Pitman arm questions

[XjShake]

Seeing as I just got my pitman arm in today. Can I straighten my steering wheel and put the pitman arm back on or do I have to put my new arm on just like I pulled the old one? My steering wheel is quite a bit off from being in the correct position... I tried to fix it when I replaced my seeing column but I had to put it back in the same way I took it out.

 

[SteelHeadz]

You should never try to clock a pitman arm to the steering gear to correct the steering wheel level. This is done by adjusting the tie rod ends and or a draglink adjustment sleeve during an alignment. Besides that, i dont think its possible due to the reference notches on the steering gear.

 

[Jester32]

Pitman goes on same way it came off. And you center the wheel with the drag link adjuster.

 

[XjShake]

Alright thanx

 

[dustin g]

To straighten your wheel disconnect the rod at the back of the steering box and turn it to center then put it back onto the box. The steering wheel side does not have the guide splines like the pitman arm side.

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

To straighten your wheel disconnect the rod at the back of the steering box and turn it to center then put it back onto the box. The steering wheel side does not have the guide splines like the pitman arm side.

This is wrong. To straighten the steering wheel after a lift install or pitman arm change, lengthen or shorten the draglink by turning the adjusting collars.

 

[dustin g]

This is wrong. To straighten the steering wheel after a lift install or pitman arm change, lengthen or shorten the draglink by turning the adjusting collars.

Correct. I spaced this part as I had the lift done by others. I had to do the way I did after a gearbox replace. And once after a severely needed alignment.

 

[XJdunnz]

On the topic of pitman arms do I need a longer drop pitman arm on my xj? It has 4.5" lift with stock pitman arm and drives kinda like ass. I've replaced sway bar bushings track bar bushings and added new qr sway bar links. Seems like the more new stuff I add the worse off it is WTF! I've had the xj aligned twice and it seems to be ok In that dept it just kinda does the dw occasionally and I'm guessing what you would call bump steer issues like I'll be going straight then the xj will kinda do it's on thing like drift over and feels like the steering is off but then it will start driving decent. I'm gonna take it to some lift guys here in town and try and get to the bottom of it i love driving the xj but kinda hate feeling like I'm wrestling this beast down the street.

I'm also getting new wheels and tires tomorrow hoping this might help a little dropping down to 32x11.50 and to a 15" black d window rim, im currently running 285/75/r16 bfg on rubicon 16" wheels

The xj was lifted by previous owner just trying to get everything ironed out to make it my daily driver (sorry for the novel)

 

[XJdunnz]

Last night with the Rubicon's, tomorrow comes black d's with maxxis buckshot mudders

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

You don't need a drop pitman arm if the draglink and trackbar are close to parallel. Post a pic of the front suspension from the front.

Do you have any type of trackbar bracket on the front?

I ran 5.5" coils on my last MJ and used the stock pitman arm with no problems.

 

[XJdunnz]

I've heard a bunch of guys saying it was fine to run stock pitman arm just curious as to whats messing up the steering geometry. It looks to have an adjustable track bar, I will post some pics tomorrow when it's daylight. Thanks

 

[XJdunnz]

I've heard a bunch of guys saying it was fine to run stock pitman arm just curious as to whats messing up the steering geometry. It looks to have an adjustable track bar, I will post some pics tomorrow when it's daylight. Thanks

heres the pics of setup hope this helps.

 

[Jester32]

heres the pics of setup hope this helps.

A zj pitman arm should fix tgat up. It's about a 1 inch drop compared to tge Cherokee. That's what I used and I'm at 5.5 inches lift. My .02 cents.

 

[XJdunnz]

Dw went away for the most part after getting new tires and wheels, but the crazy bump steer or whatever you want to call it is still present.

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

It looks like you would benefit from a drop pitman arm, either aftermarket or a ZJ arm. The pitman arm end of the draglink needs to come down slightly in order for the draglink to be more parallel with the trackbar and reduce bumpsteer.

 

[XJdunnz]

Thanks for the info, I will look into getting one.