Thread: pitman arm play

hi all hope everyone had a safe and merry xmas.
hope someone can help I separated the pitman arm joint to check it and put a new boot on what should I look for in terms of wear? the joint has pressure on it and is not clunking around seems to be grease in it any feed back appreciated cheers and happy new year

You really need to check it with the joint connected - wiggle the steering back and forth while someone fells the joint for signs of movement (there should be none). But from your description it is serviceable. These joints have the ball sandwiched between two sockets (one of which the tapered shaft goes through) held together by a heavy spring that takes up wear. Play only develops after the two sockets touch so the spring cannot push them closer together, and until then the joint is serviceable and free of play. Usually this only occurs with a damaged boot allowing water and grit in, so if there is clean grease in it, it will almost certainly be OK.

John