Can't get pitman arm off!

[jsimpson]

Tried puller, liquid wrench, heat. Nothing will budge it. Any suggestions?

 

[Denis]

Pulling pitman arm

Had the same trouble when I changed out my steering box. Couldn't get the arm off the steering shaft no matter what I did. Finally removed the box from truck and when I had the steering box on the bench was able to get the arm off easy with a pitman arm puller. Not sure why it happened like this. Used plenty of anti-seize when putting things back together.

 

[TStetson]

Get a bigger hammer!



I just had to do it

 

[jsimpson]

I didn't get a bigger hammer; the five pounder was tuliping the bolt on the Pitman remover! But I DID use a 36" breaker bar and the arm came loose before busting the socket or the puller! Still haven't got the ball joint loose from the other end. Leaving it overnight with Liquid Wrench liberally applied. Shoulda ordered some Kroil !!!

 

[SS]

Strike the arm with 2 hammers on opposite sides where the stud goes through it. Leave the nut on the tie rod end loose to catch the steering link when it falls out. I've seen guys struggle and fail with pickle forks and other instruments of destruction only to watch someone else remove it with the above method. 1, 2, maybe 3 hits and the job is done. Hope this works for you.



(That's to remove the tie rod end, not to remove the pitman arm. )

 

[Extreme1]

Use the 2 hammer mathod above.



I tried like heck to get mine loose and used a breaker bar on the socke and it popped off.



DO NOT USE ANTI-SIEZE WHEN ASSEMBLING PARTS ONTO TAPPERED SHAFTS!!!



If you think it's on tight now, try it! Been there, done that, invented new words for the occaision!

 

[Adam_Dodgezilla]

Use heat

Use a torch and heat it up and then smack it with the hammer!!

 

[Cooker]

Originally posted by jsimpson

Shoulda ordered some Kroil !!!

That stuff is the way to go! It works wonders on rusted parts.

 

[jsimpson]

It's off! Bigger breaker bar did it! The shaft is splined, so I DID use anti-sieze! Oo.

 

[Doc Tinker]

A lot of times it helps to smack the sides of the stubborn part while there is pressure from the puller on it. Is the hole in the pitman arm tapered on our trucks? I'm used to dealing with arms that have a split in them, with a bolt that squeezes the arm tight to the shaft.



Doc

 

[Morphious]

When I replaced my steering box, I just pulled the whole thing out and used a 5lb sledge and a puller. Came right off, being used to murphy's law, I knew that if I had tried that under the truck, it wouldn't have worked... ...





Morph.

 

[Denis]

Tight Pitman arm

I've pulled many tight bearings and arms off shafts using an impact wrench to tighten the puller bolts rather than a wrench or breaker bar. The impact has a similar effect as hitting the sides of the arm with 2 hammers. If this approach doesn't work leave the puller tight and apply heat and bee's wax to the arm. This has failed me only once and that time a bearings race had spun on a electric motor shaft and galled itself on.

 

[Goddard]

bees wax

though some of you might think that he hit a wrong key when he typed BEES WAX..... he didn't. any kind of a stuck bolt or assembly that will come loose will using the wax! heat it up and put the wax to it and it will come off. ! once you use this you will throw all of your wd-40 kind of stuff away!... NO KIDDING. . !!

 

[Extreme1]

Originally posted by jsimpson

The shaft is splined, so I DID use anti-sieze!

If it is tappered (mine was), you will have more fun getting it off next time...