Well I know there are tons of threads about how fun the pitman arm is to get off, and I think I have read just about all of them and still can't find my answers.

I notice there are two cracks in my pitman arm, it is an aftermarket "Tuff Country" 4" drop pitman arm.

I got the pitman arm to drop out of the splines on the shaft...but it won't come all the way off because there is not enough room!

My question is, what all do I need to do to get the steering box moved enough to get that thing off?

From what I can see...I need to remove the 3 bolts going from fender well into steering pump, then will it be able to moved enought to get out or do I need to disconnect more things off of the box itself first? (ie. lines, shafts, anything?)




On another note: I need to get this done in the next 3 hours max or I'm leaving the old one and driving it with a trailer over the pass and hoping it doesn't break

so I'm already at the point of taking the air cut off tool to it to get the old one off...then I'm thinking if I grind down just a little on the new one it will go in...I would really rather not be grinding on the new part though and this shouldn't be so difficult!

Any and all information is greatly appriciated!

 

Maybe I'm not understanding where the clearance issue is, but, when I changed the last one, I disconnected the steering link, then turned the steering wheel to get the pitman arm away from everything else.

Dave

 

I thought about turning the steering wheel, but I didn't want to mess up my "back to center" since I have heard tons on here of people that can't get there steering wheel to return to center.

I got mine off...I loosened the three bolts through the fender well and that let it move enough to come off, got the new one on being very carefull to get it back in the right spot, and now of course the steering wheel is turned right when I'm going straight.

from reading on here I learn you can adjust the steering wheel pretty easily actually, no problem. BUT just out of ceriousity...why did my steering wheel become off...any ideas? I replaced the ball joints and pitman arm (never drove it after replacing ball joints since pitman was cracked) but how could either of these throw it off? I mean the pitman arm I put on perfect just like the other one...is it possible the new pitman arm even though through the same company (tuff country) could have a little different bends therefor different steering geometry?




EDIT: for anyone replacing there pitman arm and reading this...the part it hits and does not clear is a corner cross brace on the frame, the same brace that disables you from getting a puller on it. If you loosen the three bolts to fender well it will give enough room to clear, BUT I don't think it would have given enough room to get a puller on it if I wouldn't have been able to get it off with the old hammer and pry bar.
Since I mentioned a hammer, I must also say BE GENTLE, VERY GENTLE, that is your steering shaft your pounding on...
I used a pry bar on the back side, gave a little pressure, soaked in WD40 and just tapped the other side (front) with a hammer to give equal pressure to both sides, it fell right off. Good luck! and if its cracked...fix it, thats serious and you could hurt yourself along with many others on the road