i got the 1 5/16 socket tyoday,got the nut off,got a pitman are puller,but 24 years of rust kicked my *** today! im gonna let it soak in pb blaster overnight,any ideas on getting through. i cant take it to school to use a lift,i was thinking of just taking the idler arm and center link off at the ball joints. watcha think?

 

A puller is about the only way to remove it without damage. I've always used an old GM puller that wraps around the pitman arm. I've never had any success with the pullers that have the 2 arms on them.

One of these and an impact gun and the pitman arm should easily come off.

 

nice too bad i dont have air tools yet.

 

Maybe heat it up with a torch? PB Blaster always seems to do the job, but when they are really stuck, a little heat usually works.

 

i dont know about heating cast iron like that, besides the possiblilty of damaging the seals in the box, you could have the arm fail later down the road. besides this part has an interference fit (like being pressed on, the splines are slightly tapered), its not just rust holding it on.

get a cheap puller form the auto parts store. you dont need air tools to use them, but they help.

 

mine was a paint in the butt when i had to do it. i actually had someone help me with it. put the puller on it and tighten it as much as you can, then get a hammer and hit it a few times. you wont hurt this part, and you can even use a small sledge hammer. thats how mine came off about 2 or 3 years ago and no problems at all since - that piece is really thick and will take a beating

 

Why do you want to remove it??? The Pitman is a NON-WEAR part in the steering assemby.

 

i got it off today. let some pb blaster soak for an hour,bingo. i have to adjust the steering,its off alil bit. theres a dead spot with the steering wheel. gonna adjust that plug and put it back in later on.