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Just replaced an idler and pitman arm on my 1999 chevy 1/2 ton pick up. Now it feel like the stearing wheel does not want to go back all the way to center when driving at speed.
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There is an idler arm and a pitman arm. The Pitman connects the steering box to the steering linkage by/through a ball joint. The idler arm should be on the other side by the passenger wheel.
Hi!!
Yes, if the Steering Wheel was not removed, it should be in the original position after making any repairs to the steering system. If Wheel is moved to either side, the repairs made need to be rechecked, before removing the pitman and idler arms, the position of the old arms should have been marked or noted to install the new arms the same way.
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Pitman arm requires a pitman arm puller, and a tie rod seperator or "pickle fork". Remove the cotter pin on from the joint on the pitman arm and center link, then remove the nuts from both ends of pitman arm. Use the pitman arm puller to remove the pitman arm from the steering gear, then use the tie rod seperator to remove the end from the center link. Reinstall and retighten nuts, do not leave out the cotter pin.
Idler arm will require tie rod seperator. Remove the cotter pin from the end at the center link, use the tie rod seperator to seperate the joint there. Unbolt the idler arm from the frame, and remove. On reinstalling remember to install a new cotter pin. It would be best to have the front end alignment checked after replacing these parts.
They may have not centered the steering wheel after it was aligned the steering wheel after doing the work. If the clock spring is not centered it can cause it to cause it to come on. to check yourself be sure to put steering wheel straight ahead turn it to the left and count how many turns it goes then center it again and turn it to the right how many turns? if they are equal then they may have left the harness disconnected so it will need to go back to the shop.
If the turns are uneven count it will have to go back to the shop to be centered, this should not cost you anything it is part of the repair.
you will have to remove the steering gear box to change the pitman arm. the idler arm is on the other side by the passenger wheel. one nut and two bolts going threw fender take it off.
jack up and support van passenger side first with wheels straight remove wheel unbolt idler arm from center link and using a fork designed for removing front end parts some auto stores let u borrow / loan u fork remove idler arm unbolt (2) from frame replace and bolt in new one replace wheel other side wheels straight jack and remove wheel mark pitman at steer box so u can transfer mark to new pitman unbolt and us fork to remove pitman from center link us pulley to remove pitman transfer marks to new arm align up replace bolt up replace wheel done
check the idler arm and pitman arms
a quik and dirty way to check for play in the front end
is to have an assistant rock the steering wheel back and forth while feel an all the joints in the steering gear for play.
there will likely be more than one loose joint.
Don't worry it is not too hard if you keep at. One "special tool" that you will need is a ball joint separator to separate the ball joint on the idler arm from the steering. When changing make sure to compare your replacement parts with the original and if necessary make a diagram of how things go together. On the bottom, there is a castle nut and a cotter pin. Remove the pin and loosen the nut then use the ball joint separator to remove the idler arm. (This is the hardest part of the job.) Then remove the remaining bolts and take the part off. Before putting the new idler arm make sure that you put the new grease fitting on it (and go ahead and squirt a little grease in it even though it already has some) and in between the new ball joint and the steering there should be a plastic bearing that slips into place. It's a pretty straight forward job and once you take a good look at it you will see what all needs to be done. Hope this helps, let me know how it goes. Goodluck!
you need to get grease into pittman arm there is no grease fitting so get a needle fitting for your grease gun and poke thru the rubber ive done twice on 97 f150s and fixed the problem
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