Pitman Arm Dilema
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,045
Likes: 5
From: Gig Em, Tx
Pitman Arm Dilema
Jumped in on the Red head group buy and told sales guy I had no idea on number of splines. He told me it should be 36 with my make and model. Got the box in and couldn't get my pitman arm off my old box. Got a new 36 spline pitman arm from AZ but it was an inch shorter than my old arm measuring center to center. So I figured I had a 32 spline unit. I ordered and picked up a new 32 spline steering gear (was going to return Red Head's unit) and pitman arm but it was, again, 1 inch shorter than the stock arm. Now I don't know what the hell to do. Frustration setting in.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,156
Likes: 0
From: Yuba City, CA.
First off, count the number of splines between the index marks on your original sector shaft. 8=32, 9=36. I would keep the RedHead and persuade the pitman-arm with a puller and heat.
Edit- take a ball point pen and start at the gap which appears at 90* increments, then with a little pressure, run it over each tooth counting as you go until you get to the next gap (indexing mark)
Edit- take a ball point pen and start at the gap which appears at 90* increments, then with a little pressure, run it over each tooth counting as you go until you get to the next gap (indexing mark)
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
Likes: 50
From: Texas
I don't remember the details, but there was a change made in the early years of the super duty to the length of the pitman arm. They either shortened or lengthened it a bit. I don't remember the reasoning behind it either, but perhaps if you searched you could find the info.
The shorter arm will probably work just fine. Why don't you post measurements of the short arm so we can compare. Have you thought about continuing to try and get the old arm off?
The shorter arm will probably work just fine. Why don't you post measurements of the short arm so we can compare. Have you thought about continuing to try and get the old arm off?
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,045
Likes: 5
From: Gig Em, Tx
Short arm is 6.5 inches center to center, long is 7.5 inches. I have the arm soaking in PB Blaster tonight and will try to remove it again tomorrow. I stripped one puller today with impact wrench trying to get the two separated. Am out of acetylene so can't use heat and have been trying to avoid it. Don't want to ruin the temper of the steel. As far as 32 vs 36 teeth, I bought a 32 tooth arm and 32 tooth steering gear today. The new arm fit the new gear and did not fit the RED head unit so I'm pretty sure I have a 36" gear.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,609
Likes: 324
From: Arizona
Using an impact on the puller was a bad idea as you probably know now. Get a new puller and turn it by hand till it gets tight, then tap the sides of the arm where it is pressed on, then crank down on the puller a turn or two, tap the arm again, and so on. You will feel the puller loosen a bit each time you tap and the arm will gradually come off without damage to the arm or the tool.
You definitely want to use that Redhead, I put one on a couple months ago and it's way fun to drive now, just like a new truck.
You definitely want to use that Redhead, I put one on a couple months ago and it's way fun to drive now, just like a new truck.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,045
Likes: 5
From: Gig Em, Tx
Using an impact wrench with a puller has always worked for me in the past. The impact part is like hitting with hammer. I use this procedure last if others like banging with hammer don't work. Puller was made in china so not best quality.
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Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,156
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From: Yuba City, CA.
I bought mine at Napa, made in the USA and has done that task several times over. Might want to look into it.
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New User
Joined: Jun 2010
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i took my plasma cutter an cut a v into both side then a chisel to split it, to get it off the steering box.. tried bmfh and pullers and soaked in pb blasterfor a couple days still nothen, granted body had over 200k when i changed it all..
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,667
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I use a proto puller, It wasnt my first choice in my box, but was thin enough to get under pitman arm, then had to hold bottom of puller jaws with 20" waterpump pliars [slip groove pliars], tightened with air wrench but not enough to spring jaws out, than whacked with 32 oz. hammer took couple tries of pullers jumping off.
It's a Van Gogh
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,812
Likes: 1,335
From: Elk Grove, CA
I was in that boat! New Red Head box on the bench ready to go in, stupid pitman arm stuck on the old box thwarting the plan... I eventually gave up and took it to a local shop. They got so enthusiastic with heating the pitman arm it partially melted. Then they gave up too. So I got a new pitman arm and got 'er done. It is also 6.5" instead of stock 7.5" and the difference is in operation is tiny, don't worry about it. On the other hand the Red Head and a new tie rod made a big improvement! 
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,045
Likes: 5
From: Gig Em, Tx
I was in that boat! New Red Head box on the bench ready to go in, stupid pitman arm stuck on the old box thwarting the plan... I eventually gave up and took it to a local shop. They got so enthusiastic with heating the pitman arm it partially melted. Then they gave up too. So I got a new pitman arm and got 'er done. It is also 6.5" instead of stock 7.5" and the difference is in operation is tiny, don't worry about it. On the other hand the Red Head and a new tie rod made a big improvement!
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,238
Likes: 2
From: North Port, Florida
Holly hell, I dont like these stories I have been looking at my new box for a couple of weeks now and was thinking about putting it on today, but now I am thinking I am not prepared for some of these things. Is there a write up on swapping these boxes out? I am going to have to see if I have the right puller. Snap on truck does not come to my town untill Thurs. then I have to catch up with him somewhere and hope he has it. Does someone have a snap on number for the right puller?
thanks
thanks
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,045
Likes: 5
From: Gig Em, Tx
All's well that ends well. Soaked overnight in PB Blaster (pool of lube was gone this morning so it had to have soaked in) Put puller on and torqued up with impact wrench until puller screw would not turn anymore, put on ground, got biggest hammer I could find and played golf with it. When I finally hit it (I suck at golf) one part became two and I went to assembly mode. All that's left is a test drive across Texas in about 30 min.