Try this.

Double Taper Bushing

 

Thank you sir!

 

Dragging this back to the top.

Did the bushing mentioned above work to connect a 2005 up pitman arm to the 99-03 tie rod end?

I'm looking to install a 2011-16 steering box (same pitman arm spline and taper as 2005) into my 2003 4x4 and am trying to figure out how to connect the 2003 tie rod end to the 2016 pitman arm...

Thoughts?

 

No. It did not work. I have purchased the 99-04 pitman arm and the 05- pitman arm. I am going to take them to a machine shop and see what are the best options. May just have them weld the 05- splines to the 99-04 arm. If it's done correctly, there should never be an issue.

 

Was the bushing too large for the pitman arm? Or vice versa?

 

I went out and checked things out again. It's been awhile since I have messed around with this so bare with me. Here are my findings. The 05+ pitman arm is shorter by about an inch or so. Will this make a big difference? Probably not. The spines on the 05+ are way larger in diameter so the 04 and up pitman arm is out without major mods. In looking at this again with a clear mind the bushing may actually work, just not how I thought. Let me explain. The bushing has about an 1/8 inch shoulder and is the same diameter all the way down on the outside. It won't fit unless you ream the pitman arm to slightly less than that diameter of the bushing and press it in. I assume the nut on the tie rod would hold it all together. At first glance, the taper on the bushing looks to be wrong but I really have no way to check it. I plan to purchase the short tie rod at the pitman arm and see how the bushing fits. So retracting my above statement, it might work. I just haven't had time to mess around with it too much to verify 100%

 

Today I ordered a new tie rod end for a 2003 F350, a pitman arm for a 2015 F350 and the bushing from Complete Offroad. I'll see if the bushing will take up the clearance in the pitman arm so the 2003 tie rod can be used.

Another option would be to weld the pitman arm's tie rod hole shut and machine a new hole to match the 2003's tie rod.

Last ditch attempt would be machining a 2006 F350 tie rod end with the 2003 threads. The 2006 tie rod is longer so it has the length needed. Just don't know if it has the diameter needed to allow the threads to be machined onto it...

From what I've read the 2011-16 steering box will bolt onto any 1999-2016 Super Duty using the correct bolts for the box and figuring out the pitman arm/tie rod attachment problem. To me the pitman arm/tie rod is the easy thing to tackle. I figure with a 2016 box and a Lee Power Steering pump this thing should turn with one finger and drive like a dream.

I got rid of my 2001 when it needed another steering box and it didn't have many miles on that redhead box at the time. The 2008 I drove afterwards always drove great and turned with just a finger for having 20" wheels and all terrains on it. That steering feel never changed for 130K miles either. So whatever Ford has been doing with these boxes has been going in the right direction. We picked up this 2003 a few years ago from a good friend and since we've been driving it more I've started to tackle the little issues it has. My wife loves driving the truck so I want to get the steering box/pump problem sorted out while it's getting new springs, etc on the front in a few weeks...

 

I clicked the link above for the adapter bushing and it is completely different than what I currently have in my possession. I ordered the one above this morning. Once I get it, I will see if it fits the 05-08 pitman arm and report back with my results. Take a look at the RedHead 2768U. That's the beast that I plan to use if we get this tie rod issue straightened out.

 

That box is certainly larger than the 2003. From what I've read the 2011-16 is even larger.

A guy over on PowerStroke Army website used this bushing from Sky's Offroad. https://www.skysoffroaddesign.com/pr...d-tie-rod-ends Simply drill the hole in the arm larger and press this in. No need to taper ream it to use the other bushing.

I'm ordering one today as well. At that point I should have the pitman arm situation figured out and I can start ordering the other pieces needed.

 

Pitman arms are the same from 05-16, at least for aftermarket part numbers.
Pitman arm tapers are the same angle. but different diameters. The newer arms are also thicker and shorter than the 99-04.
05-16 taper is:
0.81 Large OD
0.72 small OD

99-04 taper is:
0.71 large OD
0.62 small OD

 

Thanks for posting that. It'll come in handy

 

I currently have the Sky bushing. This is the one I didn't think would work. It makes more sense now. So with the Sky bushing, you just bore out the 05+ pitman arm and press it in place?

 

I’ve got the complete off-road bushing , 05-07 Box and pitman arm. Just haven’t had a chance to mess with it yet. I might have some time this weekend to see if it all fits.

 

Yes, that's correct. From what I can see from looking at it on their website

 

The Sky bushing will work. The pitman arm will need to be bored for the bushing. I am assuming it will need to be welded as I would not trust just a press fit