Putting a new pitman arm on 1997 grand marquis

We have the same problem on our 97 Grand Marquis. We have replaced the wiper blades and the drivers wiper arm with a used one. The problem was not completely solved but it did work better. We are going to replace the arm with a new one and see if that works better.

just remove the nut on the bottom and you will need a pitman arm puller some stores will rent you one if this does not come off easy u can heat the arm up and hit it with a hammer to shock it loose.

you need to buy or rent a pitman arm puller. lock the steering wheel on center. try pulling with puller, put tension on arm with puller, heat and rape it. it should pop loose.

Removal & Installation

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
   
2. Remove the stone shield.
   
3. Tag the pressure and return lines so they may be reassembled in their original positions.
   
4. Disconnect the pressure and return lines from the steering gear. Plug the lines and ports in the gear to prevent the entry of dirt.
   
5. Remove the clamp bolts retaining the flexible coupling to the steering gear.
   
6. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
   
7. Remove the nut from the sector shaft.
   
8. Remove the pitman arm from the sector shaft with a suitable pitman arm removal tool. Remove the tool from the pitman arm.
   

1. Support the steering gear and remove the steering gear retaining bolts.
   
2. Work the gear free of the flex coupling and remove the gear.
   
3. If the flex coupling did not come off with the gear, lift it off the shaft.
   

To install:

1. Turn the steering wheel to the straight-ahead position
   

During installation, position the steering gear input shaft as shown on 1992-98 vehicles

1. Center the steering gear input shaft with the indexing flat facing downward on 1989-91 vehicles. On 1992-98 vehicles, center the steering gear input shaft with the centerline of the 2 indexing flats at 4 o'clock.
   
2. Slide the steering gear input shaft into the flex coupling and into place on the frame side rail. Install the retaining bolts and tighten to 50-65 ft. lbs. (68-88 Nm).
   
3. Make sure the wheels are in the straight-ahead position. Install the pitman arm on the sector shaft and install the lockwasher and nut. Tighten the nut to 233-250 ft. lbs. (316-338 Nm).
   
4. Move the flex coupling into place on the steering gear input shaft. Install the retaining bolt and tighten to 20-30 ft. lbs. (27-41 Nm).
   
5. Connect the pressure and return lines to the steering gear and tighten the lines. Fill the reservoir and turn the steering wheel from stop-to-stop to distribute the fluid. Check the fluid level and add fluid, if necessary.
   
6. Start the engine and turn the steering wheel from left to right.
   
7. Check for leaks.
   
8. Install the stone shield.
   

idealer arm
pitman arm
sway bar
check cv axles too
contorl arm bushings

you don't have to remove the steering box to do a pitman arm. Take off the one 1/4 in. nut, or whatever size it is, take the nut off the center link, put a pitman arm puller on the steering box side, and tighten the puller until you can't go any further, and hit the adjuster w/ a hammer hard, then tighten some more and repeat

The easiest way is also the messiest.
Remove pit-man arm nut,Mark the pit-man arm and shaft with a colored marker,to assure you reinstall the arm in the correct position.use a pit-man arm puller to remove pi-man arm.When you get off the shaft,swing it out of your way,leaving the other end connected.Looking up in the steering box you will see a snap ring that you need to remove.When you get it out of there,reinstall the pit-man arm and nut to the correct position but don't tighten completely.Now refill the power steering box with fluid and put the cap back on the steering box.Put a pan under the pitman arm to catch the fluid.Start the engine and turn the steering in one direction as sharp as it will go,you'll here it in a bind but hold it tight,Then turn the steering wheel the complete opposite direction and turn it tight.This will use the power steering to blow the seals out!
Shut engine off,look under car and your seals will be pushed out but held in place by the pitman arm you reinstalled.Now you can remove the arm and REMEMBER how they came out,just incase there is no picture instruction with your new seal kit.

The idler isn't bad, Remove cotter pin going through the nut, take off nut, you need a seperator tool to pull apart the arm from the center link, once that is done, remove the two bolts holding it to the frame, remove arm, installation is just reverse.
The pitman arm is a little more to it. Do the same, remove cotter pin, take off nut, and seperate it from the rod, now there is big nut holding it on to the bottom of the steering box, take that nut off (some are a real pain), you will need a pitman arm puller to get it off. Note the position of the arm, need to put new one in same place, pull it off slow, sometimes seals will come with it, put seals back in same way, if they come out. Put some grease on splined shaft, tap new arm on until you can get nut on, tighten up with nut. Hopefully you have any problems. Good luck.

JacDempsey, how about shocks/struts? If they are bad, that could be what u need to cruise the highway nice and smooth the way a Grand Marquis should.

i see you have replaced everything on front end but one thing, the shocks,a good set of gas filled shocks will give you a better ride..