Need help getting drag link off pitman arm

[kapk22]

I rented this removal tool and it did not break the draglink loose from the pitman arm.

The tighter it got, the more the bolt started moving toward the edge. When I loosened it, I noticed the threads somehow cross-threaded.

Can anyone help me find the best tool to remove this?

Will a pickle fork work better?

If so, what size?

Thank you

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[19 JLUR Bright Whit3]

For whats it worth. I used a pickle fork and a big hammer. That may just be me though.

 

[kapk22]

For whats it worth. I used a pickle fork and a big hammer. That may just me though.

I finally found a thread on here where the guy was having worse luck than me. He tried torching and a bunch of other ideas before unbolting the other side and zip-tying it up as high as possible. He used a pickle fork (again) and the joint broke free. His idea was the bolt was no longer in a bind at this angle, which allowed it to break free. I’m going to try and see if autozone will refund the “rental” for that puller, even though it stripped and did not work properly. Then grab a pickle fork and BFH and cross my fingers.

 

[Bleda2002]

I pickle forked mine as well and beat the absolute living shit out of it with a hammer. Neighbor comes over to see what the banging is, lightly taps the pickle fork and the drag link falls off lol.

 

[JPAloha]

It’s been a while since I did mine but I recall it being a pain in the arse. The resolution was brute force, ignorance, a BFH and a returned puller similar to the one you rented.

 

[roaniecowpony]

Pull the pitman arm with a puller, remove the other end from the knuckle and get it all up on a bench in a vise. Beating on the pitman arm/draglink feedsback into the Saginaw steering gear box. You're beating on your steering gears and bearings.

 

[chevymitchell]

For whats it worth. I used a pickle fork and a big hammer. That may just me though.

This is the magic sauce. It’s all I do, as well. Add a little heat to the pitman arm if you have to but some hard hits with a hammer and pickle fork does it every time.

Pro tip - Don’t let the draglink hang. It’ll never come off. Hold the knuckle end up with a bungee then proceed.

 

[kapk22]

This is the magic sauce. It’s all I do, as well. Add a little heat to the pitman arm if you have to but some hard hits with a hammer and pickle fork does it every time.

Pro tip - Don’t let the draglink hang. It’ll never come off. Hold the knuckle end up with a bungee then proceed.

I was just keeping the knuckle side in with the nut barely threaded. I am going to get a pickle fork and BFH today.

Thank you for the help

 

[somedude922]

Man I just did this. I ended breaking that puller in half! I used a beefier puller I got on amazon and it finally came off. Good luck and watch out when it finally breaks free, it's quite violent.

 

[kapk22]

Man I just did this. I ended breaking that puller in half! I used a beefier puller I got on amazon and it finally came off. Good luck and watch out when it finally breaks free, it's quite violent.

Thank you.. I was thinking the same thing. When the bolt on the autozone puller was inching toward the edge as I was hitting it with my milwaukee impact I thought something was going to explode. I am also going to try and find a 42 mm socket for the pitman bolt, just in case I can't get it with the pickle fork and BFH. I don't have my jack and stands here, as I left them in Oregon when we left. I am just going to grab a transportable 2 ton jack and some stands today. This way I can take the wheel off (like I should have done originally).

I am hoping there is still enough room for me to hit the pickle fork, with the wheel still on. I will try a few different angles on the drag link arm, to see if that is causing it to bind. I don't have a torch though, only a heat gun :/

I wonder if autozone will refund me for the puller that cross-threaded and started slipping like that.

 

[chevymitchell]

I was just keeping the knuckle side in with the nut barely threaded. I am going to get a pickle fork and BFH today.

Thank you for the help

If you leave it connected, it’ll work. If you get it as high as possible with the bungee, you won’t rip the crap out of the pitman arm end’s boot with the pickle fork.

 

[kapk22]

If you leave it connected, it’ll work. If you get it as high as possible with the bungee, you won’t rip the crap out of the pitman arm end’s boot with the pickle fork.

Autozone refunded the rental and I picked up a pickle fork, one more similar removal tool, BFH, jack, jack stands, 42 mm socket, 1/2” adapter for 3/4” drive and a new adapter for my air wrench ?

Hopefully I won’t need to use anything other than the pickle fork and hammer. Then I can return everything.

 

[SoK66]

Pitman arm end is always a difficult spot to smack with a BMFH, stuff in the way. Rest a BFH on one side of the arm at the joint, smack the $#!+ out of the other side of the arm with another BFH and it will pop off.

FWIW, I use that exact puller and it works every time.

 

[kapk22]

Pitman arm end is always a difficult spot to smack with a BMFH, stuff in the way. Rest a BFH on one side of the arm at the joint, smack the $#!+ out of the other side of the arm with another BFH and it will pop off.

FWIW, I use that exact puller and it works every time.

Pull the pitman arm with a puller, remove the other end from the knuckle and get it all up on a bench in a vise. Beating on the pitman arm/draglink feedsback into the Saginaw steering gear box. You're beating on your steering gears and bearings.

I started taking the 42 mm nut off the pitman arm and realized that is also stuck and will need to be popped loose.

And I just found out the trigger on my air wrench is broken. Neither of my milwaukee impact wrenches are working.

This is a F$&%#4ng nightmare!

Nothing is breaking this thing loose and its my daily driver. The boot is destroyed.

 

[SoK66]

Try some heat. Hair dryer works great. Careful to just get the heat on the drag link end, not near the seal on the steering box. Hold a BFH on the pitman right next to the drag link end. While you're holding it against the arm smack the pitman arm on the opposite side with another BFH. If you warm it up and hit it just right the taper will eventually give it up. PITA, been there recently!

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