Upgrade steering linkage Basic to A2?

[Mogman]

I am thinking of doing the steering linkage upgrade and have a question about the idler arm.
I see one online seller selling a "upgrade idler arm kit" that includes the bolts and some spacers, are these spacers required when upgrading a Basic?
IIRC my frame already has some spacers attached.

 

[Coug]

Can't answer that directly, but when I changed out my A2 idler arm for a moog upgraded version, the moog has the spacers attached to the idler arm, not a separate piece.
My A2 idler arm was an angled piece that didn't require spacers.
The bolts in the kit are also a slightly larger size than stock, and fit more tightly in the frame holes. Enough larger that I had to run a drill bit through one of the frame holes for the new bolt to fit (but it was extremely close)

Side by side comparison of the A2 version and the Moog H1 version.

5745558 - IDLER ARM, STEERING (H1) [MOOG PROBLEM SOLVER] | Hummer Parts Guy (HPG)

www.hummerpartsguy.com

 

[Mogman]

Can't answer that directly, but when I changed out my A2 idler arm for a moog upgraded version, the moog has the spacers attached to the idler arm, not a separate piece.
My A2 idler arm was an angled piece that didn't require spacers.
The bolts in the kit are also a slightly larger size than stock, and fit more tightly in the frame holes. Enough larger that I had to run a drill bit through one of the frame holes for the new bolt to fit (but it was extremely close)

Side by side comparison of the A2 version and the Moog H1 version.
View attachment 902553
View attachment 902556

5745558 - IDLER ARM, STEERING (H1) [MOOG PROBLEM SOLVER] | Hummer Parts Guy (HPG)

www.hummerpartsguy.com

OK that makes sense, Kascar is selling the Moog upgrade, I thought they only sold OEM parts.
It just says "upgrade" so I confused it with a A1/A2 upgrade, my bad.

 

[juanprado]

Moog is oe to amg.
They will not sell these to aftermarket hence a $370 idler arm

 

[Mogman]

Speaking of OE, the seller on this Basic/A1 Pitman arm told me it was factory AMG, these were the only markings.
And it was supplied with the wrong size Zerk fitting, seems like a decent part otherwise.

I dropped the box the floor and the ol Diggy Dog went to work on it right away!!!

 

[Milcommoguy]

Speaking of OE, the seller on this Basic/A1 Pitman arm told me it was factory AMG, these were the only markings.
And it was supplied with the wrong size Zerk fitting, seems like a decent part otherwise.
View attachment 902604
I dropped the box the floor and the ol Diggy Dog went to work on it right away!!!

Box tasted like fortune cookieto throw Diggy the dog off. Ask Diggy what do we have here, CAMO

 

[Mogman]

Interesting, the new pitman arm moved the steering wheel, the left spoke went from 9 oclock to 11 oclock, I assume properly aligned the spokes should be at 10, 2 and 6 oclock

 

[mgFray]

Interesting, the new pitman arm moved the steering wheel, the left spoke went from 9 oclock to 11 oclock, I assume properly aligned the spokes should be at 10, 2 and 6 oclock

Unlike my airbag filled Jeep, there is no aligned clock spring in the HMMWV. So steering wheel can be 'anywhere' and still be fine as long as the steering box, and wheels are centered properly. (Most vehicles they need the steering wheel centered on the steering box input so that the clock spring driving the airbag and steering wheel buttons doesn't over tighten or over unwind and break.)

Assuming no binding on lock to lock, you should be able to unhook the wheel from the linkage and recenter it however you want. 10, 2 and 6 sounds good to me.

 

[Mogman]

Unlike my airbag filled Jeep, there is no aligned clock spring in the HMMWV. So steering wheel can be 'anywhere' and still be fine as long as the steering box, and wheels are centered properly. (Most vehicles they need the steering wheel centered on the steering box input so that the clock spring driving the airbag and steering wheel buttons doesn't over tighten or over unwind and break.)

Assuming no binding on lock to lock, you should be able to unhook the wheel from the linkage and recenter it however you want. 10, 2 and 6 sounds good to me.

I do not believe this is true, the steering wheel, shafts and linkage (pitman) are all keyed

 

[Milcommoguy]

Interesting, the new pitman arm moved the steering wheel, the left spoke went from 9 oclock to 11 oclock, I assume properly aligned the spokes should be at 10, 2 and 6 oclock

Time to make some comparisons between parts?? Using AMG parts on my rebuild and being the goof I is... The spokes were close to what the TM wanted. To dial it in, the tie rods needed a little tweek while keeping toe aligned. You are right... all the linkage / coupling is keyed as I remember it.

No fudging the steering wheel. On the straight and narrow. YMMV, CAMO

 

[mgFray]

I do not believe this is true, the steering wheel, shafts and linkage (pitman) are all keyed

I havn't remove the shaft from the steering box. So I very well may be wrong there. The pitman is usually keyed, so that doesn't surprise me.

It's the steering wheel though, I swear mine wasn't keyed... (It's splined for sure) but I may simply not be remembering it correctly. (I pulled mine off a couple years ago to replace it with one that wasn't cracked.. faulty memory on my part probably.)

 

[Mogman]

Time to make some comparisons between parts?? Using AMG parts on my rebuild and being the goof I is... The spokes were close to what the TM wanted. To dial it in, the tie rods needed a little tweek while keeping toe aligned. You are right... all the linkage / coupling is keyed as I remember it.

No fudging the steering wheel. On the straight and narrow. YMMV, CAMO

That pitman was from Kascar, AMG does not have any at this time, the one I pulled came with the truck out of DRMO.
There were no markings on the pitman arm at all which I think is a little off, maybe real factory pitman arms for the basic/A1 are no longer available

 

[Milcommoguy]

That pitman was from Kascar, AMG does not have any at this time, the one I pulled came with the truck out of DRMO

The little I know ?? it doesn't take much change in the steering components to affect geometry, then show up at the steering wheel. So I take it that going down the road true and straight... the steering wheel center spoke is off. Funny LOL it is an adjustment / Spec in the TM.

Needs adjusting ASAP while driving in Texas.

That would drive me crazy...er, CAMO

 

[rcamacho]

I upgraded an early M998 to the A2 drag link, idler and Pittman. Significantly better.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Mogman]

I also ordered an idler arm, mine is fine but I am going to replace it as I need one for the truck I just bought, it is missing the idler/drag link and both tie rods. it is just a parts truck but being able to steer it makes it allot easier to move the carcass around.
I was hoping to find someone that had converted and had the basic parts laying around but my WTB in the classifieds got no attention.
SO anywho as soon as I get the idler replaced I will have the local shop align the wheel when they set the toe-in, before it covered the turn signal switch making a little harder to notice you are driving down the road like an old man and now it is covering the EGT gauge which I monitor the most as the Dmax runs a much higher EGT than the Detroit, but that is normal..

 

[HUNvee]

I would gladly give you a set, but the shipping is not worth it, unless you are traveling through Hungary with a large suitcase!

 

[Mogman]

I would gladly give you a set, but the shipping is not worth it, unless you are traveling through Hungary with a large suitcase!

I went ahead and sourced all the A2 parts and will use the parts pulled for the M1097A1 parts truck.