New member here. Recently acquired a 2000 GMC Jimmy SLE 4x4, and have been doing some maintenance work so far.

I am having problem removing the Pitman arm after I have replaced some front suspension parts last week (inner/outer tie-rods, tie-rod adjuster sleeves, lower/upper ball joint, idler arm, sway bar link). I have tried a 1 1/4" wrench and it does not work. I have even tried 1 5/16 wrench and that does not work either. The darn cross-member is on the way, and I don't see how you can slide a pitman arm tool in there.

Any hints on removing the pitman arm without removing the steering box is much appreciated. Thanks

Mario

Repairs so far: front suspension rebuild, new belt with tensionner, cooler lines, TCCM)

 

I really dont think there is any easy way for us to do it when the cross member is there. Im having the trouble getting it apart on the linkage. Any luck?

 

I had an older Jimmy that needed a pitman arm and the shop cut a slot in the old one with a die grinder loaded with a 3" cut-off wheel. Then it slid off. They had the wrench that fit the nut but I don't know its size.
Good Luck.

 

Get an 18mm line wrench and take off the power steering lines on the gear box, unbolt the 3 bolts holding the gearbox and take it out. don't cut the frame

 

That is what was done on my jimmy, I first wondered why that was like that, when i looked under the truck, then i realized. good for me in the future.

 

To get the arm off the linkage, go buy a cheap pitman arm puller and grind it more open and thinner on the claws. As they come it will not fit on a Blazer linkage. Turn the wheel left and have at it. Comes off easy as can be.

None of my pullers or ball joint dealios would fit in there.

The box is very easy to get out. I can take it out in less than an hour. Thanks Advance Auto for the practice Take the driver wheel off (truck on stands of course). Pull back the fender well rubber and take off the lines. Should be 18mm. You can get them off laying on your back but why? Straighten the steering wheel and take out the 11 or 12 mm green bolt on the steering shaft. Remember once you take the shaft off don't turn your wheel too much or you will break the clock spring. Pry the shaft off. If you can't get it off, you can slide the lower steering shaft out with the gear box. Remove bolts for gearbox. Wipe the fluid off your face, eyes, mouth, ears, hair. Lift the gearbox out. It's like 3 am here in Jersey and I just did this again cause my Advanceauto parts gearbox just **** on me.

Mark the orientation of the pitman arm before you take it off. It has 4 keys. If swapping boxes make sure the new box is in the same place as the old, centered, all the way left etc.

Pay attention when you put it back in. My box was screwed up and the only way I could get it in was with the steering wheel off center. It was more than an alignment, I swear they put the worm gear in wrong. Should have known.

You will fight to get the steering shaft back on. You can keep the lower shaft on the box and try to get in on the column or do it the traditional way and line the complete shaft and the box up. Take your pry bar and from the top of the engine compartment tap it on using your best chinglealie ie... hammer. Only goes on one way so don't force it on HeMan, just give a few taps and it will go. My snap on bar is about 3'. Probably need something close to that.

Remember before trying to take the pitman off the linkage, it helps if the steering box is unbolted. There is not a lot of room in that linkage for movement and I have found it comes off easier if I'm not fighting a solidly mounted box. Speaking of solidly mounting a box .....

If you don't understand this go stare at your truck for 30 mins and come back and ask questions I will be more than glad to give you my 2 pennies. I do not claim to be an expert, but this works for me and its about a 2 hour job start to finish.


And I just realized somebody dug up a 3 year old post... Yay me. Well for the future pitman arm replacer people that use the search button as is highly recommended, here are some words from that idiot from New Jersey that works on way too many cars in the 25 minutes the military decides to give him off each week.