47-55.1 Shortening the pitman arm for a dropped axle?

[MARTINSR]

Sooooo, I am planning on a 3" dropped axle and haven't thought about what I will do with the pitman arm, just haven't gone there. I remember shortening them was the thing, I would love to buy a new forged one if that existed. But other day at the Goodguys I saw something I never thought of. It had a hole drilled in the pitman arm for pivot mounted on a bolt was simple installed there. This seemed like a hell of an idea, anyone seen this?

Brian

[mr48chev]

It probably had a Heim on it and to me they wear a bit fast for automotive use on a vehicle you plan to drive a lot.

Checking on Sid's site to remember how he does it he reworks the steering arm so that a tie rod end will go in from the bottom side effectively dropping the front of the drag link down pretty level https://www.droppedaxles.com/other-p...0Chevy%20Parts A guy cold do that on his own with a bit of effort but it may be a well spent 100 bucks when push comes to shove.

[MiraclePieCo]

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

It had a hole drilled in the pitman arm for pivot mounted on a bolt was simple installed there. This seemed like a hell of an idea, anyone seen this?

Brian

Brilliant!

[qbeanie]

Speedway has some options for custom length pitman arms. Look under tierods.

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

It probably had a Heim on it and to me they wear a bit fast for automotive use on a vehicle you plan to drive a lot.

Checking on Sid's site to remember how he does it he reworks the steering arm so that a tie rod end will go in from the bottom side effectively dropping the front of the drag link down pretty level https://www.droppedaxles.com/other-p...0Chevy%20Parts A guy cold do that on his own with a bit of effort but it may be a well spent 100 bucks when push comes to shove.

It looked like the stock parts!

Brian

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

It probably had a Heim on it and to me they wear a bit fast for automotive use on a vehicle you plan to drive a lot.

Checking on Sid's site to remember how he does it he reworks the steering arm so that a tie rod end will go in from the bottom side effectively dropping the front of the drag link down pretty level https://www.droppedaxles.com/other-p...0Chevy%20Parts A guy cold do that on his own with a bit of effort but it may be a well spent 100 bucks when push comes to shove.

Seems like that isn't nearly enough. But I will talk with them as I will be getting my axle there.

Brian

[mr48chev]

After I had time to think about it, shortening the pitman arm would seriously affect your turning radius. Meaning it would be quite a bit larger.

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

After I had time to think about it, shortening the pitman arm would seriously affect your turning radius. Meaning it would be quite a bit larger.

Yes it does, but having the drag link going up hill from the pitman arm is NOT a good thing either as it will create bump steer.

Brian

[MARTINSR]

I wish I had gotten a picture of this pitman arm on the truck at the Goodguys. I actually went back to get it to find the damn buildings doors were locked and it was after closing that day, crap.

Brian

[mr48chev]

Been there done that on the bump steer. Took me over 30 years to figure out that was an issue with my T bucket. Actually not having the split wish bones and drag link on the same plane.

I'm not a fan of limited steering ability though. I watched a buddy of mine who had too short of a pitman arm or too long of a steerng arm fight that on his rod. Parking that thing in a space at a rod trot was a real show.

[MARTINSR]

I hear you Mr.48, I will be making a balance of everything. Mounting the tie rod end upside down, shorting the pitman, a balance.

Brian

[nvrdone]

brian - ive got sid's 3" dropped axle & I did not shorten the pitman arm. Just had a new drag link made with tie rod ends. then mounted the front end from the underside of the steering arm. no bump steer and the arm is horizontal. im still using the stock steering.