Welding a steering arm?
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2016
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From: North Idaho
Welding a steering arm?
I'm trying to get the steering geometry corrected on my sons 75 f250 before he comes home from deployment. He put a lift on before he left. Ordinarily it would be as easy as a drop pitman arm, or raised steering arm, etc. His is the 44HD front axle with Garrison power assist.
Nearly impossible to find parts for, so I am wanting to cut an original steering arm, and weld a longer, more steeply angled arm on it to get about three inches higher. (Possibly less)
The stock arm looks to be cast, and I'd use cold rolled mild steel to make the longer arm.
Has anyone had success in custom making a steering arm?
Have you welded mild to cast?
Nearly impossible to find parts for, so I am wanting to cut an original steering arm, and weld a longer, more steeply angled arm on it to get about three inches higher. (Possibly less)
The stock arm looks to be cast, and I'd use cold rolled mild steel to make the longer arm.
Has anyone had success in custom making a steering arm?
Have you welded mild to cast?
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,698
Likes: 7
From: Taxachusetts
I think you're SOL on a dropped pitman arm for a '75 Highboy and I agree that welding a sleeve would be asking for trouble.
Rough Country makes a steering block (for lifted vehicles) for the D44 ~ $54.00. You could also get an adjustable drag link - has sorta like an "S" bend in it.
You could go with a '78 - '79 4WD steering box and then get a drop pitman arm....the box might me found in a boneyard, Ebay, etc.....but you're looking at $$$$ for the changeover.
Rough Country makes a steering block (for lifted vehicles) for the D44 ~ $54.00. You could also get an adjustable drag link - has sorta like an "S" bend in it.
You could go with a '78 - '79 4WD steering box and then get a drop pitman arm....the box might me found in a boneyard, Ebay, etc.....but you're looking at $$$$ for the changeover.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 14,333
Likes: 247
From: Stanley, VA
I can't comment on a solution because I'm more 2WD but all I can say is PLEASE DO NOT weld the pitman arm. That's a highly stressed steering component. It's not a cast piece, it's a forging.
In my younger days, a buddy had a highboy and jacked it up, way up. He cut and welded the pitman arm. The third time he took it out (on the highway, not off road), he was going down the road, took a mild curve and said "s**t!" and hit the brakes. Stopped right where he was, in the middle of traffic. He had lost all steering. Ever try to get 35's to pivot by hand? Long story short, the arm had broken. It ended with him having an "almost wreck" that he still hasn't lived down after almost 30 years. I look back and think about how incredibly bad that could have ended and how incredibly lucky we were.
In my younger days, a buddy had a highboy and jacked it up, way up. He cut and welded the pitman arm. The third time he took it out (on the highway, not off road), he was going down the road, took a mild curve and said "s**t!" and hit the brakes. Stopped right where he was, in the middle of traffic. He had lost all steering. Ever try to get 35's to pivot by hand? Long story short, the arm had broken. It ended with him having an "almost wreck" that he still hasn't lived down after almost 30 years. I look back and think about how incredibly bad that could have ended and how incredibly lucky we were.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 473
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From: SW Florida
You want to go towards a crossover steering system like the F100/F150s have. It's a much more reliable and better driving setup. The problem with the lifted F250 deal is bump steer from the angles between the steering box and axle - using a crossover relaxes the angles considerably and makes it drive much safer.
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,172
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From: darlington
75hb
This is what a 78/79 box looks like with cross over steering on a 75 Post some pics up of your garrison arm
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Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
I'm trying to get the steering geometry corrected on my sons 75 F250 4WD before he comes home from deployment.
He put a lift on before he left. Ordinarily it would be as easy as a drop pitman arm, or raised steering arm, etc.
His is the 44HD front axle with Garrison
power assist.
He put a lift on before he left. Ordinarily it would be as easy as a drop pitman arm, or raised steering arm, etc.
His is the 44HD front axle with Garrison
power assist.Garrison Power Assist P/S: 1973 F250 4WD - 1974 F250 4WD before serial number T80,001.
Bendix Power Assist P/S: 1974 F250 4WD from serial number T80,001 - 1975/76 F250 4WD - 1977 F250 4WD before serial number Y20,001.
Garrison vs Bendix: ALL the parts, including the Pitman Arm...are different!
D4TZ-3590-A .. Pitman Arm-Use with Bendix Power Assist P/S / Marked: D4TA-3590-FA / Obsolete
1974 F250 4WD from serial number T80,001 - 1975 F250 4WD // 1976/77 F250 4WD with Bendix Power Assist P/S uses a different Pitman Arm.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2016
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From: North Idaho
Mea culpa, it is a Bendix set-up.
So back to the issue. There isn't parts available for the 44HD closed knuckle that I can find. The Rough Country block listed for the D60 looks like what I need but it says right in the description that it's for the open knuckle only. Is the closed knuckle 44HD the same as the open knuckle 60?
So back to the issue. There isn't parts available for the 44HD closed knuckle that I can find. The Rough Country block listed for the D60 looks like what I need but it says right in the description that it's for the open knuckle only. Is the closed knuckle 44HD the same as the open knuckle 60?
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 3,417
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Mea culpa, it is a Bendix set-up.
So back to the issue. There isn't parts available for the 44HD closed knuckle that I can find. The Rough Country block listed for the D60 looks like what I need but it says right in the description that it's for the open knuckle only. Is the closed knuckle 44HD the same as the open knuckle 60?
So back to the issue. There isn't parts available for the 44HD closed knuckle that I can find. The Rough Country block listed for the D60 looks like what I need but it says right in the description that it's for the open knuckle only. Is the closed knuckle 44HD the same as the open knuckle 60?
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