I keep hearing people refer to a bad pitman arm. Mine is fine but, how does a pitman arm "go bad"? Is it not just a solid chunk of metal?

 

Fractures from being to hard

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So you would physically see a crack?

 

If you can't Have it magnafluxed

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No Im asking how you would know its bad, visual inspection?

 

The splines where it mounts to the steering box shaft could strip out.

 

Ahh makes sense.

 

I started in the auto repair business in the 70's. This was pre-rack and pinion steering days. I've replaced probably 50 steering boxes due to accident damage (twisted splines on the box sector shaft). I've NEVER seen a pitman arm stripped or bent or fractured. When you hear the term "bad pitman arm" 99.99% of the people using the term MEAN TO SAY twisted splines on the sector shaft. This is a common condition when one of the front wheel/tire combos has been struck forcefully by another vehicle or a fixed object. This causes the splines on the shaft coming out of the steering box to twist, in effect preloading the steering in that direction. Twisted shaft splines ALWAYS exhibit themselves by causing the vehicle steering to turn farther in one direction than the other. The steering box shaft is purposely made of softer materials than the pitman arm. If it was the opposite way you would have a chance of the pitman arm breaking in two resulting in a total loss of steering, even in a minor accident. I've seen one sector shaft sheared off of the steering box in 35 years. The pitman arm looked perfect. A concern about a pitman arm going bad is a non-issue. If your vehicle has a pitman arm design with a ball joint on one end. then yes, it can go ''bad'', these are not too common....

 

Thanks tinman, your insight is always helpful

 

Usually when a pitman arm goes bad it can be traced back to their childhood. I would ask around and see if it was abused by its parents.