I feel like a moron

[metalneverdies]

I cant be the only one who had / is having a hell of a time trying to delete the keyways on their crossover steering arm.

I feel like I am just going to mess up the arm. I tried using a hacksaw to delete the center part and turn it into a spline so that my steering will work properly, but I cant seem to get them split even or straight. I am afraid to take a triangle file to the keyway as I feel like I am just going to completely mess up the keyway and the splines next to it.

Any advice? I am using the ord 1.5" drop arm. (Superlift arm)

 

[Russell]

What axle are you working on? can you post a few pictures please?

 

[MTBLAZER89]

Are you talking Pitman arm? (on the steering box)

 

[ryoken]

are we trying to use a 4wd box here or something? I'm confuddled...

 

[Deuling]

Mine slid right on

 

[Russell]

Mine slid right on

Unlike your skinny jeans.

 

[Deuling]

Unlike your skinny jeans.

 

[jekquistk5]

Unlike your skinny jeans.

Zing!

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Mine slid right on

It shouldn't have. That pitman arm (not Superlift, btw) is the right length and right drop for some applications and it has the same index splines as most Saginaw boxes, but the index splines are clocked differently. So if you install it as-is, with the steering box centered the pitman arm will be pointed to one side or the other and not straight back like it needs to be.

So you have to cut the index splines into basically two splines, so that the pitman arm can go on the shaft any way you want.

It starts like this:



and you need to cut out the index splines into two individual splines so that it can go on in any direction, like this picture below. The easiest way we've found is to start a groove with a hacksaw blade and then cut the "v" shape with a triangle shaped file.



We did have a customer do it this way once:



I don't like that as much because there is less spline engagement.

 

[Russell]

Ohhh! I know what he is talking about now!

I just used a hack saw and a triangular file as suggested by Chris when I modified mine to fit on my Tahoe. I was concerned with how it would turn out as well, but it actually wound up being pretty easy and turned out great!

 

[metalneverdies]

It shouldn't have. That pitman arm (not Superlift, btw) is the right length and right drop for some applications and it has the same index splines as most Saginaw boxes, but the index splines are clocked differently. So if you install it as-is, with the steering box centered the pitman arm will be pointed to one side or the other and not straight back like it needs to be.

So you have to cut the index splines into basically two splines, so that the pitman arm can go on the shaft any way you want.

It starts like this:



and you need to cut out the index splines into two individual splines so that it can go on in any direction, like this picture below. The easiest way we've found is to start a groove with a hacksaw blade and then cut the "v" shape with a triangle shaped file.



We did have a customer do it this way once:



I don't like that as much because there is less spline engagement.

I guess if it comes down to it, I can just get rid of the whole key way like the last one you showedn I will get a triangle file this weekend. I was just concerned because the hack saw is making a mess of the splines at the moment.

Sorry for the late replies I have had a crazy day.

 

[sweetk30]

so all that money I spent on ord crossover /high steering did my arm already come pre done ?

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

so all that money I spent on ord crossover /high steering did my arm already come pre done ?

Our pitman arms just bolt in 90+% of the time.

We use the "high clearance" one for really low lift heights, trucks with lots of suspension travel and for SAS trucks with lower lift heights and a driver's side diff. It's the right length and right drop for some applications, the index splines just need to be removed.