I have already contacted 95 318slt about the center link that is willing to sell. But does anybody else have the same center link like in this diagram? If so do you know what part number it is?

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This is what mine looks like...

 

Thats exactly what I have on my truck. After getting very frustrated with this ordeal I told firestone that I paid 44 dollars to have them inspect the front end for damage. At that point they FINALLY called in the expert and he pointed out that the pitman arm was bent as well. After that little discovery, they told me they are 95% sure that the one I bought will work.

95318SLT I want that center link. Shipping isnt that big of an issue anymore. So lets go with a relaxed shipping method. Just let me know what kind of payment you want.

 

Just got off the phone with the shop....After they have inspected it for the THIRD time with their expert they want to replace the pitman arm, ilder arm, and the Steering gear box. Remember, when I first brought it in, they said that the idler arm and pitman arm were totally fine. Grand total is $1050 to get Napa Chasis parts with a lifetime warranty on all parts. Faced with very little wiggle room in my budget I am forced into making payments with 0% interest for 6 months. As it would take me at least 2 months to save up the parts to do it myself.

 

Well when I get this thing shipped off (still looking for a box to put it in... its an odd shape!), you'll have two good tie rods and a good ilder arm. Then you just need a pitman arm and I guess a gear box if they are right about that. You could easily get the job done yourself in about an hour!

 

Sounds to me like they have a willing victim....those parts are not that expensive, and not that hard to replace.....

 

You can turn the steering around almost double the amount of times to the right than you can to the left from center. The steering wheel is upside down when wheels were at center.

I dont know about willing victim. I am reluctant to do anything that involves a shop unless its balancing wheels or getting an alignment. Steering box alone is 200 plus with an 80 dollar core.

If I were to buy JUST the steering box I would have already given myself an overdraft.

 

Here is what I would do if I were in your position...

Get the truck back, pop the pitman arm off and see if the splines are destroyed. It sounds to me like the steering links took a lick and re-clocked the pitman arm. That could have stripped out all the splines. But... there is always the chance that the splines will still hold and you can just simply get a new pitman arm and clock it the right way with the steering wheel centered.

I would seriously try to reclock the pitman arm before I threw $1k of money I don't have into it just because a shop said the steering box needed to be replaced.

 

Well it will have to wait til next week when my dad can come back up with his truck and car dolly to pull it back home.