Help with Steering arm Replacement

[OUTFXD]

Yes its that time again.  The steering is starting to get loose. 3" steering wheel play coupled with Polyglass tires means Jacquiline darts all over the road.

 

I put her up on some ramps, had a friend shake the steer wheel while I was under the car.  The ball joint at the end of the arm that comes off the steering wheel is showing play. Everything else seems pretty solid.

 

My luck in finding a replacement has been zero!  

 

Anyone have a lead on a replacement?  

 

Thanks in Advance!

 

Edit : 1946 Plymouth 2door coupe

Edited February 12 by OUTFXD

[Sniper]

Probably help if you knew it was called a pitman arm. Assuming that's the one bolted to the shaft coming out of the bottom of the steering box. I don't know who you've tried yet but I would start with you know Andy Bernbaum, but am I 51 there is no ball joint on that arm. Just two holes the inner tie rod ends go into. I'm out in the field so I don't have access to my service manuals so I don't know what you got.  Digging around you got the same setup I do. Sounds like your inner tie rods are worn. Or possibly not bolted down tightly.

Edited February 13 by Sniper

[desoto1939]

Is it the pitman, or steering sector that is the pin coming out of the steering box could be worn and the bushing a internal are all worn or is ther play inthe tire rod ends or is there play in the kingpins?  Need to really have a good suspension person check out the car before you really start to rip things apart. Also could be uuper and lower control arms and bushing and also the eccentric bushings.

 

Lots of moving parts on the front suspension components. Spend the money to have a specialist evaluate the issue than spend the money to get the appropriate parts to fix the front end. I have seen owners spend money on parts after parts and it turned out to be something else.

 

Just my 50 cents work of input.

 

Rich Hartung

Desoto1939@aol.com

[OUTFXD]

30 minutes ago, Sniper said:

Assuming that's the one bolted to the shaft coming out of the bottom of the steering box.

 

Thats the one.

 

32 minutes ago, Sniper said:

I would start with you know Andy Bernbaum

I actually havent.  Not sure how I missed him but I will check  <p.s.>  I thought you didnt like Andy.

 

34 minutes ago, Sniper said:

Sounds like your inner tie rods are worn. Or possibly not bolted down tightly.

 

I got back under her and looked again,  You are right in that the pitman arm itself doesnt have a spherical joint,  It comes off the Drag link and goes THROUGH the pitman bar.  Looks like it has loosened up.  which is odd as it has a castle nut and cotter pin.

29 minutes ago, desoto1939 said:

is ther play inthe tire rod ends or is there play in the kingpins?

No play in the tie rods, there is SLIGHT movement in the pilot side king pin.  I had her inspected by a reputable shop shortly after I got her running.

 

a full replacement of all front end components at the same time is in the works, I just keeps getting pushed down the priority list and I end up replacing single bits 

[Sniper]

22 minutes ago, OUTFXD said:

I thought you didnt like Andy

Oh no I like him, I've been using him since 1988. Or at least that company I guess it has new owners now. I don't like Mopar Pro though.

[andyd]

The main things that wear on our 40's mopars are the inner & outer tie rod ends, left & right threaded on each side of the pitman arm.....the pitman arm is held onto the sector/pitman shaft via internal/external splines & a large nut, if its tight then nothing will "wear" there, apart from the tie rod ends.........the other things that wear on our mopars are the kingpins & bushes and the upper outer & lower outer pins & bushes............the inner upper & inner lower pins & bushes seem to show a lot less wear than the other parts mentioned but will show wear depending on the age & use of the car......I'd replace the tierod ends first as they are also generally the easiest to get to.........note where the thread is into the tubular tierod and compare the old tierod end to the new one, screw into the tierod the same distance and you may not need to get a wheel alignment if you are careful & accurate..........another thing that should be looked at if the steering is vague is the steering box rubber isolator between the box & frame and also on the outside of the frame between the triangular three bolted plate & the frame........the isolator is in 2 parts, an inner & an outer and uses some metal stamped steel washer like things to help locate it.......don't throw these washer things away as I don't think they are reproduced..............regards from Oz.......and I've been using Bernbaums since the mid 1980's and have always found them to be fair.............andyd  

Edited February 13 by andyd
more info.

[Dan Hiebert]

I've always had pretty good luck with Andy Bernbaum.  Other sources may be Kanter auto products and AMS Obsolete.  Kanter has everything listed online, but phone calls sometimes help, and they'll note when a phone call is really needed.  AMS (amsnos.com) often has hard to find parts, but can be expensive, especially if it's a really hard to find part.  Phone calls and patience work best with them, they get new inventory all the time that won't be on their website.     

[OUTFXD]

Ordered a Pain of Tie rod ends (One inner one outer) Should be here this week.   Turns out Tierod ends from 1996 Dodge Caravans Fit our cars.  I am using this as a holding action until I can order a proper full front end rebuild kit.