I have heard some horror stoires about removing the steering box pitman arm, when installing a drop pitman arm.

Any tips or tricks on what can make this less painful, and hopefully with avoiding a trip to the local shop (to have them do it).

How is the aftermarket pitman arm then re-installed?

What tool(s) is the best for the job?

THANKS!

 

you need a good puller and usually once you have tension on it, a couple of good whacks with a hammer will break her free. Good Luck

 

What kind of puller though?


I see some that are short and stubby, like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Tie-Rod-End-Pitm...QQcmdZViewItem


And then there are some like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OTC-6...spagenameZWDVW


I also saw these types:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SPX-O...spagenameZWDVW


And finally, I found some beasts like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OTC-7...spagenameZWDVW

 

The second one on your list looks the closest, the one titled "Pitman Arm Puller". You should be able to find one much cheaper at your local auto parts. You may even be able to rent one from them if you don't plan on needing it again. Take DeTree's advice, put tension on the puller, then hit the pitman arm. Repeat as necessary 'til it's free.

 

You can go to any auto parts store and buy one of their $15 pitman arm pullers and will work just fine, or rent one if you want.

 

Your first option is the one I used and you can borrow it from Autozone for free. I bought one from Harborfreight for my first attempt and quickly broke it. My second attempt I borrowed one from Autozone, which looked exactly like the one I broke, and that one worked but the pitman arm put up a pretty good fight. When it popped off it had some force behind it. One thing I should mention is that those pullers have too narrow an opening to fit around our pitman arm so you have to grind the ends a little.

 

man taking the pitman arm off huh? good luck! this is worse than obama running for president. lol

 

Ive always had good luck just smacking the arm with a hammer. Work your way around the sides. Most of the time they just fall off for me. Maybe I'm just lucky!

 

If your installing a dropped arm for a lift kit, I would seriously consider installing one of the steering stabilizers that attaches to the steering box. I just put one on my truck and even with stock stuff it made a world of difference in how the truck steers. My truck used to wander all over and you had to turn the wheel 10-15 degrees before you would get any steering response, now its tight like it should be.

 

I already have a PSC sector shaft brace

 

Pitman arm puller and an air ratchet.(I got mine at napa, $20, dont have the PN though)

I had to grind mine down a hair to get it to slip in between the box/arm, but once you get it wedged in there, get the point of the shaft lined up in the center, and go to town with an air ratchet/impact. Knocked it off in 2 seconds, compared to the 30minutes I wasted trying to mess with a pickel fork/sledge that didnt get me anywhere....