PITMAN ARM AWARENESS !

[Darcy]

Just sharing a little experience I had the other day that took me by surprize



-couple months ago when we all went to indiana Derek experience a pitman arm failure , which pretty much leaves you without steering or control of your vehicle so in other words excellent time for one to fail offroading and not at high speeds . !!!



- couple days ago I was on the highway and felt a jerk in my steering wheel doing 100kph when i got off a ramp my pitman arm failed so i let the truck coast to a stop thinking if i slammed my brakes it would jar the wheels left or right !!



-In both occasions the trucks are very well maintained and looked after and inspected periodicly I find it odd the pitman arm actually does snap or shear rigth off at the centre link.

- Been doing some research and found cognito makes a pitman arm brace for the gm pickup's migth try to fabricate one up to try

-another way to possibly prevent this from happening would be the rockram steering kit pretty much releives all stress from the box and pitman arm



-If anyone else has experience this issue pls speak up

-I encourage anyone who feels their steering may be a bit sloppy , pulling excessively , or your steering wheel being noticeably out of whack after a good run to please make sure all steering and suspension components are ok before hitting highway to go home

-Just a little F.Y.I for everyone

hope it helps

And a BIG THANX TO PHIL , phoned him up and he gladly came to help me out !!!!!!!!!!!! Phil is a Hummer tech out of Caledon great guy !!

take care HEAVY DE

[duncanpa]

[quote name='Heavyde' timestamp='1316563432' post='30522']

Just sharing a little experience I had the other day that took me by surprize



-couple months ago when we all went to indiana Dereck experience a pitman arm failure , which pretty much leaves you without steering or control of your vehicle so in other words excellent time for one to fail offroading and not at high speeds . !!!



- couple days ago I was on the highway and felt a jerk in my steering wheel doing 100kph when i got off a ramp my pitman arm failed so i let the truck coast to a stop thinking if i slammed my brakes it would jar the wheels left or rigth !!



-In both occasions the trucks are very well maintained and looked after and inspected periodicly I find it odd the pitman arm actually does snap or shear rigth off at the centre link.

- Been doing some research and found cognito makes a pitman arm brace for the gm pickup's migth try to fabricate one up to try

-another way to possibly prevent this from happening would be the rockram steering kit pretty much releives all stress from the box and pitman arm



-If anyone else has experience this issue pls speak up

-I encourage anyone who feels their steering may be a bit sloppy , pulling excessively , or your steering wheel being noticeably out of wack after a good run to please make sure all steering and suspension components are ok before hitting highway to go home

-Just a little F.Y.I for everyone

hope it helps

And a BIG THANX TO PHIL , phoned him up and he gladly came to help me out !!!!!!!!!!!! Phil is a Hummer tech out of Caledon great guy !!

take care HEAVY DE

[/quote]



Thanks for the heads up....hope everyone heeds the warning and is aware of the potential to avoid a BIG disaster!!!

[Roy]

Running larger tires puts a lot more stress on the pitman arm which will and does fail .Only way to relieve this extra pressure is to put a power assist cylinder into the truck.Then, you will need a steering box to frame update--4th bolt bracket and reinforcing around the steering box holes on the frame.

Off roading also does put extra stress on the steering as well.

If you have done much off road touring, you know to take tools and parts with you.It's all part of the curse. <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... ght_on.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':right_on:' /> <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... ght_on.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':right_on:' />

[dwaxman1]

Well I have busted one or two of these in my days, the latest on a rock incline at AM General in Indiana, Thanks Darcy for helping change it, I always carry a spare with me.. who knows when it might happen again... by the way.. I run stock everything but I DO off road.. so this may be the factor for mine.. as for Darcy... that was quite the scene with you changing it at the Esso... lot's of people liked to give it a look and take some photos and then with Phil there in his truck and our two trucks pulled in... well it became a bit of a photo opportunity...Anyways great team work guys...and thanks for the tip Darcy..

[whitehumh2]

The Rock Ram kit removes 90% of the strain on the steering. And Like Roy said you will need to install the frame braces and 4th bolt kit along with that.



I also run the cognito kits for idler and pitman arms on my H2 and I have installed it on 2 other H2s and they make a big difference to steering strength and keeping everything in the right position.



Kev

[T.C.]

the curse.................. <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... feSpit.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':coffeespit:' /> that's a good one Roy.....i have a Rock Ram and no issue to date !

[sentrex]

[quote name='Heavyde' timestamp='1316563432' post='30522']

Just sharing a little experience I had the other day that took me by surprize



-couple months ago when we all went to indiana Derek experience a pitman arm failure , which pretty much leaves you without steering or control of your vehicle so in other words excellent time for one to fail offroading and not at high speeds . !!!



- couple days ago I was on the highway and felt a jerk in my steering wheel doing 100kph when i got off a ramp my pitman arm failed so i let the truck coast to a stop thinking if i slammed my brakes it would jar the wheels left or right !!



-In both occasions the trucks are very well maintained and looked after and inspected periodicly I find it odd the pitman arm actually does snap or shear rigth off at the centre link.

- Been doing some research and found cognito makes a pitman arm brace for the gm pickup's migth try to fabricate one up to try

-another way to possibly prevent this from happening would be the rockram steering kit pretty much releives all stress from the box and pitman arm



-If anyone else has experience this issue pls speak up

-I encourage anyone who feels their steering may be a bit sloppy , pulling excessively , or your steering wheel being noticeably out of whack after a good run to please make sure all steering and suspension components are ok before hitting highway to go home

-Just a little F.Y.I for everyone

hope it helps

And a BIG THANX TO PHIL , phoned him up and he gladly came to help me out !!!!!!!!!!!! Phil is a Hummer tech out of Caledon great guy !!

take care HEAVY DE

[/quote]

glad to hear you are ok

[dwaxman1]

RAM Rock sounds like the way to go.. Darcy, if you install one...take photos....

[Sub]

ANY TIPS ON WHERE TO OBTAIN THIS KIT? THANKS GUYS....I DONT WANT TO BE THE NEXT ONE...ON 407

[Darcy]

agr performance dude

mines on order <img src='http://www.canadianhummerclub.com/forum ... lleyes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':rolleyes:' />