Short pitman arms, who's got one?

[theHIGHLANDER]

I'm very pleased that Mrs Highlander wants to drive the PU now and then when it's done. Major step up from a woman who's refused to drive a stick shift ANYTHING for the 23yrs we've been together. Do the short arms make the steering much easier? I noticed her working the wheel pretty hard moving it around the yard, so that's why I ask. Thanks in advance.

[Peter J]

I've got one and like it. Can't really tell as I rebuilt my steering at the same time. Seems a little quicker but turning radius is somewhat less.
Pete

[msmaron]

had one got rid of it...no big deal@

[gweilbaker]

Is she trying to turn the wheel while the car is still? The steering becomes much easier with the slightest movement of the car. My sweet thang had the same issue.

GW

[Barry B./ Ma.]

Have them on both Model A's and like them. steering seems 20% easier and same turning radius. Wheels go to stops like before.

[Jim Brierley]

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They help a lot. Late (?) AA's came with a short pitman arm, really too short for most passenger use. I have one on my speedster and it reduces the turning radius a bit.

[asapguy]

I have them on two of my Model A's & they do steer much easier.

[Dick Deegan]

I have one and like it.

[quickchange]

Best deal is the F100 box for lady drivers , its elagant, smooth, & fits right in , Try the editor of FAST mag , Ron sells them, these are the rebuilt orig ones not the repo ones .Pos Mel Gross ones, We like ours , also have a short A one fitted on couple of vehicles & yes much better, less direct, Ford did it in 32 so must be good.Derek from a nippy autum day. in NZ

[Jim Johnston]

A short Pitman Arm and High Compression Head are the two best things I did to My 'A'. The 3:54 rear end is a close third!

[walt jones]

I put a shortend piman arm on my 29 Todor. To me it seemed to really make steering the car much easyer. I have noticed no issues with the turning radius.

[theHIGHLANDER]

Well, I'll have to try it. I can drive anything, but if it means less effort she should enjoy it that much more. This is all new for her and I'm likin it. Thanks for the info.

[columbiA]

Ive shortened the pitman arm as well as needle brgs & needle thrust brg on sector hsg & teflon ball seats & my coupe steers easier than my late model Camry.No need for F-100 steering.

[RHD]

I wouldn't touch a shortened Pitman with a fourty foot pole.

[eagle]

I got my shortened arm from Mac's. Its on my Fordor sedan. No sacrifice of turning radius and it definitely makes the steering much easier. I can see no down side, why would everyone not want one? Some have mentioned turning radius issues, there must be differences with different cars. I actually checked mine because I was worried it would change, it did not. Definitely worth the few bucks and 15 minutes time to install it.

[LukeDahlinger]

A properly restored steering box and related front end components will eliminate the need for shortened pitman arms, F-100 steering boxes etc.

Drive a Model A with a correctly restored steering system- it might surprise you at how easy one steers.

[JBill]

I've got a shortened pitman arm, and, like Walt above, think it makes steering slightly easier and have noticed no turning radius issues. I can even turn the wheels easily when the car is standing still on the garage floor. I've also got the teflon seats, though I doubt they make much difference. The shortened pitman arm, purely from a physics standpoint, just seems to provide better leverage.

[Ken B]

I have them on my cars. They are pretty cheap from the suppliers and make a difference.

[Richard Wilson]

Originally Posted by RHD

I wouldn't touch a shortened Pitman with a fourty foot pole.

I bought a Model A with a shortened pitman arm already installed several years ago. The arm broke. Luckily we were only going about ten miles an hour and did not wreck and get killed. We had just exited a six lane highway filled with tractor trailers driving 60 mph. Can't imagine what would have happened if it had broken at speed. I have posted pictures of the broken arm here before.

If going with a shortened arm either know it's history as to who welded it back together and their skill level or buy one of the new forged short arms that the venders are selling.

I did like the shortened arm right up to the point that it broke.

[pat in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by Richard Wilson

I bought a Model A with a shortened pitman arm already installed several years ago. The arm broke. .

the ones sold by the vendors now are forged in one piece. Originally, they were made by cutting an old one and welding it. That was a very bad idea unless welded by a certified welder. There were a lot that were not. There are many horror stories from those days. Be sure what you are buying is a one piece, forged arm.

I installed new spindle balls ( a commonly worn and neglected part), teflon seats and a shortened arm. It steers very nice. I see no need for an F-100 box. It steers almost as easily, but without the boat like effect I seem to have seen in most F100 boxes.

Henry shortened the pittman arm in 32. He must have been on to something.

[john in illinois]

I have the one piece forged short arm now offered and like it.

John

[Jim Brierley]

If the front end of your A has been lowered, a shortened arm will bring the drag link back to the horizontal position, so the action is direct again, like when new, thus easing the steering effort.

[Purdy Swoft]

I use the shortened 1&1/2 inch pitman arms on my model A's. The shortened arm steers like power steering when the car is moveing, if everything else about the front end and steering is in good cond. and set up properly. The steering radius is reduced on cars with seven tooth steering but not enough to be of concern to me. The short arm will add a very small amount of slack or play to the steering at the center with the wheels pointing straight ahead but not enough to be a problem if the steering is properly rebuilt and adjusted. There is usually some trade off with most improvements.

[Chris in WNC]

I like the way my Model As drive with shortened arms!

breaking is a problem with arms that were shortened by incompetent welders.

Wiley Higgins makes one that is welded correctly, I have driven tens of thousands of miles with his shortened arms and trust them completely.

Snyders now sells an excellent arm that is made to the shorter length, removing all uncertainty about who may have welded it.

[Purdy Swoft]

I also use the Wiley Higgins shortened pitman arms and reballed steering arms. Wiley does such a wonderful job, you can't see where they were welded and they look like they came from the factory.

[theHIGHLANDER]

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Well thanks again for the additional input. The fact is that I'm big enough to drive and steer anything. Mrs Highlander is not. If it makes it easier to steer even just a little bit, she's worth it. I guess it's a big deal to me that she finally wants to drive one of the old cars in our lives. The easier the better...

[PeterJH]

Today installed Bratton's shorter pitman arm on my '28 coupe thanks to the suggestions read on members' posts. I detect little change if any, except that steering is VERY noticeably easier. Thanks

[wensum]

So that's it!
I spent a day last weekend trying to get my steering to go full lock both ways but couldn't get full lock on the left turn no matter what I did.
Now I understand that the shortened pitman arm is to blame.
As usual someone comes up with an answer on Ford Barn
Thanks
Keith

[Purdy Swoft]

My 30-31 model A's with 2 tooth steering will steer lock to lock with the 1&1/2 unch shortened pitman arm and steering redius is not changed. My sept 29 with 7 tooth steering will not steer lock to lock with the shortened arm and steering radius is reduced. The seven tooth steering column still steers easy when moving with the short arm. I don't consider the change in steering radius to be a problem.

[Brian T]

Hello Keith,
The answer to the problem is an adjustable drag link, it seems to be a problem with the 7 tooth steering box, there is a physical angle change of the drag link as it is raised upward to connect to the shortened arm.
It will come up short on a left turn and to far on a right, it fact the sector shaft will bottom out in the steering box housing before the left spindle hits the stop.
I have a spare drag link I am making adjustable, it needs to have left and right threads cut and a sleeve installed that I got from a parts store, another way to make one is to find a tie rod and use the existing left hand thread, find 2 tie rod ends, measure up the length to match the drag link cut the right hand threads and away you go.
Regards Brian.

[tbirdtbird]

"A properly restored steering box and related front end components will eliminate the need for shortened pitman arms, F-100 steering boxes etc. "

Not for a woman.

I don't know Wiley, but I too would be wary of one that has been welded. It is gonna require low-hydrogen rod or wire and someone who really knows their craft, such as a gas line welder or nuclear power plant welder. I guarantee any that broke were welded with regular 70,000# wire.

Snyders has 'em for $35: one piece ....forged, one piece, 4130 alloy....you can't go wrong, and they work great

Oh, and around here an F100 box machined up to fit an A (if you can find one) will run you 750 bucks. I'll be happy with my shorter arm for 35 bucks.

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by Brian T

...The answer to the problem is an adjustable drag link, it seems to be a problem with the 7 tooth steering box, there is a physical angle change of the drag link as it is raised upward to connect to the shortened arm.
It will come up short on a left turn and to far on a right, it fact the sector shaft will bottom out in the steering box housing before the left spindle hits the stop...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FORD-MODEL-A...80#ht_63wt_922

[Growley bear]

I have a forged one piece pitman arm and like it.

Chet

[denis4x4]

20 years ago, I picked up a pitman arm that had been heated and reconfigured resulting in a unit that was about 2+" shorter than a stocker. Finally got around to installing it on my '29 CCPU yesterday. I've used this same arm with a stock A box and currently using it on an F100 box. What a joy to drive! No issues on turning lock to lock.

[bettlesr]

I have a shortened arm on mine. I had to use an adjustable drag link to center the box with the wheels straight ahead. I really helped to lighten the steering.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by bettlesr

I have a shortened arm on mine. I had to use an adjustable drag link to center the box with the wheels straight ahead. I really helped to lighten the steering.

It's too bad the shorter arms aren't made with the square turned a little, to keep the steering box centered with the wheels straight ahead.

[C26Pinelake]

I have them on five of my Model A's and they make a big difference. For the price you can't go wrong. I bought mine fro A and L. Wayne

[Growley bear]

The shortened arm works very well for me. I think that it should be used in conjunction with a properly functioning and adjusted gear box and all linkage.

Chet

[wensum]

Thanks Brian T. I purchased an adjustable drag link from "Machine Girl" and it arrived in New Zealand in very short time.
It appears to be an excellent product and I'm sure that when I fit it, I will be able to get full lock on both sides
Cheers,
Keith