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08-01-2021, 07:04 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Arkansas & Alaska
Posts: 648
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Shorting pitman arm
I know this is not the AA truck forum but will shorting the pitman arm on a AA truck work as well as on the cars and pickups? I have two, a 30 and a 31 1 1/2 ton trucks that need some help on the steering wheel end. I have measured the arms on the trucks and on the cars and both seam to be the same lengths for pitman arms and the arm that the drag link connects to on the axel end are the same. Just wondering if anyone has done the short pitman arm on the AA's,
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08-01-2021, 08:01 PM | #2 |
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Re: Shorting pitman arm
Your turning radius will increase. You may not like it.
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08-01-2021, 08:06 PM | #3 |
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Location: Oregon
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Re: Shorting pitman arm
I'd leave it as it should be.
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08-01-2021, 10:04 PM | #4 |
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Location: Wa.
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Re: Shorting pitman arm
The turning radius will stay the same. It will just take more turns of the steering wheel to get around a corner. In other words, the steering will be slower.
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08-01-2021, 10:14 PM | #5 |
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Location: Venice, FL
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Re: Shorting pitman arm
The turning radius will not increase because the radius is controlledby the king pin wedge nuts. The spindle will turn until it contacts the special domed nut and then stop.
Al |
08-01-2021, 10:24 PM | #6 |
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Re: Shorting pitman arm
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08-01-2021, 10:56 PM | #7 |
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Re: Shorting pitman arm
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08-02-2021, 12:23 PM | #8 |
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Arkansas & Alaska
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Re: Shorting pitman arm
Thanks for the information. I have several extra pitman arms and I'll try shorting one about 1 1/2 inches and see if that helps about steering. This truck has good king pins and trust bearings but is hard to steer. Everything seems to be in good shape from sector to king pins. If shorting pitman arm don't help I can put the original back on.
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08-02-2021, 01:37 PM | #9 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Wa.
Posts: 5,421
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Re: Shorting pitman arm
There is always power assist as long as you don't have to keep original.
You don't have to modify the original steering with the assist system. |
08-03-2021, 07:14 AM | #10 |
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Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: St. Augustine, Fl.
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Re: Shorting pitman arm
[QUOTE= This truck has good king pins and trust bearings but is hard to steer. Everything seems to be in good shape from sector to king pins. If shorting pitman arm don't help I can put the original back on.[/QUOTE]
If you shorten the pitman, arm will it shorten the lever action make it even harder to steer? Just asking!!
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08-03-2021, 07:26 AM | #11 |
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Middlebury,Connecticut
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Re: Shorting pitman arm
Shortening the pitman arm will make it easier to steer. Just make sure everything else in the suspension is good.
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08-03-2021, 07:51 AM | #12 |
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Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: St. Augustine, Fl.
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Re: Shorting pitman arm
Thanks, Never to old to learn.
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08-03-2021, 11:41 AM | #13 |
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Florham Park, NJ
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Re: Shorting pitman arm
When I shortened mine, I first calculated it in AutoCAD and found that 1-1/4" let the stops on the arms at the wheels touch just before the box ran out of movement. This didn't widen the turning radius at all.
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08-03-2021, 12:28 PM | #14 |
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Location: Camarillo, CA and Pine Grove, CA
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Re: Shorting pitman arm
Easier and safer to buy a short pitman arm. https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/P...earchByKeyword
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