Worn pitman arm?

[Falcon_LS]

Whilst detailing the wheels after a wash this morning, I noticed something wrong with my Grand Marquis' front wheels. The driver's side front tire was at a perfectly straight angle, as if the steering wheel was perfectly centered. But my steering wheel was actually at this position:

I thought maybe the steering wheel was off center, but after looking at the passenger side tire, it matched the steering wheel's position (front of the wheel tilted slightly outwards).

I had someone move the steering wheel very quickly to both sides, and whilst the passenger side wheel was moving with the steering input, the driver's side wheel wasn't. More steering input is need to make it move.

This vehicle uses a recirculating-ball steering system, and my idler arm is less than a year old, so the first thing that came to mind was a worn pitman arm (which hasn't been replaced). I'm wondering if anything else might cause this to happen though. Thanks!

 

[Astro14]

The pitman arm connects to the steering box, that would not be my first guess since it's moving. This car has a drag link that rides between the idler arm and Pitman arm. Connected to that drag link are a pair of inner tie rods and outer tie rods.

Hard to guess on what's worn - there are 6 joints in what I just described, but your symptoms are dramatic and lead me to belive that more than one component has excessive play, likely the driver's side tie rod ends. But seriously, if one wheel is moving and the other is not - you're on borrowed time, they're ready to break.

Get this to a garage ASAP - before one of those worn joints breaks...and leaves you heading for oncoming traffic!

 

[Falcon_LS]

Thanks for the input, that sounds very scarey! Just had a word with the Technical Trainer at work, who helped arrange an appointment for me. They'll be inspecting it tomorrow morning, and sorting it out!

 

[Astro14]

Suspension and steering parts have the potential to be scary...when the front wheels stop responding to the steering wheel, bad things happen...and you're part way there: the fact that one wheel moves and the other doesn't is worrisome - that's some serious play in the front end.

If your idler arm was worn (and just because it's new doesn't mean it's still good...), then the passenger side would be the sloppy one...so, I think it's tie rods on the driver's side. There is a possibility that something else, like a suspension bushing or balljoint is shot, but I don't think so...Regardless, when it's on a lift the tech will be able to tell what's wrong in a heartbeat...

 

[229]

At the least driver's side tie-rods.

 

[expat]

Scary! But it did not get this way overnight.
Do you give the car a regular (6 month-year) inspection?
Brakes, bearings, Steering.

 

[Falcon_LS]

Yes, but there were no problems the last time it was all checked in April. I hope it'll be back to normal by tomorrow afternoon!

 

[mechtech2]

Drive the car.
Note how the steering wheel aligns when going straight.
Sitting there shows nothing.

 

[38sho]

based on his description the wheel will be off to the right half of what it is when sitting still.......

 

[Falcon_LS]

Right, the pitman arm and tie rods were replaced, alongside the stabilizer bar bushings. Was told the tie rods would require replacement in the near future, so that's been addressed right now and everything is back to how it should be.