Shortened pitman arm

M

Mad Mac

Senior Member
I have seen on other posts that the results from installing a shortened pitman arm vary considerably, with some recommending it and others condemning it. For the record: After installing one on my 1929 RPU I noticed an immediate improvement. The steering is much easier and the drag link now misses the tie rod by at least half an inch (was only 1mm before). I don't see any change in the turning circle.
 
Mad Mac said:
I have seen on other posts that the results from installing a shortened pitman arm vary considerably, with some recommending it and others condemning it. For the record: After installing one on my 1929 RPU I noticed an immediate improvement. The steering is much easier and the drag link now misses the tie rod by at least half an inch (was only 1mm before). I don't see any change in the turning circle.
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Years ago I installed a shortened Pitman arm along with teflon seats and never looked back.
 
I did the same thing as Y-Blockhead on my '28 and '34 roadsters around 20 years ago. Now that I'm going on 90 I'm really glad that I did this.
 
I acquired a shortened Pittman arm as part of a very weathered front suspension. The ball is quite badly pitted, and I can’t see installing it that way. Has anyone had any success filling badly pitted steering balls with Bondo, J-B Weld or anything else (maybe braze material)? I know a new one is less than $50, but that’s parts replacement, not restoration.

Thanks.
 
JayJay said:
I acquired a shortened Pittman arm as part of a very weathered front suspension. The ball is quite badly pitted, and I can’t see installing it that way. I know a new one is less than $50, but that’s parts replacement, not restoration.

Thanks.
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You can get a new ball for 8 bucks!
 
I would not try JB Weld, but you could weld up the ball and then grind it spherical. A special tool is normally used on a lathe to cut a spherical shape. You will have a hard time getting it true by hand and it would be more than $8 of your time.
 
The shortened pitman arm does make it easier to turn the wheels due to less drag link travel for the same steering wheel movement. It's like a different gear ratio in a transmission.

However, if your steering box has a little play in it with a stock pitman arm, going to a shorter pitman arm will make the play even more pronounced. Especially if your steering box has enough play in it and your car has "death wobble".
 
Ford recognized the advantage of a shortened pitman arm and began installing them in the 1932 Fords. The steering box design was different, granted; but the principle of the shorter pitman arm in easing steering effort still applies.
Marshall
 
My dad installed one on his 28 and when I rebuilt the steering box on my 30 I put one on. Huge difference! I highly recommend them!
 
Adjustable drag links available from fellow in Calif.; needed to center steering gear for proper center freeplay adjustment. The '32 on and with roller internal gears, the sector gear had a splined end to accommodate the pit arm.
 
I think the 32 has a master spline so you can only install it one way.It's been a while,so I could be getting it mixed up with something else.But,what comes to mind for the 32 I worked on was 32 teeth+4 as the master.(4 as one solid tooth,the master)
 
A new shortened pitman arm is $45.00 at Snyders, pretty hard to spend hours re-working a ball when you can buy a new arm for that price?
 
A badly weathered shortened arm has probably been cut and welded in which case it is a restoration of a farmer's fix.
I have a 29 RHD two tooth box which seems to have the 32 gears in it with the splined short arm and bolt in ball.
 
My experience with the shortened pitman arm is the same as Y-Blockhead in post #2. Immediate improvement and I’ve been very happy with the steering performance for the past 4 years.
Jim
 
Wow! Has the landscape in the Model A world changed since 2000! Back then, the "Ahooga" website was THE Model A discussion forum, visited by well-experienced Model A people. One discussion I recall in particular was about using shortened-pitman arms to ease a steering complaint by a poster. You'd think those of us who supported the idea were trying to burn the American flag, disgrace motherhood and outlaw apple pie!!! Counter-arguments became nasty, citing all the laws of physics known to man why this was a bad idea, how Henry Ford would have installed shortened pitman arms if he thought it was a good idea, how drastically the turning radius would be reduced, and so on and so on ad nauseum. The discussion got nasty and away from the subject to personalities. Neither side would budge on its opinion. We actually lost a few loyal participants over the name-calling and recriminations. All this over a shortened pitman arm??? Of course, those who most vehemently argued against shortened pitman arms had never tried them. They were armchair theorizing. Those of us who had been using shortened arms for years were just as dedicated to their advantages. This discussion went on for WEEKS with neither side being declared the winner! And now when this topic comes up on "Fordbarn", there hasn't been one single counter-argument, only positive comments on its use! My, how time changes things...
Marshall
 
Marshall, I agree, comments on this subject have been very respectful. I made the mistake of asking what type of oil to use in the engine back in the winter. That caused quite a discussion! ��
 
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