Tightened Steering Box, installed new Pitman Arm, Idler Bracket and Idler Arm

[Big T]

Told my wife I all I ever wanted was a tight steering box and she replied "all men want a tight box".:hihi::hihi::hihi::hihi:

Well worth the effort. All the slop in the steering is gone. I started the process late yesterday by pulling the steering box from the wrecked '95 to do a trial run. Did the tightening procedure as detailed by Fermanator (thanks Ferm) this morning. Satisfied with that, I started in on the '99 for the real deal. Could never get the Pitman arm off the '99 steering box, so I used the one from the '95. They both had 184K miles on them, but the '99 spent time in the rust belt and was rusty, whereas the '95 was always a California Truck and it was rust free.

The Pitman arm on the '99 had a wobbly pivot at the center link. The idler arm had no wobble, but I replaced it anyway. While I was in there, I replaced the steering dampener as the prior owner supplied me with a brand new one along with other parts.

Got it all back together and drove it around. Pretty amazing difference. The steering is as tight as a.......new car. The steering wheel was cocked left, so I had to pull apart the steering connection and reset that. Now the steering wheel is level and the truck locks on straight when you let go of the wheel. Night and day difference and glad I did it.

This was a precursor to tearing into the front end of the '94 I got for my son. That will need upper and possibly lower control arm bushings, new upper and lower ball joints, Pitman Arm, Idler Arm and Bracket, maybe new tie rod ends. Plan to do all but the lower control arm bushings myself. Before we do that, we're doing injectors and exhaust, then HO Water Pump.

 

[tanman_2006]

Congrats! I changed mine and had the same good results but my steering wheel came out 1/8 turn off. I thought there was a difference in the orifices in a 95 and 99.

did you loctite the steering bolts back in? I had 2 of mine back out and about cause a wreck.

 

[dka99burb]

I did upper & lower ball joint, tie rod ends, idler & bracket. Pitman feels tight. I have tightened the box, very slightly, twice. Still has a little play. I don't want to overdo it but I would like your reported results. How much did you adjust the box?
Glad it worked out for you. :thumbsup:

 

[Big T]

Congrats! I changed mine and had the same good results but my steering wheel came out 1/8 turn off. I thought there was a difference in the orifices in a 95 and 99.

did you loctite the steering bolts back in? I had 2 of mine back out and about cause a wreck.

Did not loctite the steering bolt. I noted that there was pink stuff on it, so I guess I should. I did torque it hard. If you're referring to the 3 big ones that hold the box to the frame, no I just torqued them to 90 ft lbs.

The steering boxes looked exactly the same, though I did not check orifices. My steering wheel was off like 1/8 th turn to the left, but I reset it. It's a PITA to set as you need to undo the 3 big bolts holding the box to the frame. To get a straight shot onto the box, I used a floor jack under the box and got the steering column onto it. The plastic cover that slides down onto the steering box prevents a straight shot onto the steering box, so you have to jack it up. Then lower it and install the 3 big bolts. It will take several days to fully clean my hands.

 

[Big T]

I did upper & lower ball joint, tie rod ends, idler & bracket. Pitman feels tight. I have tightened the box, very slightly, twice. Still has a little play. I don't want to overdo it but I would like your reported results. How much did you adjust the box?
Glad it worked out for you. :thumbsup:

I adjusted it per Fermanator's post on tightening the steering box. I adjusted it down until it was a bit stiff and then backed it off and tightened the jam nut. IO better loctite the steering bolt tomorrow. Was very impressed with the results. Showed my son and he too was impressed. The ultimate test will be to let my wife drive it.

 

[tanman_2006]

The bolts that hold it to the frame rail vibrated out so I loctite them in. I used red and torqued them down with a big break over.

I need to do my Dmax soon, it needs inner tie rods, idler, and pitman w/ braces and sleeves. I never have put a new idler bracket, I always just use a puller and reuse the brackets.

 

[Big T]

The bolts that hold it to the frame rail vibrated out so I loctite them in. I used red and torqued them down with a big break over.

I need to do my Dmax soon, it needs inner tie rods, idler, and pitman w/ braces and sleeves. I never have put a new idler bracket, I always just use a puller and reuse the brackets.

Probably could have reused the idler bracket and the idler arm. It was the Pitman arm that was wobbly, but no more. I now have piece of mine for probably the duration of the truck's life.

 

[THEFERMANATOR]

Externally the 95 and 99 steering boxes look the same, but internally the 99 has a higher ratio to it for less steering effort. And the 97+ boxes turn just slightly more in each direction.

 

[Big T]

Externally the 95 and 99 steering boxes look the same, but internally the 99 has a higher ratio to it for less steering effort. And the 97+ boxes turn just slightly more in each direction.

I wasn't able to tell any difference as I was excited and focused on the improvement. I still have the '99 box, just can't get the pitman arm off it, at least not with my air wrench.