OEM 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 Van Pitman Arm

2002 Dodge Ram 1500 Van Pitman Arm Parts and Q&A

• Q: How to service and repair the Pitman Arm on 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 Van?

  A: Before anything else, hold up the car, extract the cotter pins and retaining nuts from the tie-rod end, idler arm and pitman arm, then remove the Pitman Arm. Unbolt the outer tie-rod end from the steering knuckle arm, take out the inner tie-rod end from the center link and finally detach the idler arm from the center link. Reach out to your arms and take out the bolts securing the idlers to the frame brackets. Disconnect both ball studs from the pitman arm and center link and loosen and remove the nut on the pitman arm from the steering gear before you pull it out by using Removal C-4150A. When installing, first place the idler arms in position and fasten them using the nuts and bolts, tightening the nuts to 155 Nm (115 ft. lbs.). Attach the center link to the idler arm ball studs, hold it together by tightening the ball stud nuts to 64 Nm (47 ft. lbs.) and use new cotter pins. Fasten the ball stud nuts on the tie-rod end ball studs after setting them on the steering knuckle arms and center link, using 75 Nm (55 ft. lbs.) for LD 9/16 nuts and 102 Nm (75 ft. lbs.) for HD 5/8 nuts and finish with new cotter pins. Adjust the pitman arm on the steering gear and use an impact spin the retaining nut until it reaches 251 Nm (185 ft. lbs.). Link the drag link to both the pitman arm and the center link, then tighten the nuts to 75 Nm (55 ft. lbs.) and put on new cotter pins. To finish, get rid of the braces and bring the car down, after which you change the wheel toe angle.