What's the labor time for Pitman arm replacement on 98 Blazer 4x4?

I've googled but did not find. Some posts suggest the steering gear box must be completely removed. Others state the box just needs to be unbolted but only twisted around to remove pitman arm.

I'm gonna bring mine to a shop, as it looks like big PITA replacing while lying on my back.

 

No idea what the book rate is, but on my 95 I just unbolted the box and moved it around to get at the pitman arm with the puller. Took a little less than an hour. This was on a lift at the shop using power tools, flat backing it would not be something I would try either...

 

If you have power tools I think it is possible to just twist it around without having to pull out the steering box. But if you're me, without power tools, you will have to pull the sucker out. It took about 2 hours to replace mine after I pulled it a second time. I had to put mine in a vice to remove the pitman arm with a puller.

 

According to alldatapro 1.3 without a skid plate and 1.7 with a skid plate. I'm not sure why the skid plate makes such a difference but somewhere around 1-1.5 hours should be your typical time to replace.

 

Can be PIA to get the pitman nut off. I used a cutoff wheel and cut through the nut then had to use a chisel to spread the nut just to get it off

 

Is that labor time for a 98 4x4?

I've got a plastic cover, wouldn't really call it a skid plate.

 

its gonna suck without a impact. most the older chevys i deal with have very rusty power steering lines so you always risk breaking those by taking them off

but that plastic cover isnt that big of a deal, 4 or 5 bolts