My truck is in desperate need of an overhaul of the steering components. I'm trying to make sure I've got all the pieces needed. Right now in my cart I've got:

MOOG ES2092R - Left outer tie rod
MOOG ES2309 - Right outer tie rod
MOOG ES2093R - 2x Inner tie rods
MOOG ES2094S - 2x tie rod sleeves
MOOG K9070 - Idler arm
MOOG K9024 - 2x upper ball joints
MOOG K9047 - 2x lower ball joints

I think the only piece I'm missing (I think) is a center link. It looks like it should be MOOG part # DS1057 but I'm not positive on that. Anything else I'm missing? I was gonna pick up a pickle fork and a grease gun as well.

 

i replaced all the same parts on mine except the drag link, should be a fun project for a weekend lol.

 

Cool sounds good. Do I need a pitman arm as well?

 

Screw it youre already in there, might as well get it too.

 

I've got a similar list of these parts too, just waiting to be installed. A ball joint separator might be helpful too!

 

I agree on getting the separator tool instead of the pickle fork

 

Oh good call guys. I probably should get a pitman arm puller as well huh. Harbor Freight one works just fine I assume?

 

Start spraying everything with PB blaster to loosen things up

 

make sure the ball joints have castle nuts. I got some Moog ball joints for my first truck, but they had just a nylock nut, and no cotter pin. Long story short, torqued properly the nut came off going a round about, and I sure left my mark in the road.

 

Actually, the pitman arm is very difficult to get off. I tried 3 different pullers with no luck. The steering box sits so close to the frame rail that standard pullers (even the one for tight spaces) can’t quite get in deep enough to center on the nut. I finally ended up cutting the arm off close to the box with a 4 1/2” grinder with a cutting wheel attached. Now the puller will fit correctly. The alternative would be to unbolt the steering box enough to get the puller to fit. Cutting is much easier.
Also, you never want to use a pickle fork on the steering box. You will ruin it. Use the correct puller.
One last caution. The pitman arm has an “index” mark on it. The shaft from the steering box also has an index mark on it. You have to be sure these lines match up before tightening it down for your steering to work correctly. If you don’t, you’ll be pulling it off again which means you’ll destroy it and have to buy another.
Places like auto zone will loan you a puller. No need to buy one.

 

Interested to hear how this all woks out for you. I'd also like to do a front end refresh once my 77 is up and running.

 

Thanks Fred ill keep that in mind when replacing the pitman arm. Or maybe I won't bother with it? Kinda sounds like a PITA. Ordering parts this week, probably give it a shot next weekend.

 

If you’re doing everything do the pitman arm. Idler arm and tie rods are pretty simple. You don’t want to have to do the pitman arm later. And remember to get an alignment after .

 

When I did my front end I did everything but the pitman at once (didn't have big enough socket to get the nut off)....then I did the pitman later - it was about as big of an improvement as all the other parts combined. I used the C-shaped separator tool I belive, medium size.

To add to your list, I replaced the steering coupling too since it's got some rubber on there. I think I got it on eBay.

 

Alright so I'll keep the pitman arm and add a steering coupler (you guys are bad for my wallet). Did everyone else replace the center link as well? That the one piece I'm having trouble finding a part number for.

 

I did not replace the center link. Pretty sure there's no moving parts on the link itself - everything else attached that you're replacing are the moving parts, so unless it's bent or something why replace it?

 

So I did the ball joints and the tie rods. I have not yet tackled the pitman arm or the idler arm but I'll try to bang em out sooner or later, may have to wait till September.

The old ball joints were completely trashed, you could shake the hub and the shaft would just flop around. Outer tie rods were not terrible but the inner tie rods were shot as well. The ball joint puller was not so helpful though. Of the 8 joints I pulled it only worked on 2. The other 6 had to be persuaded with a pickle fork and a BFH. I would say if you don't need to reuse the joint just go straight for the pickle fork and save yourself some time.

Had my alignment done as well as new tires put on today, wow what a difference. I can't believe I drove the truck like that for that long.

 

Kinda scary if you think about it

 

Nice. How many degrees of slop did it remove in the steering wheel? When I did mine it was definitely more than 90 degrees improvement. Was downright dangerous before

 

Pretty close to 90 degrees, it feels a whole lot more stable right now. Still a little slop but I imagine the idler and pitman arm will clear that up. Now if I can just find the time...