I needed a work truck, didn't have a whole lot of money, bought this 82 xlt lariat, 2WD, 351w, 4-speed. Looks all original right down to the bushings. Just got my replacement power booster and master cylinder yesterday. Simple enough job. But now I'm going to replace most, if not all, of the front end. I looked up parts for an 88. Don't ask why. I don't know. But the front end kit for an 88 had a lot more stuff than the one for 82. Why? I would think that the older model would have as much of not more. I wouldn't think that less stuff would wear out in 6 years. So does my truck not need those items? Or do i have to buy them separately? Like a Pittman arm. Comes with the 88 kit. Does mine not wear out? Like most folks I'm working with a budget and i can't find time to look in all corners of the internet. I can't even find a decent manual (authorized Ford service or equivalent). I have a hard time with Chilton's and Hayes. I can't tell you how many of those I've taken out back and shot. Don't look down me. It's good therapy. And it's cheaper than shooting the vehicle. Does my truck even have a Pittman arm?

 

"Does my truck even have a Pittman arm?" Something has to connect the gearbox to the drag link.They generally don't wear out as there are no moving parts with it. I would check all joints individually and replace ONLY the ones which are loose and worn out. Many aftermarket parts are junk and are not as good as the originals.Plan on an alignment when you are done.

 

all recirculating ball steering systems have a pitman arm. or at least i have never seen a recirculating ball steering system without one. its part of how it functions, as raski said, something has to more the track rod as the gears in the steering box turn with the steering column

 

Reading answers here is exactly as hard as reading a Haynes manual. But the Haynes manual has a higher ratio of correct information. Follow the links on this page:

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We can't tell you much about parts that you didn't identify by brand/PN/source, or post a link to. But it's generally much WORSE to buy parts in a "kit" than to buy them individually as-needed.