Plan on installing a drop pitman arm soon. My truck has the original and I need to stick a 4inch drop in there. Just wondering if anyone has replaced one lately so they could tell me how crappy the job was.

 

I did it 6 years ago when I replaced my steering box it was a PITA since I did the whole box in my driveway with basic tools. If all you’re doing is the arm it should be cake walk, a few bolts for the steering linkage and you’re good. And by a few bolts I mean there’s a massive bolt that attaches the the arm to box that is 1-13/16 or 45mm and has a torque spec of 300ft/lbs.

I borrowed the socket from a harbor freight 3/4” drive set. No way to torque it so I put a pipe on the end of the 3/4 drive and gave it some German torque.

But if you have the tools it’s straight forward, 1 nut for the steering linkage to the pitman and that massive nut from the pitman to the box.

 

I did one about the summer before this last and found it not that bad of a job.
I did happen to already own a 600Ft/Lb torque wrench from way back when I
had replaced the track bar bushing. That thing takes a bit of torque also.

 

I've put off this job for years. The horror stories I've heard have caused a stall. Nut working loose after replacement, having to use heat to separate arm from the gearbox.

We'll see how well it'll go.

 

When I had my stock gear box out and in a vise it took a lot of heating with a torch and nearly broke a puller and when it finally separated it sounded like a gun shot and the pitman arm flew about five feet in the air with the puller. Wear safety glasses, gloves and stay clear of it especially when you are cranking down on the puller tool.



Notice puller arms bending

Heat heat and more heat

Boom!

 

That torch image shows heating the shaft, expanding it. I've always heated the arm to get it a little hotter than the shaft. Or is the image just part of what you did?

 

I heat cycled the shaft and the pitman arm around it, let it cool, heated it, let it cool then heated it and sprayed a little penetrating lubricant in there to draw into the splines. It’s not my first rodeo. I needed a bigger torch though.
You get that engine together yet?

 

That why I asked about the image, it only refers to heating the shaft and others who are not familiar with the process might take it that way.

Its been running for a while.

 

I never tried just heat cycling the shaft but I bet it would work.
I never saw a thread on your engine rebuild.

 

I don't heat the shaft, in this case only the arm. I would want the shaft to stay as cool as possible. Not my first rodeo either.

Never had one; never intended to.

 

I think the pitman arp puller i have is a bit bigger. I did not have to heat anything.
But then again it was already presoaked with fluid from she damaged seal.

 

I'd probably spray some penetrating oil on multiple times for a few days before tackling it it. It may help and it may be snake oil, but $2 to possibly make life a lot easier would sure go a long way.

 

The best one IMHO is Kroil. If not that then use a 50/50 mix of ATF and acetone.

 

I'm starting to try Free All, which was recomended by Hydro/Hydro-Tek.

 

Why do I feel like you had a virtual party and I wasn't invited? I think you owe us some pics Mr Man...