Steering boxes
 

P/S gear box is trash on the 81 C-20.
Pitman arm is worn a little...
Can this cause the front end to shake/shimmy badly when the brakes are applied ???

Are steering boxes on the 78 C-10 same as on the 81 C-20??
Part numbers in catalogs say no, but whats the difference ??
And how do I know when the pit arm is, correctly, on the output shaft of the box
when replacing the arm ??
I replaced the 78's arm, and ever since then, the truck turns farther to the left, than to the right.
The steering wheel was crooked (not centered) since before I got the truck, but didint have this problem, then... Otherwise the truck drove straight as an arrow, no sloppiness whatso-ever...
I tried taking the arm off and centering the wheels and the steering box, then reinstalling the arm, but it wont fix it...
Are the 78's and the 81's arms and boxes the same ???
I apreciate any help on this.... Got to fix this soon, or a blue 81 C-20 is gonna end up in a ditch, somewhere, in a bad way...

Hey Fast,

I had a I-cube van once that would shake and shimmy so bad when you put the brakes on, you would have to almost stop to get it to quit. It ended up being the idler arm. I would say the steering box could cause this also. Check the idler arm first.

The pitman arm, make sure it is the right one, same as old one. Then make a mark on the shaft and old arm before you remove it. Make sure the wheels are on some ramps or something to keep them from turning once the arm is off. Tie the steering wheel to keep it from moving. This way, it should go back on in the same position as the old one if nothing moves in between. A good thing to do is find the center of your steering wheel first. Then tie the wheel.

If you change the box, just center it and you should be good to go.



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Mike

1985 Chevy C-10
Mike's 73-87 Chevy Pickup Site

Thanks, swervin ervin !
I skipped out on work, to replace this box today....
I gonna go for just the box first, then see how she does....and go from there...

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Project/rebuild- '68 C-10 LWB Fleet
'76 C-20 Auto 4.57
'81 C-20 305 4 speed 4.10 Custom Deluxe
Nwly aquired: 72 Blazer CST A/C P/S 4-speed 350 Posi 3:07, 12 bolt and open 10 bolt
Friends don't let friends drive rice

[This message has been edited by Fast68Chevy (edited 12-06-2000).]