Drop pitman arm for 2 1/2" lift
 

I just ordered a skyjacker 2.5 inch lift for my 71 3/4 ton 4x4. The guy at summit recommended the drop pitman arm. I oredered it, but it was $90.00. Is it necessary? I am planning on putting on the Off Road Designs heavy duty front shackles that will give 1/2 inch more lift for a total of 3" up front. Just thought I would ask. Also, what size tires do you think I could fit. I was looking at either 285 -75- 16's, or 295 - 75- 16's. I only went with the 2 1/2 inch lift because the wife uses the truck for towing her horse trailer and I don't want it too tall. Any info. would be appreciated.
Thank you, :gmc:

I think you may be able to get by without it for a 2 1/2 inch lift. I'm not familar with those tire sizes.

Email I got from 4 wheel parts:

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I just installed tuffcountry 2" springs and ord shackles and I plan on ordering one.

Growdon,

Talk to the people at Skyjacker. I think they will recommend it on 4" lifts, but still say it's not mandatory. On 2 1/2" you don't need it. I used one on a 4" kit and it made the truck feel like I had a ton of sand in the back. Pulled it off, adjusted everything and it was fine. Steered fine, no wandering, and full function.

Larry

With a 4" lift my drag link looked maxed out. But it seemed to drive OK. But it worried me looking like that so I got a steering arm and stud kit from Tim at shakerbuilt.com for $110 fedexed to me. Soon as I get my knuckle and pitman machined I'll have crossover steering.
I have read that you should be fine with a stock arm and 2.5" of lift. I would take the word of skyjacker and other suspension companies over summit.

I ran a 2 1/2 on a 77 for several years with no problems without a dropped pitman arm.

Thanks for the info. guys. I think I will try running without the drop arm initially. If I don't need it I will take it back to the Summit store in Reno on one of my weekly (almost) trips. The tires I am looking at are the BFG At K.O.'s. The 285-75-16's are 32.9" in diameter and the 295-75-16's are 33.4 inches in diameter. I was sticking to the metric sizes to maintain the 8 ply tires. I may also go with the 33-12.50-16.5's because they are also 8 ply.

32's and 33's will fit fine under a 2 1/2" lift. Where are you in NoCaL? I'm in Grass Valley

Larry

Yep on the 33s. I wore out two sets of 33s on my truck with no lift.

ljbear
 

I live up in Susanville. I have spent a lot of time in Grass Valley. Had family living there until about a year ago. Glad to see more people in Nor-Cal
:)

Growden, I have the exact setup you are going with, 2-1/2" skyjacker springs with ord heavy duty greasable shackles, they talked me into the drop pitman arm but it's coming off this spring, it drops the draglink a little to low and looks like it may come in contact with the leaf spring if the suspension gets compressed. If I get home early enough friday I will try and get some pics.

I ran my 4" lift without any steering correction for a 10 years. With 2 1/2" you should be fine. When I put my new steering box on, I replaced everythig from the pitman arm down. used a 91 Suburban arm, replacement drag link and Pro COmp 4" steering arm. I would put your truck together and test it before buying the new pitman arm. Just to verify, their are three ways to compensate the steering for lift: Drop pitman arm, attaches to steering box, drop drag link, goes between pitman arm and steering arm, and the raised steering arm which is attached to the steering knuckle. Raised arm is the most common.

BLAZERMAN AND MIKE C
 

Thanks for all the info.

Sometimes I think I would be lost without this board.

The main drawbacks to no steering correction are decreased turning radius and exagerated bumpsteer (mostly to the right). The S shaped drag link or drop drag link will aleviate the ball-joint angles on the link but still increases bump steer.

I think with a 2.5" lift you don't need to pitman arm.
I think you will be fine with no steering correction at all.
If later on you get a 4" lift, I would then recommend the raised steering arm (about $50.)
-- Mike