OK, I know I am probably a bit slow but I can't figure out how to get the pitman arm off of the steering box. I have a pitman arm puller and it wouldn't budge. I actually broke one puller. I bought another and still can't get it to come off. I can't even get the other side where it attaches to the drag link to separate with an air hammer and separator. Any thoughts??

Thanks in advance.

 

are you keeping that pitman arm? if not you could notch it with a grinder...i have done that and it works pretty quick. otherwise clean it off good and try to heat it up. that will help loosen it up. good luck!

 

I had to get the puller tight on the pitman arm and then whack the pitman arm where it attaches to the sector shaft to get it to pop loose. No trouble with the drag link, so I can't help there...

 

I have a new pitman arm to install. I didn't want to beat on it too much and risk hurting the steering box....although it's probably about time for that too.

 

Heat it up real good, get the puller on it and hit it with a bf hammer. Should come loose.

 

I soaked mine overnight with PB Blaster and then used a 3' cheater on the puller to break it loose.

 

All I used was a 5 pound hammer. Leave the nut threaded lose on the shaft to keep the parts from scattering and get a good swing on it. It may be easier to remove the steering box so you can get a good swing. You can't hurt the box unless you hit it in the wrong place. Hit the arm in the direction it needs to go. No puller necessary.

 

tighten up the puller, then smack the side of the pitman arm with a hammer.

It works for me every time. But then again, I'm speshul.

 

If you heat it too much you could ruin the seal on the sector shaft. Usually the tighten and hammer trick works.

 

Thanks for all of the replies guys. I will try the BF hammer trick this weekend and let you know the results.

 

600 ft/lb impact wrench on a good pitman puller then a good whack with a 5 lb hand sledge on the puller bolt always gets them for me.
Never had to resort to heat on a Ram.

 

i cut mine off down to the splines almost and then took an air chisel and split the arm then i used a puller that i rented from advance auto parts. it worked after i broke one of their pullers and it was free i got my whole deposit back.

 

Get plenty of pressure on the puller. Then use some hammer to hit the side of the puller. In time it would break loose.

 

Not saying that this is right or that you have to do this, but I went ahead and broke down and bought the real puller. I knew I might be removing it again later so I figured it was worth the money instead of breaking things.....This is the real deal....You won't break this one...

http://www.etoolcart.com/balljointpi...erc-4150a.aspx

 

A trick for getting nut tight on the drag link. Put a hydro jack under the drag joint and put upward pressure.