I Bent A Pickle Fork!!! How Can I Get This Joint Apart?

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Well, it's the pitman arm seal that leaks. I had play in that one too, but I thought it was due to the bad coupler rag joint in the shaft, which is why I changed it. I have yet to drive it, and am weighing options right now. I just don't want to go through the hassle again right now. Maybe next week though. The other box is also an F body box, so the stops may be an issue, although they never were when I had it in there.

 

[pontiacgp]

if the pitman arm seal is leaking it usually means the pitman shaft is worn....

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

The box is also 20 years old and the car sat for a long time.It didn't used to leak when I was using the car every day 11 years ago, but the grease seal has probably deteriorated over time from sitting (the shafts seem tight). Right now, I am trying to prime the power steering as it doesn't seem to want to prime with the usual method (crank wheel back and forth while varying the throttle). I'll try again in the morning. I am hoping that I can find the issue in the daylight and maybe I just missed something that made it feel loose.

 

[Blake442]

I just crank the wheel from lock to lock a couple times... never bothered with the throttle.
Just cycle it a few times, and then shut the car off to let the air bubbles escape from the PSF. Repeat once or twice if needed and it should be fine.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

That's what I did, but I guess I'll try it again in the morning. I don't think my neighbors appreciated me bleeding the power steering at 1am... :lol:

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

It seems to work fine now. Still have a little more bleeding to do, but I found the issue with the looseness, I think. The new shaft was a reproduction part I got off E-Bay from Australia (!), and the place where the intermediate shaft joins the steering column was a little loose fitting. I used my jack handle as a cheater pipe and torques down the bolt until it took up the play. Now it seems fine, but I have yet to road test the car. I still hate pitman arm steering systems though...