I'm still trying to get the steering box off the car, I need to get this pitman arm off the box, whats the best way to get it off? I tried using a bearing puller but all I managed to do is bend the puller screw ; Suggestions?
You need a puller designed to grab the arm and push on the center of the steering shaft. I'd try walking into a ch***is/alignment shop with a six pack and ask if anybody could pull it for me. Steering box has three bolts through ch***is, correct?
yea, 3 bolts hold the box on, main nut and washer is off the pitman but with 50 yrs, the center link and pit dont want to come apart. Guess I will have to go look for a proper puller
Heat cures all problems when something doesn't want to come loose or off ! A pitman arm puller is a very strong puller ! A bearing puller is like going to a gun fight with a twig ! Like said before take it to a spe******t and pay them to remove it for you and save all the headaches ! To remove the pitman are from the drag link or center bar its connected too , you need to take the bolt off and use a fork and beat the fork till it breaks loose . If you have a chisel gun with the fork you can try that way as well . It's really not that hard to get those parts off when you have the correct tool for the job and the tool is a GOOD ONE ! Chinese junk shatters and breaks under that kind of pressure needed to remove those parts ! Jim
also. make sure to were saftey glases. im the worlds worst for not wearing them, and after several close calls and a few trips to get stuff removed from my eyes i finaly figured out i need to wear them.
Yes I am big on those things as well . I have them all over the shop and use my face shield more than anything . They don't fog up and the face shield let me see much better because I wear gl***es ! I also only have 2 eyes and can't think of my world going black for being stupid and too damn lazy to put them on ! Then I will NEVER be able to drive my hotrods ever again and I can't live like that ! Jim
are you looking to save the steering box? i broke a puller trying to get mine off. then i applied heat from a torch using mapp gas and used a tie rod seperator and it came off..only do that if you are s****ping the box. don't use a cheap pitman arm puller..if you really really have to then i would apply just enough torque with a 3/8 ratchet until you can give it anymore. apply heat, then hit the pitman with a good hammer..let it sit for a while. come back, tighten some more, apply heat, hit it again with hammer and keep doing that it'll pop off..but like i said it doesnt take much to break a cheap pitman arm puller.
I'd also be real careful about to where and what steering, ch***is and suspension parts I was putting heat to for matters of safety.
yea, I would like to keep the steering box, so I don't want to damage it. I really don't want to damage to much, since it can get costly to start replacing parts. I'm not able to take it to a shop to have it removed, the rest of the front end is already removed. I'll go check around for a puller, maybe someone at one of the local car clubs have one I could use for a day.
you would be well off if you can find one with the smallest gap between the 2 arms of the puller that way you can use it for pulling a variety of things like tie rods and the ball stud end of the pitman arm. it just saves you from wrecking your old rubber boots. if the rubber is dryrotted then just hit it with a hammer. like i said before if your saving everything it's gonna take a lot of patience.
yea , I found one at Autozone for $15 , worked like a charm. Should be small enough to use on tie rod ends too... Just another tool in the box... He who dies with the most tools WINS!!!
I have 2 top & 2 -7 drawer bottoms and a center box and still don't have enough room for all the tools I have ! Anytime I see a tool that I might use I get it . I always check out yard sales and buy their broken tools dirt cheap . I meant to say Craftsman , Snap on , Mac and any other USA made tool that I can trade for a new one when broken ! I just hate to not have the right tool for the job when I need it ! Plus I am NOT the guy that borrows tools either ! If I need it I buy it ! Always keep an eye out at the yard sales , flea markets and pawn shops as well ! Have found good tools cheap at pawn shops too ! Next time , since you are not going to use the pitman arm , take a cut off tool and cut 2 line in on each side of the pitman arm but close enough but NOT to hit the steering box threads , then get the trusty "BFH" and smack it good a couple time and it should break loose much easier next time . They usually break one of the cuts you did then it will come off easier with a puller . Try that way next time ! Remember DON'T forget those safety gl***es either ! Jim
They are made cheap and made in china ! The steel is not even close to quality the good USA steel was made in . You get what you pay for ! Jim
You are absolutely right, nothing beats a good American made tool. Unfortunetly I didn't have time to run to Summit racing for the good tool, so I gave this one a try... It worked very well, Pit came off like ****er. I can't complain. but for 15 bucks, I will use it till it breaks and move on to the next tool that I "JUST HAVE TO HAVE" lol
The Jalopy Journal
