What's going on here? Our shop has had four 1999-2000 Super Duty trucks in for replacement of pitman shafts this year. They all broke when the truck either hit a curb, pothole, or ditch. In my 18 years of running a shop I have never seen this kind of problem on any vehicle. I don't see how they can call them Super Dutys.

When we ordered replacement shafts, they were a little larger in diameter; 1 3/8" vs the old 1 5/16." Also they have the same part number as the F150's. Why would Ford use the same pitman shaft for a Super Duty having a GVWR of 10,000 to 19,000 pounds as the light duty F150?

 

What's a Pitman shaft?

 

Yeah, I'll bite. You must be referring about something other than the Pitman Arm.

Are you talking about the "shaft" that connects the arm to the drag link?

Are you talking about the shaft that comes out of the steering gear?

 

The pitman shaft is the output shaft from the steering gear to which the pitman arm is attached. It is also called a sector shaft. When it breaks you have absolutely no steering control, and if you rotate the steering wheel too far the clockspring for the airbag will break, disabling the airbag just when you may need it. (The SD's with GVWR of 8,800 to 10,000 lbs. have airbags)

 

>When we ordered replacement shafts, they were a little
>larger in diameter; 1 3/8" vs the old 1 5/16." Also they
>have the same part number as the F150's. Why would Ford use
>the same pitman shaft for a Super Duty having a GVWR of
>10,000 to 19,000 pounds as the light duty F150?

I personaly have not heard of this problem, My question is,if the replacemnent shaft is a larger diameter, does that also mean that the pitman arm needs to be repalced?

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 06-May-02 AT 08:36 AM (EST)]It sounds to me like the NTSB should be notified!
Because of a safety ITEM!

Any idea on what kind of mileage on these vehicles ?

And what they were doing when it broke?

Were these trucks modified in anyway (lifted or snowplowing)
Large tires ,extremely heavey loads ,campers or slide ins
Just curious!

Keep us informed!

Were you saying that the steering box is the same as a f150
That can't be right!
That doesn't make any sense at all.


Rich




Ford Trucks Built Tough!
not with rocks
Watch out "X" Mayor of Truckville

 

A few answers.

There is a new pitman arm to be used with the larger sector shaft. It has a slightly larger hole and the splines are a little different. The trucks we have repaired are nothing unusual. They are used in normal truck hauling work for small businesses, not lifted, or snowplow equipped; 38,000 to 84,000 miles. Mostly on paved roads, but occasionally off road to deliver to construction sites. Two were 4x2, and two were 4x4.

The original (smaller) sector shaft is the same as the F150, not the steering gear(box). Also, the NHTSA does have a safety investigation on sector shafts on these SD's. It was opened in March 2001.

 

I recently ordered a lift kit for my truck. The salesman asked if my truck was built before or after March 1999. He said they changed pitman arms then. Might have something to do with this.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 06-May-02 AT 04:55 PM (EST)]>A few answers.
>
>There is a new pitman arm to be used with the larger sector
>shaft. It has a slightly larger hole and the splines are a
>little different. The trucks we have repaired are nothing
>unusual. They are used in normal truck hauling work for
>small businesses, not lifted, or snowplow equipped; 38,000
>to 84,000 miles. Mostly on paved roads, but occasionally
>off road to deliver to construction sites. Two were 4x2,
>and two were 4x4.
>
>The original (smaller) sector shaft is the same as the F150,
>not the steering gear(box). Also, the NHTSA does have a
>safety investigation on sector shafts on these SD's. It was
>opened in March 2001.

Ntsb What was I thinking DUH! DUH!
Alright it was early I hadn't even had My coffee yet!

Autotech thanks for the info,but thanks for not bustin on me about the NHTSA
':+'
'')

Rich

Ford Trucks Built Tough!
not with rocks
Watch out "X" Mayor of Truckville

 

Excellent info autotech. What's the poop on the '01+ models?

 

Here's a few things we found out. The steering gear was changed in March 1999 for the F250/350 4x4's. It had the larger pitman shaft and longer pitman arm (188mm). Then in March 2000 the steering gear was changed for the F250/350 4x2's and all F450/550's; it had the larger pitman shaft but the pitman arm lengths were unchanged.

In November 2001, the pitman arm for the F250/350 4x4's was shortened back to the same length as the beginning of the 1999 model year (165mm). I haven't heard of any further changes for the 4x2's and the F450/550's.

Wow, what's next? Looks like the pitman shaft is undersized for the 1999-2001 SD's. By Ford's change in Nov., it looks as though even the larger shaft was not sufficient. There is something wrong when the pitman shaft of a F150 and F550 are the same.

 

What do the insurance companies do when they see these shafts breaking? Don't they fight Ford about it? Seems like that if a part like if pitman shafts breaks just by running into potholes or ditches insurance companies would try to get something out of Ford. Especially since they have beefed them up and shortened the pitman arms on the later models.

 

On the ones we've had in our shop the insurance companies just paid for the repairs. I think one did send a letter to Ford. When Ford told them to take a hike, they just dropped it and paid. None of the repairs we have done have exceeded a couple thousand. Insurance companies are not going to fight Ford for that amount. Now if someone gets seriously injured or killed, then maybe things will change.

In the meantime, watch those potholes.

 

Autotech or anyone;

What's the status of the NHTSA investigation? Its almost two years old. I saw about 35 reports of broken pitman or sector shafts in the NHTSA data file, but only that the investigation is still open.

 

>Autotech or anyone;
>
>What's the status of the NHTSA investigation? Its almost
>two years old. I saw about 35 reports of broken pitman or
>sector shafts in the NHTSA data file, but only that the
>investigation is still open.

I believe you can send them an email inquiring about their investigations
Rich