The idler arm/pitman arm is bad again.....

My 06 HD 2500 4X4 has been a great truck overall but the front end suspension parts are starting to add up. I've spent about $2500 over the last two years at the dealer on things like the pitman arm, hubs, etc, etc. Again it's a great truck but it seems the front ends are put together with duct tape and bailing wire. fwiw... I'm also in the 99% of time of pavement club.

Changing an idler or pitman arm is not that hard to do. I've changed dozens of them over the years.

One tool that is essential is a tie rod / ball joint splitter, pickle fork as we call them.

Take the nut off and insert splitter between arm and ball joint and give it good smack with a stout hammer and it comes apart.

The idler arm is bolted to the frame and the pitman arm resides on the end of the steering shaft coming out of the steering box. Pitman arm will have a good stout nut on the end of the shaft to take off with a large socket and breaker bar.

Strange it should wear out so early.... I have about 205,000K or 127,000 miles on my GM Dually and I'm running all the original steering components. And it's still tight. I grease it regularly and thats all.

This truck only logs about 3000-3500 miles a year and 99.9% is highway. I do haul dirt, DG, rocks/landscape material but that really puts no stress on the front end. And the hauling is all right on pavement and then to the house. I think this time they mentioned using a "higher quality" part. Sure wish they had done that the first time. And looking online it sure seems to be more a a job than I would take on.....No fancy tools and all.

Are you buying low priced aftermarket parts? Steering linkage should last more than 9000 under normal service. Does the truck see frequent off highway usage?

LOL
According to the local "know it all GM guy" you have the wrong diagnosis. CAD program says it's really just bad fuel...
Pitman arm reqires the correct tools that most of us shade tree guys don't have.
I myself would have it done as it is not a really a easy DIY job.
Advice from a known problem child manufacture.