I am attempting to replace the seal on the bottom of the steering box and the pitman arm is stuborn. I have a puller on the arm but it wont budge. The arm is still attached to the center link and my questions is does it need to come off of that first or does it swivel enough to remove the pitman arm from the steering shaft while still attached.

Thanks
Kevin
71 Cutlass Supreme conv

 

I would separate it from the center link. Might be able to get it off without doing so but I think its harder to get off attached. Do you have a pitmam arm puller of just a universal type puller? With a good pitman arm puller I have never had one not come off. Put some good pressure on the puller and a couple shocks with a small sledge hammer works every time for me.

 

I think it would be easier separated from the center link as well. I just did this a couple weeks ago, and i used a universal gear type puller and some heat and it came off.

 

Good luck. I skipped that stubborn step and sent the whole assembly directly to Chip Woyner @ powersteering.com! Rebuilding the whole thing though + faster ratio.

 

be sure you paid attention to what richard wrote.... "plus a couple good whacks with a sledgehammer"

that is essential. I've seen pullers stripped out trying to pull one off- but if you tighten it up- then give it a couple good whacks, tighten & whack again, i've seen them off in 1 min.

As with all suspension project, don't forget teh BFH!

 

I removed my gear box and had it rebuilt last month. I didn't remove the pitman arm from the center link and it came off just fine. I just worked the puller a couple of times and hit it with a hammer under tension. It came off on the second pull.

 

No need to remove from center link, pry it down and swing it away.