Fits:
2001-2009 GM Duramax Part # 1580200 Our Part # PPE1580200
Whether
your truck is stock height or lifted and running oversized tires,
Pitman and Idler arms have always been a problem on the steering
systems of GM vehicles. PPE's Pitman and Idler arm Support kit
fixes a wear problem that is present on the factory and aftermarket
steering system. Some aftermarket companies have come out with
heavier duty pitman and idler arms that fail the same way that
the factory parts do. This design solves the problem in an innovative
way. The problem when not using the Pitman and Idler Arm Support
kit: If you are not familiar with how the GM steering system
works, here is a quick lesson. The pitman arm is connected to
the output shaft of the steering gear box. When you turn the
steering wheel of your vehicle, the motion is directed to the
steering gear box which then rotates the pitman arm. The pitman
arm has a stud protruding from the end of it where the center
link connects, also called the drag link. To help control steering
motion, the center link is connected to an idler arm on the
passenger side of the vehicle. The idler arm is bolted to the
frame and swings in the same arc as the pitman arm, and is fastened
to the center link the same way the pitman arm is. The two mounting
points for the center link give it support in the motion left
and right relative to the vehicle, but there is not enough support
in the direction of forward to backward relative to the vehicle.
This lack of support is what causes the joints inside of the
pitman and idler arms to wear out, which provide the pivot and
connection point for the center link. The larger the tire on
the vehicle, the faster these joints wear out. Even with a beefed
up aftermarket pitman and idler arms, the still can have the
same premature wear issue in the same joint. What happens if
you are not using this kit as a solution? The front alignment
toe settings can not be held because of the slop in the pitman
and idler arms allowing the center link to move forward and
backward. No control over the toe setting means that your front
tires will experience irregular and premature wear. When the
center link swings toward the back of the truck, it is also
swinging up in an arc. The center link swinging up increases
the tie rod angle and can cause tie rod breakage. Most tie rod
problems actual originate from pitman and idler arm problems.
The support kit
can be installed on pitman and idler arms showing a lot of
wear, and actually revive them! If the worn parts have approximately
40,000 miles or less on them with a close to stock size tire,
they probably will not have to be changed. If the worn parts
have approximately 20,000 miles or less on them with larger
than 33in. tires, they probably will not have to be changed.
If the parts have more miles than that on them, it is recommended
to replace the pitman and idler arms with factory units and
add the PPE Pitman and Idler Arm Support Kit.
Features:
Comes
Complete with All Parts for Installation
Supports
your Pitman and Idler Arms from Stress and Wear
Includes
hardware for factory or after market pitman and idler arms
