Steering Pittman Arm Question

[benw88]

Hi All.

I have an interesting situation going on with the steering on my truck. 1968 C10 Stepside. Originally a 6-cylinder truck but my dad and I dropped the 350 in back in high school. I converted the manual steering to power steering using a power steering box which I believe to be from a 73 and up C10. I think I left the steering linkage the same and used 73+ C10 tie rod ends, spindles, calipers, and rotors. I do not remember if the pitman arm is from the 68 manual set-up or from the 73+ C10 front end that was given to me.

Once I got the truck together it steered further to the left than the right

I was poor back then and had to leave it that way but now that it's been a few years I want to correct it.

I pulled the pitman arm from the gearbox and straightened out the tires with the truck in the air. I then went in the cab and determined the midpoint of the steering by turning it full lock to full lock without the steering linkage connected to determine the middle of the gearbox travel. I was then going to connect the pitman arm to the gearbox and straighten out my steering wheel but I was not able to do this because the gearbox is keyed so the pitman arm can only go on one way and that "one way" results in my steering turning further to the left than to the right.

My question:

If I open the box up can I rotate the keyed shaft so that my pitman arm lines up or at least close enough to use the tie rod ends to make the final adjustment?

What Gearbox do I have and is it even correct? (want to buy a new one anyway because of the leaking)

Is the Pitman arm the problem?

Thanks a lot for reading my novel!

[Jim Boy]

Interesting novel. What we need now is someone on a white horse to finish the story. Waiting!!!!!Make a coffee. Have a good one.

[LockDoc]

-
Flipped the pictures.

My '67 Panel Truck has the same problem but I haven't had a chance to look at it. I wonder if it could have something to do with the ratio of the box. I know there are a couple of different ones. The inside of my wheel also scrubs on the edge of the lower "A" arm when I turn sharp. I have put 3 or 4 later boxes in the older trucks but this is the first one I have had a problem with. I will have to check it out if it ever warms up here.

LockDoc

[michael bustamante]

i think that's a sanden steering gear. not sure. I think I see the "s" stamp. I thought that when you converted to power steering, you had to change the center link as well to avoid this issue. I might be wrong though

[rpmerf]

Might be able to play with the tie rod couplers to get it to line up right.

I got a pitman arm once that put the steering wheel about 20* to the right. Apparently this was normal for that brand pitman arm.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by michael bustamante

i think that's a sanden steering gear. not sure. I think I see the "s" stamp. I thought that when you converted to power steering, you had to change the center link as well to avoid this issue. I might be wrong though

I used the complete front cross member and steering box out of the '76 on mine. I did space the box out from the frame so maybe that is my problem.

Benw88 indicated he wasn't sure how his was done.

LockDoc

[michael bustamante]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

I used the complete front cross member and steering box out of the '76 on mine. I did space the box out from the frame so maybe that is my problem.

Benw88 indicated he wasn't sure how his was done.

LockDoc

Benw88: did you use spaces to mount your steering gear or was there a dimple in your frame to allow the sterering gear to sit flush?

[benw88]

Originally Posted by michael bustamante

Benw88: did you use spaces to mount your steering gear or was there a dimple in your frame to allow the steering gear to sit flush?

I didn't have to do any spacing or modifications. The gearbox bolted right up. I can take more pictures if that would help.... i really need to figure this out. My fiance and i just bought a house with a tightly curved driveway and this steering is a problem lol.

Id be interested to hear more about this center link theory?

If it is a Sanden steering gearbox what does that mean for me? good, bad? what year gearbox should i buy to replace this one or can i get a rebuild kit for this one?

[benw88]

Originally Posted by rpmerf

Might be able to play with the tie rod couplers to get it to line up right.

I got a pitman arm once that put the steering wheel about 20* to the right. Apparently this was normal for that brand pitman arm.

Unfortunately there isn't enough adjustment available at the tie rod ends to correct the problem.

[michael bustamante]

the brand of the steer gear shouldn't affect you. id do a lil more research and see if a 71-72 gear box is different, im pretty sure they'd use the same pitman arm

[Bigdav160]

Originally Posted by michael bustamante

i think that's a sanden steering gear. not sure. I think I see the "s" stamp. I thought that when you converted to power steering, you had to change the center link as well to avoid this issue. I might be wrong though

Sanden is a Japanese company

The "S" is for Saginaw gear

OP, Turn your steering wheel all the way to the left and all the way to the right. Count the turns. Find the half way point. Does your pitman arm and idler arm now point straight back? Parallel to the frame?

edit, looking closer at the picture it appears there's spacers between the steering box and frame. That's likely the source of the problem.

[kwmech]

Wonder if hes got an ''early'' 68 that has a left over frame from 67 with the flat mounting surface

[Wrenchbender Ret]

It could be the center link is on backwards. One end is longer then the other.

[randy500]

Your center link is installed correctly.

use The method you used to find the approx center of the steering gear at the column, the exact center is with the flat on the input shaft facing up.

Tie rod lengths don’t vary much but they can be installed so one bottoms on the threads before the other, check that...if you need more adjustment cut the tie rod ends a little shorter, 1/4” or so on one or a bit less if cutting both.

Measure toe in before cutting then set back to the same, if you take good measurements your alignment will be fine.

[benw88]

PO here.

Just to do a little bit of a recap:

Spindles: C10 73+
Calipers: C10 73+
5-lug Rotors: C10 73+
Tie rod ends: C10 73+
Upper Control Arm: 68
Lower Control Arm: 68

Center Sterring Link: unknown, came with the steering box from my buddy’s back yard
Steering gearbox: unknown (quick ratio)
Pitman Arm: unknown, came with the steering box from my buddy’s back yard

I would like to figure out how to center the steering so it steers left and right the same amount.

I would also like to buy a new steering box or a rebuild kit for the current one because as you can see it’s making a mess.

Did I get one of these components obviously wrong that would make the steering be wrong?
Posted via Mobile Device

[benw88]

I am also going to add a picture of the way the steering gearbox is mounted to clear up the frame spacer question.

Stay posted

Thank you for all the replies!
Posted via Mobile Device

[benw88]

Here are some photos. I am doing this from my phone on a plane so not so sure it will work out but we will see.

No spacers on the gearbox.
Posted via Mobile Device

[kwmech]

Lock to lock with the steering wheel then half way to center it. Pittman should be parallel with the frame rail. Have it aligned, pull off steering wheel and put it straight afterwards. If it still turns one way further than the other, you have a box problem