Remove pitman arm

Post by **phyler** » Sat Jun 06, 2015 2:18 pm

OK, I don't think it should be this hard but how do you get the pitman arm puller on? My frame seems to be in the way. Do you need to loosen the box from the frame?

Adam

Post by **Kinder** » Sat Jun 06, 2015 5:14 pm

Unless you have a odd puller it usually clears the frame, the usual problem is getting the tool onto the large pitman arm that the broncos use.

Post by **phyler** » Sat Jun 06, 2015 5:38 pm

Here is a picture of the puller.

And here is the pitman arm:

The last pic is deceptive due to be head on.

Adam

Post by **Kinder** » Sat Jun 06, 2015 7:03 pm

Yikes, that pitman arm is on there deep! Looks like you'll have to pull the box. Most don't go on that far. Or you have a non-stock steering box or pitman arm.

Post by **phyler** » Sat Jun 06, 2015 8:24 pm

I'm pretty sure it's all stock. I've never changed it in the 20+ years I've owned it and it was completely stock when I got it.

I was going to pull it so I could drill it out for my one ton steering. I was looking at it and I'm not sure there is enough material to put a 1" hole in it. I have the insert from RuffStuff.

Guess I know what I'm doing tomorrow. :-)

I should have expected something like this. Nothing is ever easy. Just need to get this hole done to reassemble and drive it.

Post by **mickphatmac** » Sat Jun 06, 2015 11:09 pm

1 whack downward with my BFH and that...was that!
No puller necessary!

Post by **Viperwolf1** » Sat Jun 06, 2015 11:32 pm

I had one that heat or a 20 ton press wouldn't remove, until both were combined resulting in one big bang.

Post by **phyler** » Sun Jun 07, 2015 7:12 am

Ugh, I hope it doesn't come to that. I don't have either heat or a press. I see this becoming project Downward Spiral. Next up steering box rebuild. :-)

Post by **sykanr0ng** » Sun Jun 07, 2015 10:49 am

phyler wrote:I'm pretty sure it's all stock. I've never changed it in the 20+ years I've owned it and it was completely stock when I got it.

I was going to pull it so I could drill it out for my one ton steering. I was looking at it and I'm not sure there is enough material to put a 1" hole in it. I have the insert from RuffStuff.

Guess I know what I'm doing tomorrow. :-)

I should have expected something like this. Nothing is ever easy. Just need to get this hole done to reassemble and drive it.

Ugh, I hope it doesn't come to that. I don't have either heat or a press. I see this becoming project Downward Spiral. Next up steering box rebuild. :-)

Stock steering box.
One ton steering.

Time for a 4x4x2 box?

Post by **phyler** » Sun Jun 07, 2015 10:57 am

At some point. I needed new tie rods and I got the one ton setup for less than replacing the stock ones. Still rocking 33" tires and not really trying to get that aggressive yet. Kids are still small so mostly easier trails for now. Just trying to do things once as needed.

Post by **phyler** » Sat Jun 13, 2015 3:17 pm

Thanks to plumbdoctor for letting me swing by and get Landshark's reamer, I got things back together today. The reamer made semi-short work of the pitman arm while still on the Bronco. I realized though that I left the tube on the drag link about an inch too long so I have zero adjust right now. Oh well. Worse case there, I'm out a bung. I need to set the toe and it should be good to go. I realized I should probably re-bleed the brakes one last time. The pedal just isn't quite where I want it on the first stab.

For those who have done the RuffStuff kit, are you running a steering stabilizer? I can't see how it would work without going to a shorter shock than stock. Unless I have my dragline on 180 backwards. :)

Oh, and just to show it truly is project Downward Spiral, I pulled it into the garage after the test drive around the block and found fuel dripping from the fuel pump. Can't tell if it is from the fuel pump or where the hard line that goes to the carb connects yet. That will be tomorrow's project.

Anyways, thanks to all who have chimed in on this project!

Adam

Post by **Justin** » Sat Jun 13, 2015 3:58 pm

I've never run a stabilizer on mine. Had a finger or two whacked by the wheel with the manual box, but power steering and smarter driving took care of that.

Post by **Gunnibronco** » Sat Jun 13, 2015 7:07 pm

No stabilizer for me either. I don't miss it.

Post by **Viperwolf1** » Sat Jun 13, 2015 7:41 pm

I use a stock stabilizer with the ruff stuff. Can't fit a bigger one in because the winch is in the way. I had to make a bracket for the drag link. Just used a piece of 3x3 angle and some u-bolts.

Post by **phyler** » Sat Jun 13, 2015 7:59 pm

Viperwolf1 wrote:I use a stock stabilizer with the ruff stuff. Can't fit a bigger one in because the winch is in the way. I had to make a bracket for the drag link. Just used a piece of 3x3 angle and some u-bolts.

I have the bracket from RuffStuff. It just makes it too short based on where I can attach. Any chance I have the drag link ends backwards?

Adam

Post by **Viperwolf1** » Sun Jun 14, 2015 1:14 am

phyler wrote:
Viperwolf1 wrote:I use a stock stabilizer with the ruff stuff. Can't fit a bigger one in because the winch is in the way. I had to make a bracket for the drag link. Just used a piece of 3x3 angle and some u-bolts.

I have the bracket from RuffStuff. It just makes it too short based on where I can attach. Any chance I have the drag link ends backwards?

Adam

It is backwards compared to mine.

Post by **phyler** » Sun Jun 14, 2015 7:24 am

Thanks. I'll flip it and see. Makes more sense that way but they describe the end I have at the pitman arm currently as correct.

Post by **Justin** » Sun Jun 14, 2015 12:18 pm

If I remember correctly one of those has a longer range of useable movement to account for axle travel. You might double check that before you swap ends. My drag link has 2 ends that look like the one attached to the pitman arm.

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