OK, so I'm planning a steering box and center link (for lack of better terminology) swap on my dear ol' dad's 2000 Excursion 4WD, and I'm trying to find the right box BEFORE I actually drop the old one. It seems that Ford, in their infinite wisdom, saw fit to have two boxes, one with a 32-spline output shaft, and one with 36 splines. I've noticed on RockAuto that they sell an offset Pitman arm (which is where my question has its origins, incidentally) that is for the 32-spline box. Dear ol' Dad is kinda insisting on a new pitman arm, since I'm changing everything else, (it's HIS money, not mine), and the one on his X is flat...no offset.

So my question is: did Ford use 32-spline boxes for 2WD trucks (which is where I'm assuming the offset Pitman arm comes into play), and 36-spline boxes for 4WD trucks with the flat Pitman arm? Or was there a 32- and 36-spline offset arm AND a 32- and 36-spline flat arm? OR...am I just gonna have to wait until I get the old box dropped, take the Pitman arm off, and start counting splines?

Been reading about and working on Fords since I was a kid in the early-'80s...Ford doesn't seem to care about logic or simplicity, and nothing surprises me anymore. Just hoping to be able to get new parts before the old ones come out.

Thanks for hanging in there!!!
Pat

 

You can probably count the splines on the truck but they used 32 and 36 on 4wd's depending on the year. I can't remember all that trivia but you can do a search in here, look in ebay, or google it.

 

At the time I ordered a new steering gear I had the same concern. I ordered from Red Head steering in Seattle, Washington and the gentleman there told me the excursion came with the 36 spline unit ONLY. He didn't care what year or 4x4/2x4. I don't know about the pitman arm.

 

I;m sure there is 2 versions, google it. (splines)

 

This really wasn't an option. Once I got the box out and the tie rod end burned off, I needed a good bit of heat to get the output shaft nut off, and even way MORE heat to get the Pitman arm off. It's no shock, really...if you saw the chassis, you'd swear it sat in a field for 30 years. But in its defense, it's been a PA truck all its life, and it doesn't really see much duty in the summer. To say it's rusty underneath would be an understatement.

But anyway, it's a 36-spline output shaft!

Pat