Keying pitman arm or shaft?

paradisePWoffrd

paradisePWoffrd

Recovering Project Junkie
Joined
Nov 5, 2005
Location
Newton, NC
I've got a steering box with a fully indexed shaft (4 flat keys, 90* apart). I've got a pitman arm that I need to use, but it has no indexing marks (fully splined).

I know the answer is finding another arm, but I haven't had much luck. The vendors I've talked to say this is the arm to use and don't really give any answer to my question.

So which one do you modify, the arm or shaft? I feel like the arm is the best but shaft is probly the easiest?
 
I’d grind/file the splines on the arm to fit the flats.

If the box is removed and free and you can access the shaft to cut/file the splines into the key areas, this would allow you to mount the arm at any spline location, but not sure how necessary that is for you, or how easily that will be to do.
 
I must be missing the issue...I've got two different trucks that have fully splined pitman arms on sector shafts with master splines and neither required any modification. The pitman arms slid right on them.

Are the master splines on the sector shafts basically missing a spline or are they solid and the width of two individual splines?
 
Sounds like the p-arm has splines all around and no keys but the sector shaft has keys.

One of em has to get filed. Might as well be the pitman arm b/c you can always get another one of those.

What drop is your pitman arm?


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I modified my arm with a triangular file. I needed to change the clocking. Now it can be clocked to any angle. There were protruding flats on the arm, and recessed flats on the shaft. Not sure if they are all like that.
 
That how mine were...recessed master splines on the sector shafts, so I didn't have to do anything.

The answer is always modify the pitman arm. It's way cheaper and easier to replace, but you should never have to once you fix it the first time.
 
Sorry, just getting back... The shaft has protruding keys, 4 of them. Arm has splines 360. So either take something and file 2 splines to form a key in the arm, or cut the keys in the shaft into splines. At this point both are off the truck. I could even pull the shaft out of the box if needed.

I figured the arm would be best to modify, as it is cheapest to replace but couldn't think of a tool that would allow this to happen easily other than a hand file or mill.

usmc42 said:
Sounds like the p-arm has splines all around and no keys but the sector shaft has keys.

One of em has to get filed. Might as well be the pitman arm b/c you can always get another one of those.

What drop is your pitman arm?


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Click to expand...

It is a 4" drop pitman arm. Supposed to be for an Early bronco with a Nissan steering box.
 
paradisePWoffrd said:
Sorry, just getting back... The shaft has protruding keys, 4 of them. Arm has splines 360. So either take something and file 2 splines to form a key in the arm, or cut the keys in the shaft into splines. At this point both are off the truck. I could even pull the shaft out of the box if needed.

I figured the arm would be best to modify, as it is cheapest to replace but couldn't think of a tool that would allow this to happen easily other than a hand file or mill.



It is a 4" drop pitman arm. Supposed to be for an Early bronco with a Nissan steering box.
Click to expand...



I would modify the arm. I’d start with a small cylindrical bit in a die grinder and finish with a square edge file.

If you wish to modify the shaft, I’d start with a tiny cut off wheel, maybe even a Drexel to start the spline and finish with a triangular file.
 
Mac5005 said:
I would modify the arm. I’d start with a small cylindrical bit in a die grinder and finish with a square edge file.

If you wish to modify the shaft, I’d start with a tiny cut off wheel, maybe even a Drexel to start the spline and finish with a triangular file.
Click to expand...

Those were my thoughts also... Hadnt really looked to see how small of rotary file you could get until this morning. Looks like ~1/16". That should likely be small enough.
 
paradisePWoffrd said:
Sorry, just getting back... The shaft has protruding keys, 4 of them. Arm has splines 360. So either take something and file 2 splines to form a key in the arm, or cut the keys in the shaft into splines. At this point both are off the truck. I could even pull the shaft out of the box if needed.

I figured the arm would be best to modify, as it is cheapest to replace but couldn't think of a tool that would allow this to happen easily other than a hand file or mill.



It is a 4" drop pitman arm. Supposed to be for an Early bronco with a Nissan steering box.
Click to expand...
Hand file. In the time it took you to type the post and replies, you would have been done (with a good file, not something from harbro freight). Clamp it in a vice, put some weight behind it, and a good file can really move some metal.
 
jeepinmatt said:
Hand file. In the time it took you to type the post and replies, you would have been done (with a good file, not something from harbro freight). Clamp it in a vice, put some weight behind it, and a good file can really move some metal.
Click to expand...

Come on, you know me... overthink 10 different ways to accomplish it, and then 6 months later, do it how i originally planned.
 
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