I'm replacing my drag link as the ball joints in it are starting to fail. Has anyone uninstalled one of these before and have any tips at getting the pitman arm end to detach? We got the knuckle end out pretty easily and have been banging the pitman arm side with a dead blow hammer for quite a while now. Help!

 

I hope the emoticons indicate you are kidding.

Go to a parts store and borrow a proper puller.

 

No I'm not kidding. Will a press even fit under there? There's hardly any room to work with.

I didn't know of any other way to get this thing out of there than to hit it. I seriously doubt that the steering box or pitman arm are damaged (maybe a couple thousand miles taken off). We've also been using a crow bar to no avail.

 

A tierod end puller won't fit on the pitman end, well it'll fit but you can't tighten it down enough to get it off, it's easier just to pull the pitman and get the draglink end off with it off the steering box with the pitman .

 

Then put it in a vise, I spread out two pickle forks on mine tryin to do it the way your doin.

 

I've been successful using some heat and a pickle fork. Use a rosebud tip on a oxy/acet torch and warm up the pitman arm, then use your pickle fork..the heat will cause enough expansion to overcome the locking effect of the taper. Just be carefule where you point the torch while your under there.

 

Thanks for all your help. Sounds like I need to get a pickle fork and a 3lb hammer. We had sprayed WD 40 on the joint so might that complicate things?

 

Yea there is no way to get a proper puller on there. If you pull the pitman arm you can get a puller on. Pulling the pitman arm is no easy task either.

 

Ok. We've decided to call it quits for today. It was 115 degees in the garage and it faces west so it was EXTREMELY hot and we are pooped. We tried the three pound hammer and pickle fork and they didn't seem to do anymore than we've already done. I just don't have the right tools for this job and may end up taking it somewhere. It's a shame since it seems like such an easy install. Just two bolts!

 

With the help of Randy James and Wildinwillin we were finally able to get the drag link off using a pickle fork and an impact wrench. The right tools make all the difference!

Thanks guys!