Tackling my kid's 2001 Blazer LT this weekend. Replacing the steering gear box and pitman arm. I have the pitman arm puller for the gear box side, but my question is: What works best for separating the pitman arm from the connecting rod? I did the idler arm last weekend and ended up using the old pickle fork because none of my pullers would work.


As always, thanks in advance!

 

If you give the center link a few solid smacks with a hammer right on the side where the pitman arm stud goes thru it(you wat to hit the link perpendicular to the stud), it should fall right apart.

The trick works for pretty much anything with a tapered stud(ball joints, tierods, etc)

 

Thanks Chevy! Normally this trick works for tie rod ends, ball joints etc. I wanted to cover all my bases because once I get to the point of disconnecting the pitman arm, I will be without a parts car and my luck always sux when it comes to things not coming apart like they should.

 

if theres enough play in the old pitman arm you can actually use the pitman arm puller for that part too, but usually hard to do on a newer arm

 

if it's a 4wd be prepared to remove the gearbox from the framerail... pain in the rear, but only way you're going to get the pitman arm off. You'll see why when you dig in there.

2wd I'm not 100% certain on, but I think there's room to remove it without dropping the box