[bigfred1958]

This question is probably silly, but I thought I'd ask anyway:

The pitman arm to centerlink on my front steer camaro set up 70-82(?) seems to be loose. It tweeks as the steering moves back & forth. The center link tapered shaft certainly slides up into the pitman arm hole more than on the idler arm.
Is this normal????

I'm assuming not, so the next question is, when looking for a pitman arm, are there things to look out for? i.e. different size splines, etc...

Thanks!!

[cobalt327]

Originally Posted by bigfred1958

when looking for a pitman arm, are there things to look out for? i.e. different size splines, etc...

Manual Pittman arms are different than power. Otherwise, order one for the car, just like you would order any part.

If you go to the 'yard for it, look for a 2nd. gen F-body w/whatever type (man. or power) steering you have. Always best to take your old one, but there's a chance you have some non-OEM deal going on- either the arm or the steering gear itself might not be original.

When you get yours apart, see if the hole in the Pittman has wallowed out. If that's the case, you prolly have OEM parts- just parts that have worn so matching one up to your old one will work.

[S10 Racer]

Originally Posted by bigfred1958

This question is probably silly, but I thought I'd ask anyway:

The pitman arm to centerlink on my front steer camaro set up 70-82(?) seems to be loose. It tweeks as the steering moves back & forth. The center link tapered shaft certainly slides up into the pitman arm hole more than on the idler arm.
Is this normal????

I'm assuming not, so the next question is, when looking for a pitman arm, are there things to look out for? i.e. different size splines, etc...

Thanks!!

So what you are saying is that the ball joint tapered shaft on the centerlink is loose inside of the pitman arm, correct? The pitman arm normally does not wear out. Have you tried to tighten the nut?

[bigfred1958]

Hi,
yes the ball joint has some movement. I have tightened down on the nut and the shaft moves up into the pitman arm a whole lot further than it does on the idler arm.

Since I have a brand new center link, I think the pitman arm may have wallowed out... However, I too thought it was rather unusual for this to happen, but i guess anything is possible.