This steering pitman arm was evidently shortened and welded. It is definitely not recommended that this practice be undertaken, but if it is deemed the only way out for you, make sure the welding is performed by no one but a highly skilled, certified welder.

If you do buy steering in a junkyard, check it over as carefully as you would select a used transmission, even to taking off the box cover and washing it with solvent so you can inspect the teeth on the gears. Inspect the box for defects, cracks, welds, etc., and if bit's still in a car, try it out to see if it binds or has any play in it. If you're getting one from another model or year than your own car, see how many turns it is from lock to lock so you can determine if it has the ratio you want.
Before you start thinking about throwing out your steering and replacing it, check into it thoroughly, and even before attacking your steering box, try to determine first if it isn't something else which may be affecting the handling or steering. Things like poor shocks, unbalanced wheels, a misaligned front end, bad wheel bearings, or improper tire pressure can produce the same symptoms as defective steering gear.

If everything else checks out, then inspect your tie-rod ends and idler arm's. As trouble-free and long lasting as these parts are, they wear out long before your steering box. Jack up the front end or put the car on a hoist and push up and down on the idler arm. If it's loose, pull it off and inspect it. Usually there is a bushing in the end that should be replaced. Tie-rod maintenance involves pushing up and down on the end of the tie-rod, checking for play just as with the idler arm. To remove them you may have to borrow a mechanic's "tuning fork" or "pickle fork," which is a heavy steel bar forked at the end. It's machined at an angle, like a wedge, so that you can put the fork between the tie-rod end and the steering arm. Hitting the end of the bar with a hammer forces the stud of the tie-rod end out of its socket in the steering arm. Above all, the most important thing to remember when doing any work on the front suspension or steering is to never leave out the cotter pins. The life you save definitely will be your own