2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Pitman arm REFUSES to be separated from steering box

[turbo torque]

I agree The cut-off wheel is a sure thing. Cut as deep as you can and then split it with a hammer. Heat is not a good thing for your steering box seal. I've used this approach several times, it always works. Good Luck.

 

[Shovelhead]

Vaughn,

Did you ever get the thing separated?

Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[SOOT]

I put a big 3 jaw puller on mine then tightened it down with a half inch breaker bar then grabbed the steering wheel and started bouncing it back and forth of course with the engine off and it finnaly came loose. mine had about 135,000 miles on it. I did hit it a couple of times with a BFH (BIG FREAKIN HAMMER) before that.

 

[Oxjockey]

I was taking one off a box that had been removed with my giant puller. I had the box in the bed of my truck, couldn't get the arms to stay put. I finally got them to stay on, but started heating the arm with propane. When it finally let go, it flew a foot in the air. Scared the crap outta me, but...



All are valid suggestions. I'm not a fan of cutting it off, but...



A lot of times the puller is not big enough, and I've never used mine without the impact gun.



Bryan

 

[rkressg]

Just keep hammering on it with a large impact gun, it will eventually come off. If that does not work, make it as tight as you can with your impact gun, and start hitting the tool with a rather heavy hammer, something will give, hopefully it is the pitman arm. :-{}

 

[bigredblur]

Removal:

Well I did this job yesterday with the loan-a-tool puller from autozone. It took about 3 hours of pure hate trying to get that off. I read this thread and decided not to use a torch and I don't have a cutting wheel. I tried the "double hammer" approach but I couldn't get a clear shot because of the puller. So I took the puller off and then whacked both sides at the same time with a 5lb hammer and a regular hammer until I got tired swinging. I put the puller back on and it pulled the pitman arm right off. I'm guessing the "double hammer" method did the trick.

Installation:

That wasn't much fun either. But I did jack up the front end so I could move the linkage side to side without having a second person turn the steering wheel for me. This was also a frustrating situation because it appears the parts don't all "line up" nicely until everything is tightened down. That made it difficult trying to fit the arm onto the steering shaft and the linkage at the same time. Putting on the new arm was definitely faster and easier than taking it off though.

All I can say at this point is I'm glad it's done. Now it's time for ball joints!

 

[abranz]

I'm one my third air hammer and finally decided to buy a good one. I bought an Ingersol Rand and wow does it do work for you fast! Today I separated 6 joints including the pitman arm on my Ram and Cherokee. The cambell Hausfeld & other air hammer I had just made a lot of noise, this new one is incredible.

Anthony in Idaho

 

[RAndrae]

All these posts and no one recomended heat... ..... hand held soldering torch. . heat up the pitman arm at the shaft...

 

[rotohead]

Working on farm equipment get's you lot'sa fun with 'levers, arms, pulleys, etc' and the removal thereof. I've found great sucess combining the right puller, a moderate amount of heat and a damp rag. Even the most filthy, rusty fitting would come off if you use heat and cold the right way. A small propane torch is plenty and with alittle caution can be used near seals, etc. Taking your time over this process is best.

 

[Mhannink]

yeah you cant break the snap puller and it wont slip off either. i had a simalar issue where it wouldnt come off bent the puller all up. borowed a snap on one and it came off no problem

 

[BTighe]

bent one, broke one, and the third got it with the use of a pickle fork and puller. none were snap on. i cant wait to do it again.

 

[Flinty]

As was previously mentioned many times, the Snap-on puller is THE MAN. If any one has broken one of these pullers it's safe to say you've got a tough job in front of you. Believe it or not the most defiant pitman arm I ever dealt with was on a Toyota 4x4. I smoked two OTC's, a Napa, and a off brand puller. By the time I had worked my way to the Snap-on I had worked up a dandy mad and went after that thing with a rented 3/4" impact wrench. That pitman arm and all others following it have offered no resistance whatsoever.

 

[Extreme1]

I broke my Snap-On!!!



I twisted the bolt off trying to get a pitman arm off a box clamped in a vice. (After wrestling with it on the floor of a storage unit first). I guess I did have if torqued pretty good after all! One good smack with my 2 1/2 pound hammer and it popped loose. I only had a 1# at the storage unit.

 

[Flinty]

I shall call you sir!

 

[tgordon]

I just use dthe puller and impact. Around the farm only one puller has managed to survive and I have no clue what brand it is, but it works. Worts we have done was pulling a end off a shaft on a manure pump. Needless to say we had the impact, one of the nice 800+ ft/lps, heat, and we had to chain the ends to keep the from slipping off. A couple hours of that and it poped right off. Nobody cared what condition the gear box was in we were so ******#@$%!



Glad to hear you got it off and fixed with no real destruction.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Vaughn,

Did you ever get the thing separated?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Nope, never did get the dadgom thing off. . . took one more stab at it then gave up. Drove the truck 9 more months and traded it in the next spring for a new 2003 . . . then I sold that and bought a '96, then later I bought a '98, then . . . who's kicking up these old threads??

The weird thing is I was just thinking about this incident a couple days ago