7.3L Power Stroke Engine and DrivetrainDiscussion of the 7.3L Power Stroke diesel engine and drivetrain in the 1999-Up Super Duty trucks and Excursions. No gas engine discussion allowed except on transmissions and drivetrain that pertain to all models. Please confine discussion of topics in this forum to those items that are specific to the 7.3L Power Stroke engine.
Well I was backing into a parking spot this morning when all of the sudden my steering wheel let loose and became really easy to turn. I got out to check it out and it looks like the pitman arm (at least thats what I think it is) twisted in two where it connects to the gear box. I have a couple of questions. First if I am talking about the right parts how does one replace it and does it make a difference if my truck has a 4" pro comp lift on it. I have heard you have to change out the pitman arm when installing the lift, but it was on it when I got the truck so Im not sure. Here is a pic so everyone can see what I am talking about.
Thanks
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Black 2002 F350 XLT Crew Cab 7.3L - BF Goodrich All Terrain 315/75-R16 mounted on PCW Wheels, 4 inch ProComp Lift w/ dual front shocks, Ranch Hand-Full replacement front/rear bumpers and headache rack, K&N air Filter, Autometer dual guage pillar pod with Pyro and EGT gages, Bosch Alternator, Viper 3000 alarm, NFab Nerf bars
that looks more like you sheared off the sector shaft coming out of the steering gear! I think it's time to call ReadHead steering and have them send Ya a new gear. it's not e real hard job to replace one just make sure you count the splines on the shaft to get the right one. (32 or 36 I believe) hope that helped ~Aaron
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2000 F-250 S\C 4X4, rebuilt engine \ DP Tuned \ 3 Gauge cluster \ "cackle cure"- FX cross over fuel return \ shimmed fuel reg. 69 psi. \ new rear-end \ rebuilt tranny \ transgo tugger shift kit w\ non-modulated T\C lock up \6.0 trans. cooler \ wicked wheel \ \ open element intake \ magnaflow muffler \ ccv mod \ HX mod.\ Redhead steering gear \ Head light harness and lenz up grade \ Bilstien shocks \ in tank and pre-pump mods.\ and a HOLE in my wallet so big I can park my truck in it!
Last edited by elkkiller : 05-15-2008 at 04:14 PM.
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2000 F-250 S\C 4X4, rebuilt engine \ DP Tuned \ 3 Gauge cluster \ "cackle cure"- FX cross over fuel return \ shimmed fuel reg. 69 psi. \ new rear-end \ rebuilt tranny \ transgo tugger shift kit w\ non-modulated T\C lock up \6.0 trans. cooler \ wicked wheel \ \ open element intake \ magnaflow muffler \ ccv mod \ HX mod.\ Redhead steering gear \ Head light harness and lenz up grade \ Bilstien shocks \ in tank and pre-pump mods.\ and a HOLE in my wallet so big I can park my truck in it!
Seen it a few times.... always on trucks with dropped pitman arms (like yours).
My loving bride wants a bigger holiday trailer... For this I will need a SuperDuty... Do they look good with a lift? Yep.... But life is too short to use a dropped pitman arm....
...................From viewing the pic I'd say the amount of vertical travel , up and down far exceeds the ability of the pitman arm to adjust and eventually you'll break another one . Might want to evaluate the underlying cause first before doing a simple steering box replacement . , ipf
Well I got a new steering gear box and I will try to get it on this weekend. I got a pitman arm puller to try to get the broken piece out of the pitman arm. Are there any tricks or things I should know when trying to remove an install the new one?
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Black 2002 F350 XLT Crew Cab 7.3L - BF Goodrich All Terrain 315/75-R16 mounted on PCW Wheels, 4 inch ProComp Lift w/ dual front shocks, Ranch Hand-Full replacement front/rear bumpers and headache rack, K&N air Filter, Autometer dual guage pillar pod with Pyro and EGT gages, Bosch Alternator, Viper 3000 alarm, NFab Nerf bars
You shouldn't be worried about buggering up the broken shaft that's still in the pitman arm. Just pull the nut off, sit the arm on something solid with the shaft stub unsupported and whale on it with a BIG HAMMER
The bigger, the better. Don't try to use a 16 oz ball pein. You'll just mushroom the shaft. I'd go with a 4 lb sledge at a minimum. One good whack should do it.
Well I got the new steering gear in today. Not too bad of a job. Took a bit of dissassembly to be able to get to it from the top though. I ended up using a pitman arm puller to get the sheared off piece out. PB blaster really works. I was having some trouble getting it out so I went and bought some PB blaster ( I had heard about it but never used it) after shooting it 3-4 times and letting it soak a little the piece literally shot out. I have to go back tomorrow with some power steering fluid to try everything out. I will have my fingers crossed until then.
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Black 2002 F350 XLT Crew Cab 7.3L - BF Goodrich All Terrain 315/75-R16 mounted on PCW Wheels, 4 inch ProComp Lift w/ dual front shocks, Ranch Hand-Full replacement front/rear bumpers and headache rack, K&N air Filter, Autometer dual guage pillar pod with Pyro and EGT gages, Bosch Alternator, Viper 3000 alarm, NFab Nerf bars
Well I was backing into a parking spot this morning when all of the sudden my steering wheel let loose and became really easy to turn. I got out to check it out and it looks like the pitman arm (at least thats what I think it is) twisted in two where it connects to the gear box. I have a couple of questions. First if I am talking about the right parts how does one replace it and does it make a difference if my truck has a 4" pro comp lift on it. I have heard you have to change out the pitman arm when installing the lift, but it was on it when I got the truck so Im not sure. Here is a pic so everyone can see what I am talking about. 
), AIS, 
. the tow truck drivers couldnt figure how to get me out.
just get a replacement.
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