clandr1
Full Access Member
Please note: do not use the MOOG pitman arm. It is not within spec and will not install properly.
You know, I bitched about it last night (took me from 530-1030 with a half hour break for dinner) but it really wasn't all that bad.
The two worst parts:
Installation of the new pitman: the new MOOG pitman arm was a complete pain in the ass to install (got it as tight as I could, then would alternate heating with a torch for 60 seconds, then would crank the nut down until it stopped, then repeated those two steps until I ran out of threads), and even when I got the nut fully seated on the threads (no more threads to tighten down the nut) there was still a pretty significant gap between the top of the pitman arm and the bottom of the steering box. I had to use a couple of very thick zip ties to keep the seal seated around the output shaft of the steering box.
Installation of the new idler: the allen key socket had to be driven into the shaft with a hammer for it to properly engage. Then it took two of us to tighten the new idler arm onto the shaft.
These two things took us longer than it did to remove the centerlink, then remove and install the new inner tie rods and tie rod ends and get it all installed. If it had only been the inner/outer tie rods, this would've been an hour long project.
One tip: if you're doing this yourself, it is pretty much essential to remove the steering box bolts from the frame. This allows you to move the steering box above the sway bar so you can get a puller on the pitman arm. It is not necessary to remove the steering shaft or the power steering lines.
I got all MOOG replacement parts from Amazon for $265. O'Reilly wanted $475 for the same stuff, and the dealer quoted me $300 PER tie rod and $400 for the pitman arm before I cut him off and said I would do it myself. I imagine the cost at the dealership would've totalled close to $1300.
If anyone has any questions about this repair, feel free to drop me a PM.
You know, I bitched about it last night (took me from 530-1030 with a half hour break for dinner) but it really wasn't all that bad.
The two worst parts:
Installation of the new pitman: the new MOOG pitman arm was a complete pain in the ass to install (got it as tight as I could, then would alternate heating with a torch for 60 seconds, then would crank the nut down until it stopped, then repeated those two steps until I ran out of threads), and even when I got the nut fully seated on the threads (no more threads to tighten down the nut) there was still a pretty significant gap between the top of the pitman arm and the bottom of the steering box. I had to use a couple of very thick zip ties to keep the seal seated around the output shaft of the steering box.
Installation of the new idler: the allen key socket had to be driven into the shaft with a hammer for it to properly engage. Then it took two of us to tighten the new idler arm onto the shaft.
These two things took us longer than it did to remove the centerlink, then remove and install the new inner tie rods and tie rod ends and get it all installed. If it had only been the inner/outer tie rods, this would've been an hour long project.
One tip: if you're doing this yourself, it is pretty much essential to remove the steering box bolts from the frame. This allows you to move the steering box above the sway bar so you can get a puller on the pitman arm. It is not necessary to remove the steering shaft or the power steering lines.
I got all MOOG replacement parts from Amazon for $265. O'Reilly wanted $475 for the same stuff, and the dealer quoted me $300 PER tie rod and $400 for the pitman arm before I cut him off and said I would do it myself. I imagine the cost at the dealership would've totalled close to $1300.
If anyone has any questions about this repair, feel free to drop me a PM.
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