1997 Chevrolet S-10 2wd Pitman Arm

My 1996 S-10 needed its 3rd pitman arm before 120,000 miles. Maybe there's lots of other unknowing victims out there and this is really the big pitman arm scandal of the century! TL

I dont understand why they would even wear out, they dont have any moving parts, they bolt on to the steering box, and attatch to the center link dont they? who knows, I know there is someone out there who knows the answer to my question, so I am hoping they anwer it.

I'm not quite sure about your model, but if you take a look at the relay rod (the section of the steering linkage that the pitman arm connects to) you should be able to see whether the moveable joint is on the "relay rod" or on the pitman arm. If you have a pitman arm that basically has two holes in it....then you've fallen victim to the front end tech that either doesn't realize that the wearable joint is actually in the relay rod...or they like selling un-necessary parts. If in fact the relay rod joint is worn, you will need to replace that instead of the pitman arm.

In later years, the pitman arm does have the wearable joint on it.

Ian

Further to my previous post, here is a picture of what I think is probably your style of linkage.

Ian

To the guy who sent the link of the diagram, that is the exact style. I already bought the part from the dealership, and being stupid I didn't see the part "Part unreturnable when open" so I am just going to replace it. Tuffy told me pit man arm. It was also on the written estimate. I think they might like to sell unnecessary parts.

By the way, you guys need to give me a link in case I ever want to post a picture, I need a place I can do this since I know not to do it on here. Is there a web site?

"Kiel Uyttenhove" wrote

My name is Ian, I sign every post with my name, not "the guy".

Ian

"Kiel Uyttenhove" wrote

Why do "we" have to give "you" a link? Talk to your ISP, they should give you some space to put up a webpage, or link pictures. It usually comes automatically with your contract, but you have to take the time to do a little research and figure out how to make use of the webspace.

Ian

is an image hosting server. But any reputable ISP already has webspace set aside for you. Call and ask them where your website is. Then you have to learn about programs used to build websires, and upload pics...etc

Hi!

There's a couple of places you can do this. (Google should find them, but I've never used any such service.) Your ISP might well give you your own web space...but if those aren't options, you can always run your own web server if you're comfortable with doing so.

I've got my own web server at

It's very handyfor a lot of different things. William The Guesser

Well I replaced the idler arm, I dont see a damn thing wrong with the pitman arm. I'm going to go back to tuffys and tell them to take their bussiness and shove it where it done shine. They thought they were going to pull the wool over my eyes, they were sadly mistakeing. However i still feel there is a lot of play in my steering. I was told everything on the front end is in perfect condition. I have 200,000 miles, you guys think I should replace the center link? Maybe even tie rods? Or should I just let it go.

Don't just start replacing parts. Stick your head under your truck and look at the connection where the pitman arm hooks up to the center link. Now, have a friend move the steering wheel back and forth (very small movement, just an inch or two) and you should be able to see if there is play there. Probably what happened is the Tuffy guy saw play there....didn't realize that the wearable item is the center link, not the pitman arm, and so quoted you the wrong item.

Ian

I've never heard of a pitman arm wearing out. I went to a junk yard once for a steering box and the arm came with it. Its way too much trouble to take the old one off in that circumstance. Now, then, if you have a lot of play in your steering, everything is NOT in perfect condition. Its obvious you don't trust Tuffy, so, inspect your front end yourself or take it to some one you do trust. Its not that hard to do, but you may need a helper to see what part has movement during the inspection. I think I read one time that some chevy's had a problem with the bolts holding the steering box to the frame loosening. This would show movement of the pitman arm. Don't change the center link or the tierod ends just because they are old (high miles) - change the parts that are worn! It gets expensive to just throw parts at the truck!

Well sometime this week, the truck is going into the dealership for a front end alignment, I hit a deer with it 3 weeks ago, and my insurance company is paying for it, so I will ask them to look at it for me. I know the mechanics there pretty well, I would have taken it to them the firsrt time, but I didnt want to have to pay to have my vehicle looked at, and its hard for my to find a second person. Most of the time, I lock the wheel get under my truck, and I take both hands and start trying to wiggle parts to see what has a lot of play in it.

Most of the time, you can get some play doing as you do it. This is because the center link and the tie rod ends are a ball and socket type of joint. So you can mistake normal movement for wear. Ian's post is correct. He is one of the best mechanics to read these groups. If its going for a front end alignment, they will check for worn parts. Its impossible to align the truck if it has worn parts. If you know the guy well enough, ask him to show you how they inspect it. Its pretty simple, but they have to check the center link, tie rods, ball joints, and the idler arm. If your pitman arm is moving they will know if its the center link or a problem with the steering box.

Is that lap top in your S-10 an orginal pentium processor? say around 133 mhz? Possibly 233 mhz?

"William R. Walsh" wrote in message news:A%xjd.6232$V41.5637@attbi_s52...

I am to lazy to run my own web server, besides, I have dial up. I live in the boonies and I cant get anything but wireless and satellite. I cant get the the company around here that offers wireless to call me back and satellite is just to damn expensive and its not dependable or near as fast as broad band, oh I wish I could have broad band 1 mbps. Its on my wish list for when I move to the city.

"William R. Walsh" wrote in message news:A%xjd.6232$V41.5637@attbi_s52...

I have a '96 S-10 and just last week I replaced the pitman arm. My truck has

95,000 on it. And of course it is 4wd so to take the pitman arm off I had to take the steering gear out, god what a pain! Anyways when I got it out and was looking at the pitman arm, I was definitely worn, the stud moved about a 1/4 inch left to right and up and down. So they do wear out.

John

That's because your vehicle is a 4x4. If the pitman arm happens to have the wearable stud located in "it"....then, yes...they do wear out. If you happen to have a pitman arm with "no" wearable stud, then, no... it won't wear out, unless the nut that retains the stud into the pitman arm loosens up and allows the stud to move around inside the tapered hole in the pitman arm.

Ian