Crossover steering, do I need a drop pitman arm?

[hidesertwheelin]

I'm going with crossover steering on my Dana 60. It will have a 4" springg lift and 1" zero rates. I also already have a bent drag link. Do I need a drop pitman arm also?

 

[wetoolowdingbangow]

Yes you need the drop pitman. I got mine from ORD, pretty sure it was a 3.5 inch drop.

You have the 2wd steering box right?

 

[K85 Octane]

Can't wait to see yours in person at Rubicon, Wetsomethingsomething

I don't want to argue with different terms being used. So, here is how I see them.

1) I bought a drop pitman from ORD, was too much, didn't like it. Then come to find out they offer a shallower drop than what originally came with the kit. It should have been used on my 4" lift. The deeper drop was more for 6"+.

2) The one I went with is from a Ford van, much the same as the shallow drop from ORD.

So, order the least amount of "drop" as you can, since you are running a low lift and you already have a bent draglink. I ended up, after changing axles etc, with a very shallow pitman arm and straight draglink. With the D44 I started with, a bent draglink wasn't going to work. With the D60, it would be fine.

 

[hidesertwheelin]

You have the 2wd steering box right?

Yes

 

[hidesertwheelin]

Okay, I'm gonna go with e 3.5" drop pitman arm from Ruff Stuff.

 

[wetoolowdingbangow]

Can't wait to see yours in person at Rubicon, Wetsomethingsomething

I don't want to argue with different terms being used. So, here is how I see them.

1) I bought a drop pitman from ORD, was too much, didn't like it. Then come to find out they offer a shallower drop than what originally came with the kit. It should have been used on my 4" lift. The deeper drop was more for 6"+.

2) The one I went with is from a Ford van, much the same as the shallow drop from ORD.

So, order the least amount of "drop" as you can, since you are running a low lift and you already have a bent draglink. I ended up, after changing axles etc, with a very shallow pitman arm and straight draglink. With the D44 I started with, a bent draglink wasn't going to work. With the D60, it would be fine.

One pilot said we-too-low the other pilot said now we crash, ding-bang-ow

Yeah the one i got from ORD is in fact the 3.5 inch drop. The way it looks i dont think i could get away with the 1.5 inch drop, it would hit the frame.

My front lift springs are pretty flat so i dont have any rubbing so far.

Keep in mind if you have a 6.5" center to center crossover arm then you really should use a 6.5" pitman arm to keep the steering ratio the same.

 

[wetoolowdingbangow]

Okay, I'm gonna go with e 3.5" drop pitman arm from Ruff Stuff.

Good pick! Make sure you get a jam nut and washer. I couldnt get one from any local hardware stores so i had to wait.

 

[K85 Octane]

Mine

 

[wetoolowdingbangow]

Mine

Yeah ill need to switch to that one at some point, 1.5" drop. I think i get interferance because i have a different tie rod which has a longer thread so it almost makes contact.

 

[K85 Octane]

Mine hit the weld from the frame reinforcement piece. So I ground the weld down and it fit even with the lower frame brace welded in. I think this arm with the bent draglink would be awesome. Not sure if I care enough to switch though

 

[K85 Octane]

Here's my old one, probably the 3.5" drop

 

[muddysub]

i just swapped from the 3.5" drop arm to the shallower one. you want my old one?

 

[Fred_M1010]

Keep in mind if you have a 6.5" center to center crossover arm then you really should use a 6.5" pitman arm to keep the steering ratio the same.

That's a very god point!
And really something to think about, when getting the arms from different sources.
My experience says you can get away with a 10% shorter pitman arm and still get lock to lock steering while flexing.
But it's cutting it close...

 

[wetoolowdingbangow]

That's a very god point!
And really something to think about, when getting the arms from different sources.
My experience says you can get away with a 10% shorter pitman arm and still get lock to lock steering while flexing.
But it's cutting it close...

Yeah it does make a difference. The 1.5 inch drop is actually 6.25 so yeah its probably plus or minus a 1/4 inch.