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01-29-2017, 04:31 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 4
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Pitman Arm Support-2004 GMC 2500HD
Tow a 8285WS with 04 GMC 2500HD 6.0 wondering if anyone felt the need to add a pitman arm support on GMC Truck similar to what they are doing on the Dodge Trucks? Sandy
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01-29-2017, 09:10 PM
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#2
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Left Coast
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: vancouver,washington
Posts: 15,649
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Must be on newer trucks than mine......
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02-02-2017, 12:17 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Northeast CT
Posts: 315
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I know I added one to my old Cummins Dodge. It was one of the best upgrades I ever did to that truck. It used to feel like I was driving a 73 Duster down the highway. Best way to tell if you need it, lay under the truck while someone rocks the steering wheel side to side and watch how much movement is in the steering box shaft. My Dodge was terrible.
__________________
2013 Rockwood 2109S
2010 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4x4 Hemi
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02-02-2017, 12:44 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 2,024
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Sounds to me like the mounting bolts were loose. Never heard of a Pittman arm support and if the shaft was wobbling, either the bolts were loose or the box was shot.
My curiosity is aroused now...
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02-02-2017, 12:57 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Northeast CT
Posts: 315
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It's a common issue on the Gen 2 Dodge. There is such a drop on the factory pitman arm that it wears the bushing out on the steering box. If you catch it early enough before it starts leaking out the seal you can correct it with the after market support.
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2013 Rockwood 2109S
2010 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4x4 Hemi
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02-02-2017, 01:00 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Northeast CT
Posts: 315
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Here's one in place.
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2013 Rockwood 2109S
2010 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4x4 Hemi
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02-02-2017, 01:19 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 2,024
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I went did an Internet search and saw various ones.
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02-02-2017, 01:51 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 89
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It is fairly common. The front end is a weak link with the setup they have. I sold my Silverado before I put supports on mine. It was in need of new pitman and idler arms. Another weak link is the tie rods. You can either get sleeves or new rods. Only limitation is how much you want to spend. You can get a good price on a package deal that sells the supports and arms and rods. Some kits require welding and others are a bolt in setup. Cognito is very popular
http://www.merchant-automotive.com/PISK2008-Cognito-Steering-Support-Kit.aspx
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02-02-2017, 01:56 PM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 20
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Do I need one?
I was towing 12 K lbs trailer on a freeway on a long steep asphalt down hill grade. The road was worn and like a washboard from prior braking. As I braked my steering shook and the more I braked the more violently steering wheel shook. I thought I would lose control and crash but didn't! Scared the hell out of me. Its a unmodified 2007 2500 GMC Sierra 6 ltr with trailer tow package.
I'm concerned this may happen again.
Will the pitman arm help and any advice?
Thanks
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02-02-2017, 02:00 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: ALASKA (World's Biggest Campground)
Posts: 6,755
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GearHd6
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Wow! If you have to hang that much iron to keep the pitman arm from wearing out the steering box then it's a defective design from the start. Whoever was involved in that design skipped Geometry Class.
__________________
'07 K3500 Silverado LT Crew Duramax (LBZ)
2016 Salem 27RKSS
1984 CHEV SCOTTSDALE K20 2GCGK24J0E1XXXXXX (Chevrolet Legends-Class of 2019)
"...exhaust fluid? We don't need no stinkin' exhaust fluid"
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02-02-2017, 04:01 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 2,024
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Quote:
Originally Posted by D W
Wow! If you have to hang that much iron to keep the pitman arm from wearing out the steering box then it's a defective design from the start. Whoever was involved in that design skipped Geometry Class.
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Not really, it's called lowest price on parts and sub assemblies. Been the automakers mantra for decades. Only the cheapest suppliers survive. Profit over quality / longevity has been the norm for a long, long time. Working for a supplier, I got to see that every day.
Keep in mind that it's not on stock height suspension or stock width / height tires but on modified suspensions and wider / higher tires, at least not commonplace on an unaltered suspension or tire combination.
reminds me of my 22K upper and lower ball joint assemblies on my F350 7.3 that got sloppy. Replaced with real Moog greaseable joints a long time ago.
I replaced everything on my front end with Moog heavy duty products and a dropped Pittman arm and new high tensile bolts between the steering box and frame rail and a hydraulic steering damper too. Did a full front suspension flip and all the trunions are now greaseable as well.
Like anything else that involves frame and steering geometry, when you change one aspect, everything changes.
Big baloney's and sitting high may look cool, but be ready to replace and modify a lot of undercarrige parts to have the 'look'.
If I had it to over, I would have left my 350 sitting stock on stock rubber. I did it years ago and now it's a PITA to have to climb up in the truck, even with assist steps.
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02-02-2017, 04:11 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Northeast CT
Posts: 315
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I bought my Dodge used with 38k on it, it was stock height, stock wheels, stock tire size all its life and the steering box still wore out.
__________________
2013 Rockwood 2109S
2010 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4x4 Hemi
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02-02-2017, 04:36 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 2,024
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GearHd6
I bought my Dodge used with 38k on it, it was stock height, stock wheels, stock tire size all its life and the steering box still wore out.
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Like the saying goes......'Your mileage may vary'.....lol
Dodge / Fiat /Daimler / Chrysler products aren't conceived with the best components in the first place.
We dealt with them too.
In the automotive world, Honda and Nissan are probably the best QC wise, but still the profit versus cost equation is there....
Without starting a war (and I don't want to), in order of revelance concerning under sheet metal components from best to not so good it's..
Honda
Nissan
Ford
General Motors
Fiat Chrysler
I dealt with them all on underbody (chassis) components and frame rails.
If Honda produced a full size pickup truck in the 3/4-1 ton capacity, I'd have one in a minute.
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02-02-2017, 06:25 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 215
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Problem is more in holding the frame more secure. I put one on my 07 3500, and I can tell the difference. I had death wobble.
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2015 Tracer ultra light executive edition 3200bht
2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins 6.7, Dually, crew cab, long bed
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02-02-2017, 06:32 PM
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#15
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Left Coast
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: vancouver,washington
Posts: 15,649
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184000 miles on my Dodge....No front end problems at all.....And it's a lowered 4x4....
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02-02-2017, 07:44 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 215
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5" lift and running 35s!
__________________
2015 Tracer ultra light executive edition 3200bht
2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins 6.7, Dually, crew cab, long bed
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02-02-2017, 09:44 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 2,024
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SilverArrowPro
5" lift and running 35s!
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You must be younger. I don't want to be climbing up in that truck... 
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02-02-2017, 10:31 PM
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#18
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 10
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I have a 2004 2500HD Duramax and have been using it to pull my 1st and now my2nd fifth wheels for 12 years and never had any problems with it handling badly!! I have 90,000 miles on it! Took it from Michigan to Branson Missouri two years ago pulling my 10,000# fifth wheel and it never gave me a problem one!!!
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02-02-2017, 10:35 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 2,024
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scotty1966
I have a 2004 2500HD Duramax and have been using it to pull my 1st and now my2nd fifth wheels for 12 years and never had any problems with it handling badly!! I have 90,000 miles on it! Took it from Michigan to Branson Missouri two years ago pulling my 10,000# fifth wheel and it never gave me a problem one!!!
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Careful now, you hit a hard bump and your steering box might fall off..... 
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02-02-2017, 11:35 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,270
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Quote:
Originally Posted by larry.mahoney
I was towing 12 K lbs trailer on a freeway on a long steep asphalt down hill grade. The road was worn and like a washboard from prior braking. As I braked my steering shook and the more I braked the more violently steering wheel shook. I thought I would lose control and crash but didn't! Scared the hell out of me. Its a unmodified 2007 2500 GMC Sierra 6 ltr with trailer tow package.
I'm concerned this may happen again.
Will the pitman arm help and any advice?
Thanks
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Probably not. New front brake motors may help.
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