Conventional or parallelogram steering systems utilize a
Pitman arm and center link. The Pitman arm is mounted to the splined shaft of the steering gear box. It initiates the lateral movement in the linkage to steer the wheels. The other end of
the Pitman arm is attached to the center link. This connection should be inspected for looseness – vertically and side-to-side.
In addition to checking the
Pitman arm/center link connection for looseness, one should check for free play or lost motion in the steering wheel by moving the tire while touching both the
Pitman arm and center link.
Inspecting the Pitman
arm to
center link connection
In the case of Ford Twin I-Beam systems (Haltenberger linkage), the
Pitman arm is attached directly to either the tie rod end or the connecting rod to the tie rod end.
Conventional or parallelogram steering systems utilize a
Pitman arm and center link. The Pitman arm is mounted to the splined shaft of the steering gear box. It initiates the lateral movement in the linkage to steer the wheels. The other end of
the Pitman arm is attached to the center link. This connection should be inspected for looseness – vertically and side-to-side.
