Yea extremely important thing to keep an eye on I found out tonight! Heard some popping when coming to a stop and never thought much of it. Pulled out of a convenience store and lost ALL STEERING! About shot me into a telephone pole and was lucky to get it backed into a hopefully safe parking lot until I can replace the snapped ball joint coming off the pitman arm. God I’m so glad I wasn’t going down the highway when that thing decided to finally let loose!!! This was on a 2005 Duramax with a 4” lift and 35” tires that I just bought a few months ago. How there isn’t some kind of safety to prevent loss of steering is beyond me. But then again I should have been checking into the popping noise a lot sooner! Be careful out there folks!

Tackling this on my 04 2500 this weekend. Idler and pitman, not looking forward to it. I'm sure a few choice words will be said during the job. But it's always a good feeling doing it yourself and saving a ton of 💵💵

@joshmyles479

2 жыл бұрын

Doing this myself along w both control arms ,red head steering gear box and upper ball joints , I know I’ll make up some words …

@letsfixthis84

Жыл бұрын

Helpful hint. Use an angle grinder and cut the old one off the shaft. Cut it about 3/4 through then use a chisel to split it. I do these in about 15 minutes now.

Helped alot. My pitman arm has 5x that amount of play. I was about to sink 300 bucks of unnecessary money (i dont have) into it. Just going to replace my pitman arm and idler assemble.

Really good video. I was just trying to confirm my pitman arm is bad cause I saw it moving a lot... and this helped me verify. Also liked how you showed the tie rod with the bad boot but there was no play so it’s good, that’s awesome.

Didn't even know about pitman arms until 15 minutes ago. Thanks for really explaining how you know they're bad.

I thought it was a worn steering shaft or bad gearbox until I got it lifted on jackstands Need new tie rods, pitman and idler arms

Unfortunately I just found out my idler and pitman arms are shot. Thanks a lot!

Mine has way more play than what’s shown in the video! Ordered the AC Delco profesional pitman and idler arm, ready to go for a Saturday DIY and a 6 pack 😎

I had the opposite problem, was loose on the bottom of the steering box but the nut feels tight by hand.

@aDIYCarGuy

Жыл бұрын

sounds like the splines are worn, hopefully a new arm tightens/ed it up

Good video showing how its bad

good ole shake test. it's saved me a couple of times

What symptoms would occur with bad idler/pitman arms?

@jurpo6

2 жыл бұрын

Vague steering and a large dead spot in turning the wheel. Really bad ones can make a pop noise or even separate like a ball joint.

On a 2004 Chevy avalanche can you just take the pitman arm off without having to take the idle arm off

In addition I see some movement at the steering gear shaft. Is some play there normal?

Did you happen to get any clunking from the play in the idler? My Tahoe has a front end clunk when the suspension loads and unloads, like coming to stop, and sometimes when reversing and turning. I've replaced the ISS and bushing under the dash. I just installed new inner/outer tie rods. I check all the ball joints, hub bearing, ect and had the alignment shop check them as well and they all checked out. While changing my diff and transfer case fluid yesterday I did what you showed in the video and definitely have some play/slop in the idler to center link joint. So, i'm about to order the idler bracket/arm and pitman arm to finish the steering system overhaul on the truck. My truck has just a fuzz under 150k and still on the OE parts, other than the new tie rods I just installed.

@lezlethal

4 жыл бұрын

Just hit 150,000 on my 2004 avalanche and changed out the sway bar links, drive side hub and drive shaft. Inner and outer Tie rods. I think i'm going to change the idler and pitman arm. I also plan on replacing the Steering Shaft Coupler to get rid of the play in the steering wheel.

@GodEnergy888

4 жыл бұрын

Yuh ever find the problem?

@GeekyDad84

4 жыл бұрын

@@GodEnergy888 It was my was the body mount, where the radiator core support attaches to the frame. My passenger side mount was popping when the frame would flex. Literally just fixed it a week or 2 ago.

@GodEnergy888

4 жыл бұрын

@@GeekyDad84 Thanks Bro!

@matthewmccain3601

3 жыл бұрын

Having the same problem that you sounded like you had. The shop said the idlers arms need replacing, but I dont want to just replace then, then pay 200$ more for the alignment, just to have to change another arm or something more major and have to realigne in 6 months. Did you guys do your own repair? Is it a challenging task?

Good day mate and thanks for the informative video

besides the idler arms , should i change the links to? idler links? my van is too old from 99 ... what do you think? The idler arms look like a horror show but the idler links I have no idea.

@aDIYCarGuy

6 жыл бұрын

doesn't hurt to change them. you don't have to if they're not loose and the boots are still intact

Or it could also be the center link bushing . That’s wat happened on my Chevy

is it safe to drive a car with these kinda things? My RX-7 makes a death wobble and sound and i think it's the idle arm, don't have another car to drive

@golfmanmatt

3 жыл бұрын

Not really, I'm pretty sure your RX has a rack and pinion which is a different system

@ef5supercell

3 жыл бұрын

@@golfmanmatt I sold it :v it was a simple repair but didn't have the money loll, it drove fine without it tho ^^

I thought the car fell on him 😂

Thanks for the video

This helped big time

Thank you

thanks

Thats a 4x4?

@aDIYCarGuy

4 жыл бұрын

it is

Thanx!

Thank you. this asshole did my pitman and left idler arm and it's been making a knocking noise ever since now is on both side I believe. I changed the entire front suspension to fix the problem and now I realize he did it. Well I knew he did cuz was fine when I took it to him then after getting it back I heard the knocking. Thought it might be the U joint to the axle and also noticed the front shaft going into the transfer case rocks loose in there so that's ffn great too. Anyways thanks I think this might be the problem.

Dude, is that a fwd Chevy van, didn’t even know they existed

@aDIYCarGuy

5 жыл бұрын

It's a true 4x4 system installed by a company called Quigley. They did have a AWD version from the factory for certain years I believe also.

replace all suspension parts its all worn out

Want it also be worn steering rack

@aDIYCarGuy

6 жыл бұрын

could be but not this time

Yo this is all great but I need to get the damn thing out

@aDIYCarGuy

2 жыл бұрын

check my other videos kzread.info/dash/bejne/haNo06STdq6WoKg.html

@paytoncesare492

2 жыл бұрын

pitman arm puller at your auto parts store. Most will lease out front end tool kits which include this puller. Or you could buy the puller for like 25$ at advance auto, etc. and keep it and the packaging clean and just return it after you're done. You may need a different size one or a pry bar to get the idler arm off as some idler arms are a slightly different size or dimensions then the pitman arm. I took my pitman arm off with the puller but its too small for the idler arm so I am using a pickle fork to try and pry it off. Also PB blaster or WD40 helps loosen up rusted bolts and pins etc.

What year Chevy?

@aDIYCarGuy

6 жыл бұрын

04

Not so bad ..Mine tierods dancing and the alignment shop did the alignment ....well now I know! Lol

@aDIYCarGuy

6 жыл бұрын

they should have had you to fix it first lol

@rocklobster675

6 жыл бұрын

Now I do all the work in my van and other cars and is perfect without paying money for nothing . If someone does not know mechanic work? all the mechanics are going to fuck you big time with sloppy work and shit parts . I hate doing mechanic work because of my time and I don't like it doing that , but I have no other option .I,m so sick from those idiots mechanics and money in the trash i used to pay

@rocklobster675

6 жыл бұрын

Transmission removal and rear main seal told me $800 . I did that in 2 hours myself! Mechanics here in Massachusetts are crazy .

So anyone feel like helping with a 97 f150 changeing the tierods,struts,balljoints,pitmanarm,and realigning the whole front end tomorrow lol

@jimmymoon6036

5 жыл бұрын

No

Thank you! John 3:16 For God so loved the word that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him Shall not perish but have everlasting life.

Can’t just tighten it up?

@aDIYCarGuy

5 жыл бұрын

No the internal ball joint is worn.

@larrydon6686

5 жыл бұрын

Nope