pitman arm
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pitman arm
I'm in the middle of the install on my lift kit and 20 years of rust and mud have taken their toll on my truck and everything has been a nightmare.
All that's left is the pitman arm and I can't make the stupid thing move. I currently have the puller on it keeping tension but if I tighten it too much it spins off.
Any tips or tricks on getting this stupid thing off? My arms are beat from hitting it with a hammer for the past couple hours. I'm leaving the puller overnight, what should I do when I go back it in the morning.
All that's left is the pitman arm and I can't make the stupid thing move. I currently have the puller on it keeping tension but if I tighten it too much it spins off.
Any tips or tricks on getting this stupid thing off? My arms are beat from hitting it with a hammer for the past couple hours. I'm leaving the puller overnight, what should I do when I go back it in the morning.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 871
Likes: 6
From: Orcas Island, WA
Spray with a _real_ penetrating fluid, something like PB Blaster or AeroKroil. Wait awhile, spray again. Wait a while longer. Try it. No budge? Judicious use of heat. Try a fine point torch on the just the pitman arm where it goes around the shaft. You want to try and heat up the pitman arm more than the shaft. This will both increase the size of the pitman arm in relationship to the shaft. It will also tend to break loose any corrosion due to the expansion of the metals.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2013
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Spray with a _real_ penetrating fluid, something like PB Blaster or AeroKroil. Wait awhile, spray again. Wait a while longer. Try it. No budge? Judicious use of heat. Try a fine point torch on the just the pitman arm where it goes around the shaft. You want to try and heat up the pitman arm more than the shaft. This will both increase the size of the pitman arm in relationship to the shaft. It will also tend to break loose any corrosion due to the expansion of the metals.
If that doesn't work, I'm cutting into it and breaking it off. I'm not going to let it ruin another day.
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 20
From: Denton, TX
On my swap this was the hardest thing to remove.
I rented a pitman puller from o'reilly's, they had two if I recall, and I brought both home.
The one I used was very tight to slip on, had to hammer it on.
Knowing this would be a challenge I put the puller on as soon as I removed the steering link. I tightened the bejesus out of it. Would come back to it from time to time and tried to put more torque to it.
I even left it overnight thinking I would awake to it laying on the ground. No joy.
Using a cheater pipe I just kept tightening, with the intent of breaking the ratchet or the puller if needed. I have an angle grinder to cut it just as you describe.
After getting mad at it and abusing the rented tool, well, like a rented tool, it came off.
I wouldn't use heat as I felt I was abusing the steering box enough, but that is just me.
Get mad at it and try to break the tool...
I rented a pitman puller from o'reilly's, they had two if I recall, and I brought both home.
The one I used was very tight to slip on, had to hammer it on.
Knowing this would be a challenge I put the puller on as soon as I removed the steering link. I tightened the bejesus out of it. Would come back to it from time to time and tried to put more torque to it.
I even left it overnight thinking I would awake to it laying on the ground. No joy.
Using a cheater pipe I just kept tightening, with the intent of breaking the ratchet or the puller if needed. I have an angle grinder to cut it just as you describe.
After getting mad at it and abusing the rented tool, well, like a rented tool, it came off.
I wouldn't use heat as I felt I was abusing the steering box enough, but that is just me.
Get mad at it and try to break the tool...
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Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
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From: Gilbert, PA
Do NOT use heat. you will ruin the seal.
Get in there with a cut off wheel and cut 90% thru it then take a chisel and hit in the cut spot. It will crack and dam near fall off
Get in there with a cut off wheel and cut 90% thru it then take a chisel and hit in the cut spot. It will crack and dam near fall off
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Sand Lake, MI
LOL @ your reply, well know better next time what ever you did don't do it next time!
How bad is it, what I mean is is it just the threads at the very end of the shaft say mushroomed little bit? or the threads for the entire length of the shaft are all buggered up?
If limited to the very end first few use a die grinder or hand file beveling off the end where the damage is until the nut starts clean again.
Might be salvageable might not be depends on how it was damaged and the extent of same.
Damage limited to the very end first few threads or so? that can be corrected for without to much trouble saving the gear box.
How bad is it, what I mean is is it just the threads at the very end of the shaft say mushroomed little bit? or the threads for the entire length of the shaft are all buggered up?
If limited to the very end first few use a die grinder or hand file beveling off the end where the damage is until the nut starts clean again.
Might be salvageable might not be depends on how it was damaged and the extent of same.
Damage limited to the very end first few threads or so? that can be corrected for without to much trouble saving the gear box.
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 20
From: Denton, TX
Bullfeathers, you are way too far in to this project to be that.
Like danr1 intimated, tell us what happened, likely we've all been there, and may be able to help?
Like danr1 intimated, tell us what happened, likely we've all been there, and may be able to help?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 871
Likes: 6
From: Orcas Island, WA
I feel your pain. Seriously. I've done it, and I think if everyone here were honest with themselves they've done at least once as well. Everyone screws up periodically. The real issue is how you recover from the inevitable oops. That's where the smarts and skill come in to play.
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I used a hammer to knock it loose from the pitman arm without putting a nut on it so it's mushroomed. I've got it cleaned up enough to get the nut on there but I may have messed up the nut trying. I can only get it part way on before it catches and just spins the pin. I'm going to try to work with it tomorrow and get it. That's the only thing left keeping me from driving it.
Here's a teaser shot.
Here's a teaser shot.