pitman arm removal on a yj

[jrb4x4]

Anyone have a trick to remove a pitman arm? I've tryed cutting a groove into it with no luck. I've already broken three pitman arm pullers with out any movement.

[fishotro]

pb blaster, ballpeen hammer, GOOD puller, pry bars.

[actionpaintball]

Originally Posted by jrb4x4

Anyone have a trick to remove a pitman arm? I've tryed cutting a groove into it with no luck. I've already broken three pitman arm pullers with out any movement.

Your groove is not deep enough (meaning all the way through). Switcj to a die grinder or dremale for the last 1/8" go slow and almost cut through-then hit with a chisel to snap and clean cut. Do not use an adjustable 3 jaw puller. You should be using one of these:

[jrb4x4]

actionpaintball That is what I used. I didnt cut it all the way but close. I'll cut the rest of the way with a dremmel and try the chisel. Thanks

[Angler1979]

I used a propane torch to heat it up then I used the above tool and it popped rite off

[retardatwork]

I used beer I wrenched on the pitman arm puller shown above till it was tight then i would tap it for 5 min give or take, have a beer tighten- tap, have a beer tighten -tap until a six pack later it poped off. works great

[sonicr1]

drove mine to shop gave dude $20, he popped it off for me!!!

[2oldtosk8]

First I fabbed up a 1/4" plate to protect the steering box seal to the shaft. Took a cutting torch and heated up the arm. Used a pitman arm puller combined with a BFH to remove. I bought the jeep from a guy who ran it in salted roads in the winter. I don't know how else I could have removed it. I have also heard guys grooving out the arm with an angle grinder and had success doing that.

[BerzerCO]

I've used a QUALITY 3jaw puller, get it tight, get it hot. POW it's off. I've used this method 3 or 4 times.Heat is the key ingredient in this situation, the factory uses loc-tite on the splines you should as well.

[Coiled88YJ]

Heat is definately the way to go. Put a puller on it keeping quite a bit of pressure. With the pressure applied, heat the crap out of it with a torch. Agaihn, while the pitman arm is red hot, tighten up the puller to more pressure on. If the heat alone doesnt work, throw some cold water on it while it is scalding red hot. The reaction to the cold water will make it pop right off if the puller is on.

[JR650]

If that doesnt work, sleep on it, seriously, tighten it up real good, penetrating oil the shit out of it, and go for supper, whatever. I came back out, 3 taps and it fell off, i do mean taps, not beatings. this was after tightening it with an 800 ft-lb impact while beating the living piss out of it, getting mad and going in for supper. 13 years of salted roads on my 91 at that point (flexed the puller bad but it didnt break). 2 lb ballpein tapper

[jeffj78]

Use a good quality puller like this one:


Matco PA 643
And then use a breaker bar on the ratchet/wrench...I've never had to cut any pitman arm to get it off much less heat, beat it and so forth - even cars from the 50's and 60's. Slow and steady pressure is best and it will just pop.

edit - added pic

[Alfons]

I had that problem with a badly seized pitman arm, the shaft is tapered for a real tight fit, so when it seizes, it does so with a vengence - look HERE for my description of pitman arm removal.

[cj7taz]

what I have done for every YJ i pulled the arm off of was put the puller on it and tighten it down real good..

then with a long piece of rod going from the top beween the radiator and front grill place the rod of the end of the pitman arm and hammer away.
then go down and tighten up the puller again and repeat.

you could also use a piece of pipe...

i also did this on an F250 I had.

it has worked every time.......

[Icemanii]

I'm going to go with the heat it group. Did the son's YJ that way and it only took a few minutes once we put mild heat on it. Wouldn't budge prior to that. Mild heat, good puller, and a breaker bar. Then a light tap with a hammer and it was off.