The Camaro Club (UK)

Hey all.

My Pitman Arm is completely shot which is causing slack steering.
Worked out which one I needed and ordered it. (And I definitely ordered the correct part).

After shipping on the slow boat and being handed over to UK Customs who decided to sit on it for eternity it finally arrived.
And it's the WRONG part.

The one supplied is 1" longer than the current one on the car.

I've contacted the seller to see what they will do about it having sent me a part I did not order, BUT.

Can this one be fitted and will it have any implications on the handling and steering geometry?
My front wheels currently point in different directions so I need to have them set up. I've been waiting for this art to turn up before I book it in.

Any thoughts or opinions or experience with fitting a longer pitman arm at all?

Thank you.

Current Arm by Neil Hack, on Flickr

Supplied Arm by Neil Hack, on Flickr

Sorry, 1/2" longer. Frustrated typing. Whoops

1/2" difference will make a difference to the steering, otherwise they wouldn't supply 2 difference lengths, but I can't tell you how much.

I assume the 1/2 difference allows for a difference in the gearbox between manual and power steering, as the rest of the linkages appear to be the same lengths regardless of steering setup.

The 1/2" difference will show up when steering, as one wheel will turn faster than the other. You may be able to live with it short term, but it may wear the tyres unevenly, and it may put additional stress on the steering components.

For the time it takes to get the right one, I would wait.