Pitman arm and steering stabilizer (1 Viewer)

[ptefj40]

Hey everyone, looking for some advice/help on my setup.

The PO did a half baked job of a Power Steering conversion and i'm trying to pickup the pieces.

Based upon the fact that the car came in boxes I'm not sure whether it ever worked or not.

1. I think the PO put the track end on upside down onto the pitman arm from the drag link, with the grease nipple on the bottom. This was causing the nipple to scrape on the tie rod.

Does anyone know whether the diagram with the grease nipple pointing up is correct?

2. I upgraded to Old Man Emu suspension (which is completed apart front the steering stabilizer). When I come to install the stabilizer, I notice that the old one (which looks aftermarket) is completely different to the OME one. Does anyone know how to connect the new OME one in my setup? I don't think there is any of the original brackets, nor the pitman arm with the second hole? Any ideas appreciated.

Thanks Phil.

 

[3_puppies]

you need a different tie rod end. it should be tapered and only go in 1 way.
looks like a astro PS setup?
seems like the box is set at the wrong angle or wrong position on the frame. with any axle movement you will have lots of interference on the linkage.
need more pics of the install, looks like a tube welded to the bottom of the frame?

you need to start over. here's a link to FAQ

Astro Power Steering info...

 

[ptefj40]

The P.O. had a six inch lift on the car which may be why they installed it there. The ome has 2.5.

There is a steering box support tube bolted to the underside of the frame.

Are you saying I need to remove the steering box and reposition higher on the frame so that the drag link angle is greater? Will the same pitman arm still work?

Here are some more pics.

 

[B y r o n]

From the pictures you're showing it looks like a Saginaw box mounted behind the cross member instead of the normal position of mounted in front. Also, your new stabilizer is not going to work with this setup as it appears to be designed for stock steering.

You may want to consider ripping out the existing setup and doing it over all together.

 

[ptefj40]

What are my options, can I remount the existing system higher up on the frame and put a different pitman arm?

I just put on a new ps pump, georg bracket and pulley on. Also put custom high pressure hose on.

 

[orangefj45]

I just glanced thru the thread ........

In short, I think your best bet would be to re-do the sag ps box mount properly and then use the appropriate pitman arm to get better steering geometry. That’ll cure bump-steer and any ibterfereance issues you might be running into.

Georg @ Valley Hybrids & Cruiser Brothers

 

[3_puppies]

From the pictures you're showing it looks like a Saginaw box mounted behind the cross member instead of the normal position of mounted in front. Also, your new stabilizer is not going to work with this setup as it appears to be designed for stock steering.

You may want to consider ripping out the existing setup and doing it over all together.

the astro PS conversion is a Saginaw box, just different than the other Saginaw conversions, the boxes are different as you can't just mount it forward and swap the arm around.

X2 on the starting over

 

[ptefj40]

thanks guys. I'm not really looking to mount it forward as per the other saginaw conversions, I'm just trying to resurrect (or correct!) the original Astro conversion and mount it in the correct place and just put a new pitman arm on.

I can't seem to find what those two details are.

 

[ptefj40]

If I were to redo the PS. If I'm correct there are 2 different options.

1. Do the Saginaw conversion through the front crossmember. For this I'd need to cut and weld the cross member, and I'd need new pipes and a different Saginaw box and a new pitman arm. I'd also have to live with the box poking through the front of the truck.

2. So the Toyota (mini-truck conversion). Get the bracket and mount the box high on the drivers side frame, I'd need a new rag joint, plus with no center link, I'd need that whole section of steering that the PO threw away.

Are there any other options?

 

[pb4ugo]

Scout or FJ60 steering box, which mounts in the same location as your current box, except it mounts to the outside of the frame. IMO, its a cleaner setup.

 

[Downey]

Phil, I see what I think might be 3 different problems with what you have now:
1. It looks to me like your Relay Rod (rod that goes from tire to tire) will come up and hit your pitman arm when bottoming-out the suspension???
2. It looks to me like your tie rod tube (attached to pitman arm) is bent in some of your photos???
3. It looks to me like your tie rod end (attached to pitman arm) is screwed too far out of the tie rod tube, too little grip, needs longer tube???

 

[ptefj40]

Hi Jim, yes, that seems to be the problem(s). I'm trying to determine whether I indeed have the 'Astro' set-up and therefore perhaps I can mount the steering box higher in the frame to solve issue 1, which I think is the main problem. And perhaps I need a different pitman arm.

I really don't want to rip all of this out if possible and have to craft in a new saginaw forward facing pump and system.

 

[ptefj40]

Does anyone think that perhaps an inverted saginaw pitman arm might solve the problem? like the one from man-a-fre Power Steering Saginaw Conversion Pitman Arms

perhaps with the bend going upwards to give sufficient clearance for the drag link?

 

[FF LC FREAK]

First, ask yourself if a properly designed steering system is important to you, your family, and the rest of the people on the road.

If it were me, I would redesign the box mount. It looks awfully steep, there's some questionable welds, and its not set up ideally for what you have suspension wise. Some very knowledgeable people have already told you that your setup is questionable and should probably be re-done. That, to me, is enough of an indicator that the box mount should be re-engineered. It may not be what you want to hear, but it is the safest route.

Good luck!

 

[ptefj40]

Thanks for responding. I do want it to be safe, hence all of the questions, and I'm just trying to figure out what the PO did, and how to correct it.

I don't really want to do the front Saginaw conversion (and cut up the crossmember), nor go the mini truck route (as the PO ditched the center arm, etc, etc).

The links on Astro conversions don't really show the exact placement nor angle of the box.

I did hear the Georg @orangefj45 has a mounting kit that will work for this setup and I have a PM out to him.

Finger crossed!

 

[tornadoalleycruiser]

Give us a better picture of the box and how it is mounted. It might be a Ford Saginaw box that looks exactly like a gm box but the pitman arm faces forward. I'm a bit worried that the tie rod goes in easily both directions. My guess is its sloppy and incorrect. Meaning not safe to drive.

 

[cult45]

One option which is very common in Australia and becoming more so in the US is the 60 series PS conversion. It mounts in the same place as the Hilux [mini truck] box but is much stronger and more powerful. It also ditches the centre arm arrangement thus deleting five joints from the system. Less joints = a more taut driving experience. Usually the conversion takes about half a day with two blokes, a carton and a high amp Miller. It also keeps everything Toyota.

 

[ptefj40]

I’m away from home with work at the moment. This is the best picture I could find when I had the radiator off.