What is a Pitman arm? What does the Pitman Arm do? What are the symptoms of a Pitman arm malfunction ?
What is Pitman Arm? What does it do?
Every vehicle is equipped with a complicated steering system, which consists of several components that work together to turn its front wheels. The pitman arm connects the sector and direction gears in parallelogram steering systems. It is not the rack and pinion assembly that is used for conventional type suspension systems. This mechanism is typically found in light commercial vehicles, as well older rear-wheel drive vehicles.
Through the steering column, the driver transfers the rotational movement of the steering wheel to the sector drive when he turns the wheel. The pitman arm is attached to the shaft of the sector drive and converts the angular motion to linear motion to allow the driver to steer the wheels.
As with almost all components of an automobile, the pitman arms can eventually fail or become damaged. If the pitman arm starts to malfunction, you may see one or more symptoms.
What are the symptoms of Pitman Arm Failure?
Some pitman arms are non-moving so they don’t wear out. They need to be replaced in the event of impact damage or damage to the taper bore. Some have a movable joint. The pitman’s arm may fail if the ball breaks down.
Many steering system malfunctions can cause the same symptoms as pitman arm malfunctions. It is imperative that you inspect your vehicle thoroughly before performing any repairs. You will notice the most obvious signs of a pitman arm malfunctioning:
- Loose steering or inability to respond is the first sign of a defective pitman arm. There is usually a noticeable play in your steering wheel if the pitman’s arm has a damaged tapered bore.
- A pitman arm that is not working properly can cause the vehicle to hover in traffic. The steering wheel will need to be aligned more often than usual. When driving over bumps, it is possible to hear a crash and feel your vehicle pull to one side.
- – A pitman arm that is not working properly can make rattling sound when you turn your steering wheel. This is a rare but common problem.
The pitman arm can fail completely and you lose control over the steering. It is imperative that the pitman arm be replaced before this happens. You should immediately stop driving the vehicle if you see any of these symptoms.
Every oil change should include lubrication of the pitman arm. Regular inspections of the wheel alignments and suspension components should be done.
