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if there is no idler bushing to absorb impact, which component of the steering will take the abuse instead?

I don't know if this makes any difference, but the pitman arm stud is on a swivel joint like the tie rods and ball joints where the idler stud just turns on a straight axis. Perhaps that would absorb the shock?

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Wouldn't you need an opposite hand drive box? ie here in North America, woudn't we need a RH drive steering box?

Like Nitteberg said, just mount the pitman (now idler) arm 180?.

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What about lubrication? Would it still need a source of power steering fluid for lubrication? If so how do you plumb it?

That's half of the reason I asked if it would make any sense to connect-up the P/S lines to the "idler box". The other half of the reason I ask this is wouldn't having two fully-operational P/S gearboxes make power steering a LOT easier?

Hey Nitt, I haven't actually gone out to my rig to check clearence, but what is it on your rig that's getting in the way that made you shave the gearbox in half?