To be fair, I sheared a pitman arm with no braces. Stock steering with larger tires. Now I'm becoming concerned that there is no real fix 
Sheared pitman arm
- Thread starter TeaBagger2006
- Start date
I have a question.
They make a 3 groove and a 4 groove pitman arm. How do you know which one you have, with out taking it all apart first?
Like, when I go to NAPA and ask for one, their computer shows both for my truck.
Grrrr, I'm not going to take it apart and then back together to go get said part.
They make a 3 groove and a 4 groove pitman arm. How do you know which one you have, with out taking it all apart first?
Like, when I go to NAPA and ask for one, their computer shows both for my truck.
Grrrr, I'm not going to take it apart and then back together to go get said part.
Tire size has a lot to do with it. I know my 305/70/16's turn much harder than a stock tire. In a parking lot it's a bitch to turn. I believe have the t bars cranked could also had more stress.
Went through one OEM, then one O'Reilly part every 10-15k miles until I got tired of it (6 times changing it), then back to stock again. Latest OEM part only has about 10k on it so far, but the first one held for over 100k, so I am holding out hope.
And yes, large tires are killer on these front ends. But I can't give up the traction, so I just deal with the front end issues.
I think it would be interesting to see, and notable to mention...
1) how far in the T-Bar bolts were threaded at the time these pitman arms failed?
2) what were the circumstances?
4x4 boosted launch
Did failure occur while turning
What tire size was on the truck at the time
Lifted? Lowered? Stock?
Year of the truck...
3) power level?
4) how much towing does the vehicle do?
1) how far in the T-Bar bolts were threaded at the time these pitman arms failed?
2) what were the circumstances?
4x4 boosted launch
Did failure occur while turning
What tire size was on the truck at the time
Lifted? Lowered? Stock?
Year of the truck...
3) power level?
4) how much towing does the vehicle do?
In my case the t-bars are set about 1" up from stock, so not completely leveled. Just enough to clear my 315s without too much bumper trimming.
In every case, the arms broke while stationary in a parking lot turning the wheel. The argument has been made that you should always be moving to turn the wheel, but I disagree. Especially in a truck this big, it should be possible to go lock to lock without moving. Parking lots are hard enough as is. Plus, I drive my 82 the same way, and it has never broken.
No 4x4 launches on the broken arms. A few on the latest OEM one. I do tow periodically, bit probably only 10% of the time.
In every case, the arms broke while stationary in a parking lot turning the wheel. The argument has been made that you should always be moving to turn the wheel, but I disagree. Especially in a truck this big, it should be possible to go lock to lock without moving. Parking lots are hard enough as is. Plus, I drive my 82 the same way, and it has never broken.
No 4x4 launches on the broken arms. A few on the latest OEM one. I do tow periodically, bit probably only 10% of the time.
Haven't sheared mine off I've broke the idler bracket off the frame and snapped the pitman brace but never the pitman arm lol
I am a little stumped here. There's this many people shearing off there idler arms, and some how I have managed to never do this. All the plow trucks i have for my business, 800-1100lb plows ect and zero issues.
I've never had the cognito steering kits personally, but I've seen lots of my friends have issues with them, mainly breaking while sled pulling. Definitely seems to be a fairly common path here. Wonder if it happens to be more installer error? Or just plain bad luck.
I've never had the cognito steering kits personally, but I've seen lots of my friends have issues with them, mainly breaking while sled pulling. Definitely seems to be a fairly common path here. Wonder if it happens to be more installer error? Or just plain bad luck.
seems too common to be installer or bad luck imo. I actually have a set laying in my garage that I won't install because of all the complaints I found when searching about them. I went a different route to secure my front end under launches.
I'm willing to bet 9 times out of 10 these sheared arms with cognito braces are on trucks with tires larger then stock.
I would blame tires or driver error(steering while stationary) not the arm or the braces.
I would blame tires or driver error(steering while stationary) not the arm or the braces.
never sheared an arm in both GM or Moog but i also run a kit you no longer can get....
Exaxt?