crossover steering problem

[dukekid513]

i got a crossover steering kit from offroad unlimited. i found out the hard way that the pitman arm does not fit right. the way it sits is either to far for the draglink to be extended or to short and the drag link is too long. it seems to be the splines from the pitman arm are like 45 degrees off. i have an 88 chevy suburban with an 88 2wd steering box. can someone please help me out?

 

[Fred_M1010]

The "tabs" in the pitman arm splines should be grinded down, so you can install it in any angle.

It's strange that ORU didn't do that, they have probably just missed it.

 

[k20]

are you sure your box is centered? I know when I put mine on I was a turn off and I didnt see how it would work either.

 

[desertrat67]

I got my kit from ORU back in 2000(ya, a long time ago, before I knew of ORD) and had no problems with it then, or now. I have used two different boxes and the pitman arm fit fine on both boxes.

I would double check the box being centered, if not, call ORU and explain to the =m the situation and see if they can rectify it.

As for the previous poster saying the tabs should be ground down, do not do this. They are the one thing that lets you align your pitman arm on the box.

 

[Fred_M1010]

It all depends on what pitman arm you're using.
Some jeep pitman arms have the indexing tabs 45degrees off, compared to 2wd chevy.
For example the Jeep TJ/YJ arm is like this, when I ordered mine from WFO, they ground down the tabs for me.

Since he states that it's off, no matter how he mounts it, I just assumed he had one of those arms.

Why would you need help from the indexing tabs to be able to align the arm?
Just center the box first by counting turns on the steering wheel.
Then mount the arm pointing straight back

 

[dukekid513]

i did center the box and the wheels and i just cant seem to get it just right. thanks for all the info ill try the jeep pitman arm. a lot of people with chevys are using jeeps pitman arms. if not ill have to call ORU

 

[desertrat67]

The one ORU puts in thier kit should be a Ford arm.

As for grinding the tabe, that just makes a weak point on the arm by removing splines. Why not just use an arm that would work correctly instead of cutting up one that doesn't fit propperly? If this is commonplace, this is the first I have heard of it. Makes me wonder what else WFO half-asses?

 

[Fred_M1010]

Four splines more or less, doesn't make any significant difference.

Why not use an arm that fit properly from the beginning?
All pitman arms for crossover are originally intended for another application
So you have to take one that fits you're needs for length and drop, and make it work.
If I used a Ford arm for example, it would hit my springs on compression.