pitman arm troubles

[DRangerd]

OK, So I'm in the middle of swapping to a lifted front end today, got everything out OK, EXCEPT the Pitman arm, Frackin' Autozone puller snapped in two.......

Anybody ever used a wedge (Ball Joint Pickle fork) and a BFH to seperate the arm from the shaft ???

Book says not to, but.................

Thanks for any help !!!.........

 

[hitech_hick]

OK, So I'm in the middle of swapping to a lifted front end today, got everything out OK, EXCEPT the Pitman arm, Frackin' Autozone puller snapped in two.......

Anybody ever used a wedge (Ball Joint Pickle fork) and a BFH to seperate the arm from the shaft ???

Book says not to, but.................

Thanks for any help !!!.........

Mine was a pain as well, wound up heating the pitman arm up with a torch then used a puller to get it off. I spent more time on the pitman arm than I did cutting rivets.


hick

 

[Totalled]

Heat will kill the seal. (ask me how I know)

Remove the retaining nut. Pull the box out of the truck, set it on the ground. Hold the pitman in one hand, the box with your feet, and start whaling on the pitman with a 2 lb sledge.

 

[canyoncritter]

the autozone pitman arm puller is a turd, ask them for the 3 jaw 5 ton puller.you can convert it to a two jaw and its works allright.


spray/soak the shaft and arm in pb, brake fluid or ATF,put a good strain on the puller,let it sit for a hour, give it a few taps beating with a 2-5lbs hammer to shock it, put a strain back on the puller/take of the slack repeat over and over till it comes off.

sometimes they are just a pain in ass, and require a few beers and lots of cuss words....

 

[ford1386]

mac tools sells a big black puller for doing and it works really well im just not sure how much it costs i borrowed it from a buddy. part number 55208

 

[Sunk]

I got a standard pitman arm that had a really wide opening and cranked it on there really tight. Then I hit the side of the stock arm by the shaft with a hammer and it loosened up. Then it came right off.

 

[DRangerd]

Thanks, everybody,

Unfortunately ran outta time so I had to leave it and finish the rest, gotta go to work tomorrow,

But it's all good, drove it tonight with a garage alinement on the stock arm with 3.5 inch lift and its really not too bad, when I take it to the shop to be alined I'll see if they can switch it, gotta have new tie rod ends now anyway, tore the boots with a the fork...........

but thanks again, I'll try some of those tricks next time..............

 

[AKBroncoII]

The puller 9 times out of 10 will not pull it off alone. Put tension on the puller and give the side of the pitman arm a good whack with a hammer. Then tighten the puller down a bit more, give it another whack. Sector shafts are tapered just like a balljoint or tie rod end. Very tight fit.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

The puller 9 times out of 10 will not pull it off alone. Put tension on the puller and give the side of the pitman arm a good whack with a hammer. Then tighten the puller down a bit more, give it another whack. Sector shafts are tapered just like a balljoint or tie rod end. Very tight fit.

Also works to tighten it down and give the threaded rod that pushes against the sector shaft a sharp blow.

Also if you hit the side of the knuckle with a hammer a few times the tie rod ends just pop out, I never use pickle forks at work, all their good for is destroying the dust boots.

 

[rickcdewitt]

Also if you hit the side of the knuckle with a hammer a few times the tie rod ends just pop out, I never use pickle forks at work, all their good for is destroying the dust boots.

yep a pry bar and BFH are best

 

[compleckz]

Heat will kill the seal. (ask me how I know)

i actually broke both a 2 jaw and 3 jaw puller while trying to remove my stock arm at 90k.. i used a ton of PB BLASTER, liberal amounts of heat, BFH, and what finally got it off was one of the cheap pullers that are broken in that picture.

the flexible arm pullers kept walking off of the arm as i tightened, and when they didnt, they snapped into a million pieces..

PS: WEAR SAFETY GLASSES!

 

[compleckz]

how'd it go?

 

[88mudder]

ive pulled at least 3 pitman arms and ive been sucessful on all of them with no broken pullers. You want to put the tool on there and tighten it up until it gets hard. Get a heavy hammer up in there and hammer down hard on the pitman arm. Tighten the tool up more. Dont tighten it up too much at one time or BAM..the tool with break. Do this process until it comes off. Ive been using a Powerbuilt brand puller from Murray's. WD40 the splines on the shaft beforehard. Heat will blow the seal right up, dont use heat..no reason to if properly done. goodluck

 

[Earl43P]

gotta have new tie rod ends now anyway, tore the boots with a the fork......

I know for a fact that Carquest sells Tie Rod end boots.

They were on the "Help" rack.

 

[Capt Jay]

Also if you hit the side of the knuckle with a hammer a few times the tie rod ends just pop out, I never use pickle forks at work, all their good for is destroying the dust boots.

Don't ever use a pickle fork. All they do is ruin the boots and stress the ends. BFH on the knuckle is all I do and it also helps with stress. The only saftey tips are wear goggles and drink a lot. Ok the second one is just for fun.