanks for all the input, I will propbaly try the shorter arm on my 28 Phaeton.

[John S]

Originally Posted by bsoultz

Does this realy make steering much easier?

Yes, on my coupe with seven tooth steering gear it made the steering easy. The roadster, all original w/seven tooth...Not so much.

[Purdy Swoft]

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Yes the shortened pitman arm will make the steering easier when the car is moving, it won't help when sitting still.

[Barry B./ Ma.]

I makes it easier both stopped and rolling but increases the number of turns, not noticeably. I would say it makes it easier by around 20%. Some people say it's a longer turning radius but I don't notice it being different. I would recommend a new shorter arm instead of a welded unit.

[Keith True]

I've put a few of these on,both for myself and for other people.It makes a difference.I'm not getting the radius thing,if the spindles hit the stops before,and hits them after the new arm,how does the radius change? In armchair theory the radius would decrease,but in real life the spindles hit the stops before the box runs out of travel.Now,this is on a two tooth box,I've never done one on a seven tooth,that might be different.It also does not repair bad steering arm balls,bad kingpins,worn out steering box,etc.I talked to one guy who said it was a waste of money.It made no difference to him.I asked how his front end was.He said tight.I asked if he had looked at the steering balls.No,but he shook them.Same with the kingpins.He said that with the front end jacked up it still took two hands to steer.He doesn't want to fix it,so therefore it can't be bad.Now he bitches about the shortened pitman arm because it wasn't the magic bullet.I did a couple of things to an old fellows truck to make it easier for him to drive.Between the cast drums,shortened pitman arm,and Teds floaters he drove the truck until a week or so before he died.He was too sick and weak to drive it as it was.

[Milton]

Originally Posted by Keith True

In armchair theory the radius would decrease,but in real life the spindles hit the stops before the box runs out of travel.

Thanks Keith, that's just what I know. As long as the spindle stops work I'm ready for the shorter pitman arm myself.

[RcT]

It takes less effort to make the same movement. Take a hammer and hold it by the end of the handle and lift it up, with your elbow on the table. Now reverse the hammer and hold it by the head and raise your arm again... less effort for the same movement. However, the hammer head travels a shorter distance. Same with your steering, so moving the spindle a shorter distance gives you a larger turning radius.

[Richard in Anaheim CA]

My first attempt at a U turn with a short pitman arm ended up with both front wheels against the opposite curb and traffic bearing down on me.

The short pitman arm came off and is available if you want it.

Stock pitman arm with no other changes allowed a normal U turn on a residental street.

Ricahrd
Anaheim CA

[Jon-Ohio]

For me- ditto what Richard said about the U turn - I'm going to put the old A&L rebult normal length pitman arm back on !

[Milton]

Originally Posted by Richard in Anaheim CA

The short pitman arm came off and is available if you want it.

I am interested, if for no other reason, to end my confusion on this matter.

[Larry Seemann]

A good way to visualize the effect is to imagine what it would be like if you put on a steering wheel that was 3" larger in diameter. Think about the change in muscle power and turns of the wheel. That's almost exactly the change in ratio.

[Milton]

All right, now I am confused. That was easy.

With a short pitman arm do the spindles run into the stops? If they do then why is the turning radius increased? If they don't then forget it because I don't like using a worm and sector as a wheel stop.

[Larry Seemann]

On my '31 Coupe with short pitman arm the backing plates hit the stops just like they did with the original pitman arm.

[Gerard]

Here exactly the same .