Pitman Arm Removal??
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 741
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From: Katy(Houston), Texas
Pitman Arm Removal??
How do you remove the pitman arm from the 54 F100 suspension. I have the pitman arm attached to the straight bar that then connects to a curved part of suspension that steers the wheels. I need to remove the pitman arm by tomorrow. It seems to be pressed into the "straight bar" (not sure what it's called) and I don't want to ruin it forcing it off the wrong way. Can someone please tell me how to remove it?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 797
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From: Cape Coral FL
Drag Link Removal(straight bar thingy)
Remove the cotter pin, and unscrew the drag link ball plug at the rear end of the drag link. Remove the nut and bolt from the rear dust shield clamp. Turn the steering wheel so that the steering gear arm moves toward the rear of the vehicle, and remove the outer ball seat and drag link from steering gear arm ball. Remove the rear dust shield. Remove the inner ball seat, spring, and spring seat from the drag link. Remove the cotter pin, and unscrew the drag link spring seat plug at the forward end of the drag link. Remove the nut and bolt from the front dust shield clamp. Pull the drag link back, and remove the spring seat, spring and ball seat from the drag link. Remove the drag link from the spindle arm ball. remove the front dust shield. That should get the drag link out of the way.
Last edited by merten; Nov 3, 2007 at 10:51 PM.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 115
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From: San Francisco, CA
First off, the 'straight bar' is the drag link. The end of the pitman arm should have a ball that is captured in the drag link to allow a ball & socket type joint. Now, to seperate the two. The end of the drag link where it attached to the pitman arm should have a cap threaded into it. This will be obvious (after all the dirt & grease are gone) by the fact that the cap will have a groove across it, much like a flathead screw head. You need to thread this cap out (i ground a piece of steel flat bar into a giant fleathead style screwdriver and attached a pair of vise grips to torque) to release the pitman arm ball from the joint. I vaguely remember a cotter pin involved somewhere in this procedure, but I'm not quite sure. Watch out when you do get the cap threaded out, as inside the drag link there are a few pieces that are sprung loaded and can pop out and get lost. Once the cap is out, its smooth sailing: you can just slide the drag link off the pitman arm ball and collect all the springs and other parts that form the 'socket' inside the drag link. The other end is the same way. I do remember mine being very tight, so a bit of heat may help to loosen up the two end caps.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: S.C.
I have a '54, my pitman was stuck on there GOOD!
I soked with pb blaster and used a puller, rubber hammer, asorted words of choice until it finnally gave in.
After all... the pitman had been on there since 1954.
Good luck with it, Ed
I soked with pb blaster and used a puller, rubber hammer, asorted words of choice until it finnally gave in.
After all... the pitman had been on there since 1954.
Good luck with it, Ed
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 741
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From: Katy(Houston), Texas
I guess I was on the right track. I had pulled to cotter pin and saw the "plug". I tried to unscrew it but it is really stuck. I figured I better ask before screwing it up. I sprayed it with PB Blaster and used a few choice words as well but it seems to be pretty well stuck. I'll let it soak somemore and try it again this afternoon. Now that I know I'm on the right track I'll get back out there and see if I can get it loose.
Thanks for the advice once again!
Thanks for the advice once again!
