What is the best way to check to find out if your pitman arm is bad. I keep getting a shimmy in my steering wheel. I have replaced the idler arm twice and someone recomended that the pitman arm could be bad causing the idler arm to wear faster. I have had it aligned after all the work I have done and nobody has said anything to be about the pitman arm.

Also do you need an alignment after you change out the idler arm and pitman arm?

Sorry the truck is a 2001 Supercrew 4x4.

Thanks in advance, Marty

 

Get the front end off the ground and and shack both tires up and down then side to side it should be solid. If it moves then have someone else do it for you and look for where the movement is coming from. Side to side is steering up and down is wheel bearing. That would be the best place to start.