Posted by Makan on 5/12/2014 to

Pitman arm removal is going to be different, depending upon the type of vehicle. The center link rotates the control arms and hubs, and it is linked to the idler arms and pit. If you begin to notice sloppy steering, then you should replace the pitman arm. You can determine this when you see that the steering wheel needs to move for more than two inches before it begins to produce any effectiveness.

Provided you have the correct materials and tools, Pitman arm removal is easy and safe. You should begin with a drive wrench, sockets, breaker bar and a pitman arm puller. You will also need a flat-head screwdriver, diagonal wire cutter, and some grease. And obviously, you will also need a jack and jack stands.

Basic Removal Procedure

Make sure the vehicle is parked on a flat surface and place the jack under the frame, right at the control arm. Shove the tire in and out of its mounting surface firmly in order to remove it.

Remove the nuts and bolts by using a mother breaker bar and drive socket that fit them properly. Remove the pitman arm with the pitman arm puller. Position the puller between the steering sector and pitman arm. Next, Remove the cotter pin and nut while the pitman is still in the centerlink. Tighten the puller nut using a 15/16-inch wrench to loosen the arm. Remove the pitman arm from the center link once it gets loose. Slip it out and place it somewhere safe. If the pitman arm is stuck, you’ll need to find out whether the idler arm is in its proper position. Loosen the bolts holding the idler arm in position for safe removal.

When it’s Time to Replace It

If you would like to enhance the assembly linkage in your car's steering system, then you will need to consider pitman arm replacement. Many new vehicles use two main pitman arm types; namely, wear and non-wear. As their names clearly indicate, you will need to replace the wear type after some time while the non-wear type is replaced only when there is a serious misalignment, such as after the vehicle has been involved in an accident. A variety of nuts and bolts are used to hold the pitman arm in place, which you will need to replace using different sockets and drive wrenches. The nuts are tightened to a very high torque; hence you will need a good pipe and breaker bar to remove them.

Your Pitman Arm Puller

You will also need a pitman arm puller that is specifically designed for this single purpose. In order to install a replacement pitman arm, you will likewise need a torque wrench that can apply torque of at least 180 foot pounds. You should have your car's repair manual handy before you embark on pitman arm replacement. In addition to a step-by-step guide, you will get some useful diagrams and pictures that will help you in the process. Clean the shaft area well using towels or old rags prior to installing the new arm.

Check the extent of wear on the splines and make any necessary replacement. It is cheaper and easier to replace several components at the same time. Ensure that you have aligned the drag link correctly and that it is straight to avoid drift to either side.