pitman arm

[Thomas]

Need a shortened pitman arm for better steering. Need a source to buy. Thanks

[tamagrouchy]

All the big parts houses have em now, Try Mikes or Snyders, I am pretty sure they have new ones now.

[John LaVoy]

IN the Winter 2010 Issue of the Model A Times we reported on Snyder's new short pitman arm. Not a modified original but brand new.

[C26Pinelake]

Contact Snyders, you won't be disappointed ! Wayne

[Mike Crehan]

Can you explain why you would want to use a shorter arm? I've used longer arms in the past to make the steering quicker, I'm not sure with vintage boxes why you would want to make it slower?

[harleytoprock]

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Originally Posted by Mike Crehan

Can you explain why you would want to use a shorter arm? I've used longer arms in the past to make the steering quicker, I'm not sure with vintage boxes why you would want to make it slower?

To make it easier to turn the wheel. But more turning.

[Mike Crehan]

Ok. Thank you.

[bettlesr]

You may need an adjustable drag link to center the steering.

[Brian T]

Hello Thomas,
You need to know the shortened pitman arm is not a cure for poorly maintained steering components, as mentioned you will most likely need a adjustable drag link.

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by C26Pinelake

Contact Snyders, you won't be disappointed ! Wayne

I have 2 problems with this one:

Shortened Pitman Arms only come LHD we have to heat them and twist them to face the "right" way. A dissapointment!

Contact Snyders! Not likely. They seem to not want to deal with anybody outside US now. Their new website has a "Contact Us" form where a phone number is required. Our telephone numbers have more digits than those in the US. The site won't recognise them and won't allow the message to be sent.
Seems dealing with Snyders has just been taken off the table. Can't understand their business smarts cutting so many customers adrift.

[Cockshutt Kid]

I rebuilt my steering box with the needle bearing sector housing,installed a shortened pitman arm, and installed nylon inserts in the tie rods and pitman rod. no need for an adjustable pitman rod. You wouldn't know it was the same car. Steers wonderfull and light. I love it.

[Mike Crehan]

If you have access to a friendly machine shop then you may be able to make one which is what we have to do with a number of the less prolific makes of car. Ideally you want a piece of EN24T bar so that you can have the structure running lengthways down the finished arm. I get the thing wire cut (spark eroded if you prefer) in plan and then elevation. The wirecutting will produce all splines and tapers probably more accurately than the original. Then I use a linishing belt and a die grinder to take off all the square edges so it looks like the forged original that is being replaced. The Delahaye / Delage ones we did last year took me about an hour each on top of the machine shop time. No doubt a Snyders one will be cheaper but I wouldn't want to be heating and twisting it before using it

[Mike Crehan]

I've tried to upload a photo but it all just seizes up once I've uploaded and hit the close this window button.

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

I have 2 problems with this one:

Shortened Pitman Arms only come LHD we have to heat them and twist them to face the "right" way. A dissapointment!

Contact Snyders! Not likely. They seem to not want to deal with anybody outside US now. Their new website has a "Contact Us" form where a phone number is required. Our telephone numbers have more digits than those in the US. The site won't recognise them and won't allow the message to be sent.
Seems dealing with Snyders has just been taken off the table. Can't understand their business smarts cutting so many customers adrift.

Did you call them and ask?

[glenn in camino]

I bought mine from Brattons. Good quality but it increases the turning radius. Difficult in tight spaces.

[daveymc29]

Didn't hurt the turning radius on my roadster. I still turns lock to lock and is better than the power steering on my Lincoln if the car is in motion. First Model A I ever had that returns after a turn, but I had 7 tooth steering and changed that to the 56 Ford at the same time as the shorter arm. Very easy to drive now. Next will be a synchro so the bride can drive it. You will love it I'm sure.

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by Mitch//pa

Did you call them and ask?

Mitch, No I haven't rung them. It's easier to stay with my other supplier. I doubt a call would do anything anyway. Quite some time ago, I suggested they change some of the advice they were giving. For example, they used to say that con rods should be installed with the dippers facing the passenger's side. If we weren't on the ball, that would end in disaster and they would be up for making good the damage. I suggested they tell people to install them facing the cam shaft but years later, nothing had been done. There are other examples but I'll leave it at that for now.

[Brian T]

Originally Posted by glenn in camino

I bought mine from Brattons. Good quality but it increases the turning radius. Difficult in tight spaces.

If you search past threads you would not have this problem.

[updraught]

Originally Posted by Mike Crehan

I've tried to upload a photo but it all just seizes up once I've uploaded and hit the close this window button.

I'd like to see a photo. This might help:

http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...ading+pictures

PS. I use IrfanView
http://www.irfanview.com/
to resize photos.

[katy]

So, what is the length of the stock pitman arm? And, how short is the shorter version?

Asking because I'm new to fixing Model As. Owned and drove a few of them years ago but didn't do much fixing, just drove them and replaced parts from an auto wreckers when parts were needed.
Right now I'm working on a "refurbished" '31 CCPU that I need to get ready for the safety inspection before I can insure and license it.