I'm replacing the steering components on my 1996 4x4 F250. Pitman arm, drag link, ends, the whole shebang.

The adjusting sleeves I got from Napa were identical and did not fit either the pitman or the drag link. It was too big for the drag link and too small for the pitman arm. It was at this point i realized that the pitman arm is larger than the drag link. Back to the store.

I went to Advanced Auto and they had the same size pitman arm sleeve as Napa but they did have the smaller sleeve, seemingly for the drag link.

When I got home to try to put the new smaller sleeve on the drag link, it was the same deal. It was close but still just a bit too small for it.

Question - are they supposed to be smaller? I can see them being slightly smaller to keep a tight fit but I would literally have to pry these things on to get them started.

So in the end I have two different size adjusting sleeves; both very close to the sizes of the pitman arm and drag link but just a bit too small and I would have to apply a lot of force to get them on. I'd like to think they are just the wrong ones but no one seems to have the right size?


Thanks

 

It's likely that the sleeves that were on it were worn out- newer ones may seem just a bit too small when they're actually the right size- they're just not worn so they fit tighter.

 

did you make sure the clamps were loose?