Pitman arm

[HH Henderson]

I have a big problem. In process of changing from manual to power steering and am putting a Bendix gear so I won t have to change the steering column. However I did not realize the Pitman Arm would not fit.
The part that goes onto the gear box is a tad too small.
Anybody know where I can get a Pitman Arm for the Bendix?
HH

[kaptnkaos]

Hey HHH...

Good luck one finding one of those...
They are usually still connected to the box...
You might try MOOG to see if they have an after market one...
The Bendix units weren't used that long so there aren't nearly as many of them as there are the Saginaw boxes.
I don't know if the pitman arms are the same or not, I assume that they would be.
The Saginaw boxes are better, which is why the Bendix boxes were discontiued.
Make sure to read the tutorial and make notes of anything you might need.
The pitman arm you need has to a power steering one, and it has to be pre-mid '71...
Ford changed stuff in mid '71 so you have to match the steering components your truck with the right PS pitman arm
Just so you know...
The pitman arm retaining nut is a 1 5/16" nut.
I found that the hard way that a 1/2 drive socket set only goes to 1 1/4 "...
I ended taking the PS box to a machine shop who removed it for nothing...
That did give me a reason to buy a 3/4 inch drive socket set...
Just in case I needed to remove it again...
oh, and a pitman arm puller is highly recommended.
They are not very expensive, they're less than $10 at Harbor Freight & Tool...

Good luck,

KaptnKA S

[HH Henderson]

I just talked with Hidden Valley in Arizona and they have the pitman arm that was on the box I bought from them. The only problem is time. I have mechanic's shop tied up and it probably wont be here until Friday.
Thanks for the info....and I learned long ago that you dont always get what you want.....
HH

[kaptnkaos]

That's cool HHH...

Good luck with yer project,... make sure to post pics as you go

KaptnKA S

[cdherman]

Hey, when you get that pitman arm that was with the Bendix box, can you please post back if it was really different than the manual pitman?

I have never before heard that they were different. If they are, then its something that needs to be well known.....

[kaptnkaos]

I had to change the pitman arm on my '68 CS when I did the PS upgrade..

Yes they are different... check this out
http://www.fordification.com/str-susp_variations.htm

KaptnKA S

[cdherman]

I should have been more clear in my post. It is well known that the pitman arm for saginaw PS boxes is different than the one used for manual steering. That is what is discussed in the above tutorial.

However, what I do not know is wheather the pitman arm is different with the Bendix powersteering unit. I have never heard that before, and I doubt it frankly, as it otherwise is usually referred to as a bolt in replacement for the manual box, with no other modifications needed.

But if it turns out to be true that the Bendix box requires a different pitman arm, then please someone do post that up.

[kaptnkaos]

Hey cdherman...

After reading the section on Bendix boxes I'm thinking you are probably right.
I would shoot Keith a PM just for clarification...
I hadn't even read that piece because I already had a Sag box in the truck I parted out.

I do know that the Pitman arm has to be matched the other steering components...
If you are putting a Bendix box in a mid '71 or later model, you need the one that matches the later style steering components.

KaptnKA S

[HH Henderson]

I should have been more clear in my post. It is well known that the pitman arm for saginaw PS boxes is different than the one used for manual steering. That is what is discussed in the above tutorial.

However, what I do not know is wheather the pitman arm is different with the Bendix powersteering unit. I have never heard that before, and I doubt it frankly, as it otherwise is usually referred to as a bolt in replacement for the manual box, with no other modifications needed.

But if it turns out to be true that the Bendix box requires a different pitman arm, then please someone do post that up.

I replaced the Ford Manual steering with a Bendix Power Steering Gear Box. I ordered it from Hidden Valley in Arizona. When I got it on the truck, that is when I realized the pitman arm that I already had would not fit. So I called Hidden Vallen and they sent me the Pitman Arm that had been on the Bendix Gear that they sent to me. My F100 is 1968 and I am pretty sure the Bendix and pitman arm from Hidden Valley was marked 67-69. The pitman arm was definitely different.
HH

[HH Henderson]

Finally, I am glad to tell you all that I have the Power Steering on my bump and it is great! Thanks to all who shared info with me.
HH