took my 87 sami into les schwab yesterday to get an alignment done since I just swapped axles and its alittle off but they said I need a new pitman arm because where the joint that goes into the 3" drop pitman is loose. do you guys think its probably just new steering rods needed or a drop pitman arm? some buddies have told me that they have never heard of the pitman arm going bad like that.

It would be unlikely if the pitman arm is the cuprit since in most cases it is a solid cast piece. What joint? Steering box... splined shaft.... pitman arm.... nut.... ball joint.... nut..... steering linkage...



My vote would go to the ball joint on the steering linkage or the tie rod ends. You should be able to wiggle these points to see which one is bad.

I think I would go someplace else if they can't pinpoint the problem any better than what information they have provided to you at this point.