Pitman arm removal????? - Corvette Forum : DigitalCorvettes.com Corvette Forums

DTOM · 12-16-2012, 01:26 PM

I have most of my power steering off, minus the steering gear and the pitman arm.

Up till now, everything has come off pretty easy and the manuals have been pretty clear as far as how it comes apart / goes back together. The pitman arm is a little different story.

Looking back at previous threads I am not the first to struggle with this one. I am not quite sure if there is a secret to getting the nut off the top of the steering gear or if it is just rust welded. I have the cotter pin out, put a good ammout of WD40 on it, but the nut won't budge.

Also, I have been looking for a good diagram / instructions on how to remove the pitman arm. I have the corvette maintenance manual and the 1973 chevy maintenance manuals sitting side by side, but there is not a lot of detail on the pitman arm (minus the exploded view of the steering gear components).

Curious if any has any words of wisdom or a good diagram / step by step on removing the pitman arm?

72SBVet · 12-16-2012, 02:10 PM

I use a 1/2" impact gun with an adapter socket so that I can use 3/4" drive sockets. Mine wasn't hard at all to remove and the pitman on mine came off with ease, but my brothers old 74 was a pita cause the pitman arm was so close to the frame that tool couldn't grasp it. Typical QC for those years

gtr1999 · 12-16-2012, 03:29 PM

Remove the box from the car if that is your plan, it will be a lot easier to get the arm off.
A standard pitman arm puller may work or possibly break. I used one for a long time until it broke. I use the cone shape OTC puller now with a spacer I machined up. Sometimes I use propane to heat it up but I get them all off.

iburke · 12-16-2012, 03:34 PM

I removed the box from the car. Then put it in a vice and used a 3/4" impact wrench...

DTOM · 12-16-2012, 04:21 PM

This may be a stupid question, but did you pull both the steering gear and steering gear assembly out in one piece / with the pitman arm connecting them?

72SBVet · 12-16-2012, 04:30 PM

When I replaced my gear box I left the pitman are attached under the car. Never did get my brother's off as he sold the car.

92Roadster · 12-16-2012, 05:20 PM

....I had a lot of people bring in their gear boxes to the shop
so I could remove the pitman arm because it would not budge,
I would always put it in a vise, spray it with WD, then whack
the pitman arm with a ball peen hammer a couple of times to
shock any rust and loosen its grip, with a good pitman arm
remover and impact gun its a piece of cake.....

DTOM · 12-16-2012, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 92Roadster

....I had a lot of people bring in their gear boxes to the shop
so I could remove the pitman arm because it would not budge,
I would always put it in a vise, spray it with WD, then whack
the pitman arm with a ball peen hammer a couple of times to
shock any rust and loosen its grip, with a good pitman arm
remover and impact gun its a piece of cake.....

Thanks, good news is I am on half days and then taking some leave thru New Years. I will definitely have it back together and on the road before then.

slofut · 12-17-2012, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 92Roadster

....I had a lot of people bring in their gear boxes to the shop
so I could remove the pitman arm because it would not budge,
I would always put it in a vise, spray it with WD, then whack
the pitman arm with a ball peen hammer a couple of times to
shock any rust and loosen its grip, with a good pitman arm
remover and impact gun its a piece of cake.....

Ditto what 92R said.
Vice, impact gun for the nut, propane heat, and I used a two prong gear puller and a hammer. Tight but it came off without much fuss. The right tools always make a difference.
Bill