I am swapping my pitman arm and am having a hard time getting it off.
The first pitman arm removal tool I used was not big enough so I am on my second tool. I have real good pressure on it right now. I put two long wrenches together and torqued it down. It has been sitting like that since yesterday evening. I am continuously soaking it down with PB blaster and other penetrants. I have worn that thing out with several hammers. I used a sledge on the long end of it because that is the only side I can get to with that hammer. Ball peen hammer and claw hammers have also been used. Along with punches and hammers at various places around the shaft. There is just not a good way to get a very good swing at it to break it loose.

I am leary of using heat such as an acetylene torch to heat it up for several reasons:
1 - Torches cause fires
2 - penetrant oil is everywhere at this point
3 - There is a seal on the bottom of the gear box that I don't want to over heat and make leak
4 - Torches cause fires

As a last attemp effort I have considered cutting some relief cuts in the arm around the shaft with some cutting disks on the grinder or rotary tool. I would like to avoid this but it is an option if necessary.

Please give me your tips and what you did to get yours off.

Thanks,
Neal

 

do you have a pickle fork with an air hammer?

are you using an impact on the remover tool?

 

I don't have a pickle fork that big

There is no way to put an impact on the tool. It points directly at the front axle housing. I even have the truck in the air with the front wheel off the ground and there is only about 4-5 inches between the tool and the housing.
Thought of that already.
I even tried to hit the end of the tool where the wrench goes on to add vibration to the gearbox shaft. Not alot of room there.
The only way would be to drop the front leafsprings and axle.

Thanks for the reply,
Neal

 

It only takes a few minutes to take the gear box out . May need help holding it when you take out the last bolt . The 2 lines & the joint are readily accessible from the wheel well . I would work on it on the bench then you can use an impact on the puller.....

 

Probably easier to drop the springs. 2 bolts.

 

You could try ice.

 

I had to use a puller from Advanced Auto to do mine
Even then I had to put a HUGE wrench on it to get it broke loose.

When I did my f150, I was able to beat it off in the truck as designed. but when I got my new box with a different pitman arm i heated it up with apropane torch and beat the hell outa it with a 3lber.

 

Wash all the penetrating oil off and keep the hose handy I know you don't want to use heat because of the seal but if you use the right tip on the torch you will be fine try a Rosebud tip on the torch and try to point the torch down away from the box right after you get the arm off blast the spline shaft and box with cold water(that sounded a little weird) to cool it down, it will get warm but if you soak it down with water right away the seal will be fine but the trick is a ROSEBUD tip and point it away from the steering box.

 

Do you think a small propane torch would work?
Not as much heat and gets applied slower.

Just a thought.

 

Yeah you could try that worth a shot but I don't think it will be hot enough .

But if your not feeling good about using a torch your better off doing what Rick said and take it right out.

 

I used a puller, got the bolt super tight, like, I'm worried something is going to break tight, then gave it a couple sharp raps with a hammer- popped right off.

 

Since you don't live in Michigan , maybe so ...

It took me 15 minutes to drop my steering box ...If you would have done that , you would be done now ...

 

UPDATE:
I got it off Friday afternoon. I let it soak with plenty of pressure from the puller on it for about 24 hours. I soaked it everytime I went outside. When I got home Friday I soaked it again, went and changed clothes. Came back out and soaked it again, gave the puller another few yanks and with a large sledge I beat on it some more... them clank. It hit the floor!
Cool it just takes a little patience and some kinda BFH!

Then I went to put the new one on, Guess what?
It was for a SD. I got the wrong one. But good news is that they will swap it out for me but I have to wait a few more days.

Thanks guys.