Idler arm and pitman arm affect on steering

[Zoro]

Got a brand new set of tires for ZII last weekend and had the alignment redone while it was at the shop. Seems that every time this car comes out of the shop there is more and more play in the steering and they tell me that it's just "Play in the steering column." The car feels great when it leaves the shop and seems to loosen up within the first few miles with the steering wheel usually around 30* or so off kilter to the right. The biggest issue is that the car seems to want to chase ruts in the road and go after different changes in road pitch. Never started until after this latest brand new set of tires.

I have replaced everything in the suspension but the steering linkages are a few years old now(as opposed to the springs and all bushings which are less than 1 year old) and I have noticed some slop on the tie rod ends and possibly the idler arm during my last oil change.

The big question is before I spend another $300 on all new parts how much do just the idler arm and pitman arm play affect the steering quality on these cars?

[AMC of Houston]

First, please go find a better alignment shop.   Doing an "alignment" and letting the car out the door with the steering wheel so far off center is a hack job at best (I was a frame & alignment guy for many years).    And yes; a wasted Pitmen arm and/or idler arm and/or tie rods can make for a "sloppy" feel and rut-chasing while driving.

A hack alignment job can do that too!!   Can you post the alignment specs from your shop receipt maybe??   I'm really curious...............

[carnuck]

Idler arm worn out is the most common issue, but check for frame rot behind the steering box too!

[Zoro]

Rather than starting a brand new thread. Anybody know the correct socket size for the pitman arm nut?

[mudkicker715]

1' 5/16" works for me however it is a bit sloppy. 1' 1/4" does not fit. So find your metric buddy to be safe. Otherwise the first has been good to me. Same for a kee pitman.

[eaglefreek]

I had this socket out this morning. I've always used 1-5/16" because I only have a SAE 3/4" socket set.

[Zoro]

Thanks dudes.

[Zoro]

Burning the midnight oil and got the pitman arm, idler arm and all 4 tie rod ends and adjusting sleeves done. The pitman arm was so worn out I don't know how it hadn't failed yet, that's where the play in my steering was coming from.

Also got the steering damper replaced but that's where I hit a snag. The damper I bought is from AutoZone and is part #:6804SE and it went right in BUT it's too big. With the wheels centered there is about 1.5" of travel remaining in the damper so the car won't turn all the way to the right, goes left no problem but not right. The new damper is about twice the diameter of the one that came out, similar to the Rancho RS9000 compared to an OE Eagle front shock absorber. Looks a million times more heavy duty.



Anybody know the CORRECT part # for the steering damper? Or does anybody know of a kit to attach the new damper to the tie rod with U-Bolts like some of the Jeep guys do. Would this even work without interfering with the pitman arm? Not much room in there.

[Mernsy]

Monroe SC-2928
                                 (parts pack P837)

http://www.skidmore.edu/~pdwyer/amc/eagle_partlist.htm

[AMC of Houston]

What Jim said -- $21.79 at Rock Auto.

[Zoro]

Thanks guys!

[Zoro]

Got the problem rectified last night.

CORRECT AZ part number is 14040 after cross referencing the # from Mernsy's post. They had it on the shelf but no way of looking thru their catalog to see what they list it as fitting.

One other thing I noticed. The brand new one seems to have less resistance than the 6 year old one I removed.

Going to get the alignment redone next week and can't wait.

[carnuck]

Actually, the back of their catalog (paper) lists what it fits. No-one shows them how to do it is the problem. Napa number is SC2928 (made by Monroe) As for why they have it in stock, see the application chart.

[Zoro]

Alignment is done at a different shop and the car steers and drives better than it ever has in the entire 6 years I've been daily driving it! 

The car seems to need a light amount of steering to the left to correct it going down the road but if you release the wheel it still tracks straight.

I was comparing the steering geometry between the 85 and the 84(this car) and I think the added height from the larger springs might be causing this.

Anybody else running the bigger front springs have an issue like this?

[carnuck]

Mine runs smooth