I am not a professional mechanic but I know this isn't good (see pics).

I was surprised to find that only Napa has a replacement in stock, NAPA AUTO PARTS

That OK as a replacement? If not, I'll need to order it and have it shipped.

So I need to replace that, at the least. It seems there's 4 frame bolts, the steering wheel linkage, and the fluid hoses I need to remove. Anything complicated here? I haven't yet looked at the linkage.

It looks like the boot the on the join where the pitman arm connects needs to be replaced. Can those be replaced individually or do I need a whole new arm?

After all this work I'll get an alignment. Anything I miss to do?

 

Get that Fram filter off your engine

I would not use those on my lawnmower.

 

Awwww man, I thought those weren't bad. What do you use?

 

Holy........

I guess you won't need a pitman arm puller.

Do you have any idea what triggered such an event?

The job is generally pretty straightforward.

That stub wiil have to be driven out of the pitman arm and for starters, I would think you won't want ANY questionable pieces going back in. You may want to consider tie rod and pitman arm, with the gearbox.

Rockauto.com has parts that aren't availble at NAPA, you may want to check them out.

Your into the power steering fluid circuit also, so a full flush and return line filter would be a recommendation also.

 

Other than being 22.5 years old, what may have contributed to this failure was that I removed my steering dampening shock about 6 months ago. Thought of replacing it but after it was removed I didn't feel any difference so left the shock off.

 

Seriously? How the **** did you manage to snap that??

Disconnect the hydraulic lines. When you do, they will drip til the reservoir runs dry so just leave your drain pan under there. Slide the plastic dust cover on the steering shaft upwards towards the firewall/cowl, and remove the bolt that attaches the steering shaft to the gearbox, the steering shaft will slide towards the firewall and off the gearbox stub shaft. Then just unbolt the gearbox from the frame and you're ready to put the new one in.

And yes, get that FRAM (F****ng Rebuild Another Motor) filter off your engine if you care about it in the least. A Motorcraft filter is like $3 and change.

 

Motorcraft....

 

OK, replacement box is in, ready to start running fluids. What tool will I need to use to get the broken spline out of the pitman arm?

 

Myself I would replace it.

Other than that, a 12 or 20 ton shop press.

Second choice press it out on a 6in. vise with appropriate sized sockets as in the time honored u-joint replacement.

You could try a pitman arm puller.

Beating it out is a really bad option reserved for the end of the world.

 

Subscribing for the awesomeness that is a snapped steering shaft.
WOW!!!
I've never seen that on one of these trucks.

X4 or 5 or whatever on that orange can of death.
Motorcraft (cheap at Walmart)
Dana/WIX/NAPA
Hastings/Baldwin.
Mann

If you want to see for yourself, here's a link
Oil Filters Revealed - MiniMopar Resources

 

truck is off to the shop for alignment. I got the broken spline out of the pitman arm and put things back together where the wheels ride straight enough to get on the tow truck.

I wasn't able to replace the pitman arm because the one I found wasn't the right one. I'm guessing I need one for a truck that has a lift. I wasn't aware of that so I'll have to order one.

 

Yep, a lifted truck needs a drop pitman arm.

 

Well, that explains a lot of things.

How much lift have you got?

 

I don't suppose these will make me go any slower so I made the change. In fact, I think these filters will make me go faster, it's like when you get a new monitor for your computer... it runs faster.