Pitman arm removal

[a5150nut]

Haven't been able to get back to this. Last week the job hit me with working seven days a week for the next month or more... Which is a whole 'nuther hassle...

Might have to look at the SnapOn puller, though. I have the Kent Moore puller and there is no way to get the steering box to move far enough to get the puller on. Although, the other item added to the mix is the snow plow mount. Maybe that is interfering with things if I'd try to pull the box forward... I've tried turning the box clockwise, so the shaft points towards the engine but that doesn't give enough clearance.

I just used a standard puller and almost didn't need it AFTER getting the steering box out on the tail gate (work bench). I thought it was going to be a chore to get the box out of the frame, but it's not all that bad. You can probably have it all done in an hour or so.

[trbankii]

I am going to try to get out there tonight and give it another go. Just too many things going on and all hitting at once lately...

I started to remove the lines to the power steering box, but was ending up twisting the line itself - there is some rust and I guess it is getting stuck in the ferrule. If I can get the pitman arm off without removing the steering box it would help. May end up replacing the lines too if I have to take the box out...

[97-6.5TD-F]

I always turn the pitman away from the engine when doing mine.

[trbankii]

Finally got back around to working on this. Put in over 100 hours of overtime in June and was working seven days a week... Sort of sucked... And on salary, so not even any extra $$$ for truck parts or anything...

But finally managed to get the pitman arm off. I'm not sure if some of the people are talking 2WD as far as turning the steering box. With 4WD I just didn't seem to have that option. The cross braces from the frame to the cross piece under the engine just wouldn't allow much movement. I finally disconnected the one line from the steering box to the brake booster and that allowed me to pull the box far enough forward to clear the cross piece under the engine and just barely get the pitman arm puller on. Cranked it down and it sounded like a gunshot when it broke loose. After that, putting it all back together went pretty quickly. Took Robyn's advice of coating the splines with anti-sieze before reassembling it in case it has to come off again in the future.