Pitman Arm Blues

[dhinch279]

OK... I have been installing the lift on my 94 ex cab ranger, the one in my build thread, and I have spent at least 4 hours trying to remove the pitman arm.
I have soaked it in PB Blaster for 3 days now
I removed the drag link and retaining nut and lock washer
I have used 3 different pullers, broke one
I even tried the tighten, hammer, tighten, hammer method

It just won't budge

Has anyone ever tried to cut it off by cutting it really close to the steering shaft, maybe on both sides then hammering and pulling?

I am afraid that is the only option I have left. Let me know if there is some hidden secret to get this thing off like "Open Sesame" then it just falls off.

 

[cargs]

you need heat to get that thing off.

the best way i have found is to do the following:
- heat the pitman arm with a torch, i used propane. use lots of heat, setup the torch and leave it a few minutes (up to 5mins)
- get a sledge hammer or a mini sledge, hold it on the flat side of the arm where the sector shaft goes through. get a friend to hold it tight to the arm.
- strike the opposite flat side of the arm with another large hammer, hit it hard!
- if possible use a pitman arm puller at the same time to put some pressure on it.
- the key is having the large mass of the sledge on the other side, this puts all the force into the arm and hopefully will knock it free.

good luck!

 

[legoms013]

Sounds similar to my story 2 years ago. Go buy or rent a "good" pitman arm puller. Then like the other person said heat that sucker up, while tightening down the puller. Hit the puller and keep tightening it down (i used a 4 ft pc of pipe with heat while my father beat on the arm with a mini-sledge. Took 2 hrs of this but it came off needless to say. Good luck


Oh and keep spraying PB Blaster on it everytime you think of it.

 

[89PBR96]

It is safe to heat the arm up? If so I'm going to stop fighting the dam thing Thanks for the info guys

 

[truckphone]

Rent the snap-on remover, buddy has one and it ALWAYS works. We've bent, broke, stripped the cheap crap, with pullers you get what you pay for.

And yes I once sliced the arm real close to the shaft and got it off that way. I used a little air cut off tool that you could get real close to the part. The shaft got nicked a bit but it still working fine (like 12 years ago) just be careful.

Heat is gonna be bad for the seal...

 

[colinrmitchell]

I too cut mine off with a cut-off wheel. That was after two days of trying heat, PB, and everything else. I would just go straight to cutting it off. Cut all the way through on one side and it should pull off real easy.

 

[dhinch279]

I guess I will cut it then. I would try to heat then hammer and use the puller, but I don't have enough room to swing the hammer really hard since my PS pump is still in the truck. Thanks for all the info and I will keep you informed on my results

 

[89PBR96]

I did not use a hammer man I used a little heat and put pressure on it with the puller it took about 2 hours I repeated the steps 2 or 3 times and it all the sudden can crashing down scared the shit out of me but it's off don't try to and take it off in one shot let the tension keep building up man

Check out my build thread it's getting there