I seem to have a shimmy... (~30mph, worse when braking if front end is light do to heavy load or going across angled railroad tracks) only loose part is frt joint on Drag link. (barely little play)

I know these can be a bear to remove.

I would also like to know a 'none destructive' way, as I have a newer one on a '78 1T that I am parting out.

I used a pickle fork last time, but broke it (the tool) and fork usually trashes the rubber boot. On some of my 'wimpier' autos, a swift simultanious smack on opposing sides of part w/ tapered hole works pretty well.

 

Use a large hammer and hit the part that the drag link end goes through (wether it be the knuckle or the tie rod). Works every time for me

 

There is also a special press you can buy that looks similar to a pitman arm puller.

 

I am relatively new to these forums and I am also the proud new owner of my first cummins truck, but the symptoms you are describing remind me of a time when one of my front shocks went bad on my old lifted blazer. It had the exact same symptoms and since the shock was lifetime warranty, it cost nothing but a couple of bolts and a really interesting ride to the local 4x4 shop to replace it. Problem solved.