Steering parts replacement (GT#482)

[M1Combat]

I've given my GT to my son for his first vehicle... the steering feel is pretty vague. I can hold my finger at the joint between the pitman arm and center link and I can feel them moving differently when the steering wheel is wiggled, but the truck actually turns with a very small wheel input so I'm pretty sure the steering column and all of that is ok, but the feeling is still very vague. This doesn't inspire confidence with a new driver. I think it has about 120K miles on it.

I'm pretty sure it needs a new Pitman arm and idler arm. I purchased both but apparently didn't look close enough and I got the wrong parts. After looking into the issue closer (after pulling the idler arm...) I find that the pitman arm is ~$140 and the correct Idler is a fairly normal price (like $15-40).

My question really comes down to this...

Is there a better solution to replacing these parts (maybe including the center link?) so that I don't need to purchase the $140 pitman arm? Right now the idler and pitman locations on the center link have the joint posts on the center link, and the actual idler arm and pitman arm have the hole. Center link is male, arms are female essentially. This seems to be uncommon on the S-10 style trucks? I'm not sure as I'm not a mechanic by profession. Though I do tend to do all my own work on my bikes and vehicles. Either way...

Is there a better way to go about solving the problem?

If there are pitman, idler and center link parts that are direct swaps but will also replace the joints while at the same time making them easier to replace next time... I wouldn't mind doing that. If not... Is there a less expensive Pitman arm?


Thanks in advance for your time.

 

[1blkc4]

140.00 pitman arm ??? check rockauto.com you can get a moog for around 40

 

[M1Combat]

Rock Auto doesn't have the right part. They have the right part for a Syclone and I'd assume a Typhoon... but apparently the GT is a different part. thanks for the answer though. Anyone else?

 

[Slyclone]

I looked at a post in the trucks for sale section. Member is selling a gt. I looked over the front end and it looks just like my syclone. I did the idler arm in my typhoon and it was tricky.

 

[RealFastV6]

The 4WD STrucks have the ball joint on the pitman arm instead of the center link, the 2WD STrucks have the ball joint on the center link instead of the pitman arm. The pitman arm on a 2WD STruck isn't something that needs to be replaced since there's nothing on it to wear out. If you've got movement, you need a center link not a pitman arm.

I don't know of any way to re-layout the suspension to change the locations of the ball joints but I don't know why you'd want to.

Also - don't neglect the steering shaft bushing that's in the firewall. That was a big one on my Syclone, tightens things up nicely.

 

[Peter]

Increasing the caster also improved the tracking significantly on my Ty. I think factory is 2 degrees, the "enhanced" spec. that I used for years was 3.5 degrees, but now I'm running at 7 degrees (by recommendation of another), and it improved both centering and tracking. Of course, first do all the above mentioned things to get rid of as much mechanical slop as possible.