Pittman arm adjustment

Hey guys getting close to finishing my restore and need to get the PO front end assembly figured out. Its a 73 with a heavy duty rugid ridge tie rod and drag link, skyjacker dropped pittman arm and skyjacker duel steering stablizer. As you can see the wheel hits the steering stabilizer at full turn. I'm thinking he instaled the pittman arm off center. When full turned to the right I have 3" between the wheel and leaf but with full turn to the left I'm contacting the springs/steering stabilizer. I'm thinking I need to pull the pittman arm and get it centered. Does this sound right to you guys?
Also I haven't been able to find much info on installing the steering stabilizer any advice besides getting rid of it would be appreciated. Thanks all in advance. RJ.
Well can't get pics to link from the phone right so I'll add them in a bit!! Sorry

 

The pitman arm should be indexed so it will only go on in 1 position. Also I see no pic.

 

Here ya go on the pictures. Oh and neither one of the stop screws even make contact.

 

So do I pull the drag link center the Pittman arm and wheels then adjust to length and reinstall?

 

yup id start with the box take the drag link off, center the box and adjust the link accordingly

 

Never seen a stabilizer set up like that. But, yea, like sterlclan says. Then, line the tires up as close to straight as you can. Also, make sure the pitman arm was correctly installed. Who knows what someone may have done before you got it.

 

Lots of these dropped Pittman arms came off the later YJ's and are indexed for that steering gear and setup and are not compatable with an earlier steering box..........Looks like a Manual gear box but the same applies for power.......I have had to file the blank index key out of these aftermarket dropped Pittman arms with a tri-angle shaped neddle file so that they can become indexed where you need them in a non-compatible steering gear, this is pretty common although some depending on manufacture or drop will index in................Do as mentioned above.............center your steering box left to right, usually about 3.25 turns each way...........engage the pittman arm straight back and parrallel to the frame rails. Get your tires pointed straight ahead and install your drag link to the correct length.............re adjust or check your toe in..............

 

Thanks guys for your reassurance got it fixed and hopefully working, but now on to the new problem the drag link is hitting the leaf at full turn. I had this happen a few years back and went with a Go For It brand drag link tie rod end flip kit (some drill out weld in Sleeves). Any one have a different solution than that? I liked the product and it was simple enough to do so I'm just being curious.

And here is whats going to half to happen to the steering stabilizer unless I can figure out how it actually mounts.

 

I have used the "Go for it" kit and I still think that is the best going................

 

I have the same drag link and tie rod and pitman arm. I still have at least a 1/4" between the spring and link. Your springs have a lot of arch and your shackles are pointed opposite of mine (due to your springs). I have 2.5" procomp springs

 

Angle shim to rotate the pinion down, and there-by the steering components up, just a tad. I'd go with the tie rod flip though, I think.

 

It's a 4" SkyJacker lift and I don't know the shackle brand but the lift has 0 miles on them and have only had the weight of the frame on it until about 2 months ago so I'm REALLY hopping they sag down a bit here this summer. Right now it's to big to get in and out of the garage with out lowering the windshield and I can't run a roll bar.
Like I said I like the Go Fer It product but was just curious if anyone has come up with something better in the last 2 years. On the plus side the old girl is coming along nicely I should have a "new" 40 year old here in a few months.

OleBlue how is your stabilizer mounted to the axle? is that a home made set up or did it come with the stabilizer?

Here's a like to a few hundred pictures of the last 2 years of the rebuild if anyone is interested. Well hopefully it'll link up anyway.

http://s1011.beta.photobucket.com/user/rjgolembiewski/library/73 Ground up rebuild

 

You mean like a shim between the perch and leafs? With over/about 6" of lift wouldn't that make my drive line angles even worse than there already are??? Just asking/thinking out loud??????? I can rebuild the motor no problem but drive line angles, caster, etc gets me a bit confused lol.

 

Yes it would make those angles worse. Some here have used them, made them but, with shorter or no lift. Very slight, like 1.5* or something. A search will turn up the info I suppose. You are correct though and, I would opt for the flip kit.

 

My stabilizer mounts to a bracket on the tie rod attached with 2 ubolts. My brackets are from the 70's, but they are exactly the same as these:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000HPYNNS

 

The steering geometry takes precedence over the pinion angle. You need proper caster angle for the Jeep to track right. Some try to measure the caster themselves; I would take the Jeep to a tire shop and get an alignment. Tell them you understand they can only set the toe-in and center the steering, and that you want the full printout from the alignment machine. This will tell you the caster angle. Then add shims to get 5-7 degrees of caster. Just accept what this does to your pinion angle - you can't fix it without removing the knuckles from the axle and rotating them.

Also, that is a very .... umm, unusual steering stabilizer. Why do you think you need something so elaborate? If the suspension geometry is correct and all the pieces are in good shape, you may be able to do without a stabilizer entirely.

 

x2

 

The stabilizer came with the frame purchase. So I figured why not use it. The guy was dumping everything he had been working on for 7 years so I gratefully took it ALL off his hands. As far as alignment that's the exact route I was plannjng on going.

 

could someone post a link for the go for it draglink that flips the link arms, thanks kirk

 

http://www.goferitoffroad.com/products.htm