Steering gear removal...

[83cutlasssedan]

I'm trying to remove my old steering box with the pitman arm attached and I can't get the pitman arm to separate from the intermediate steering rod (I think that's what it's called). Does anyone know if I need a special tool for this or do I just have to put some more muscle into it. Thanks in advance.

 

[Bonnewagon]

That's called a center link,or drag link. Best way is to use a tie rod puller. It grabs the bar and as a screw is tightened,pushes the stud out of the pitman arm. Next best is a pickle fork tie rod remover. You get the pickle fork in between the center link and pitman arm, then whack on it until it seperates. This usually ruins the grease seal. Then there's greasemonkey style where you brace the pitman arm with a cement block underneath. Then you get a long drift and from above locate it on the stud. One sharp blow with a small sledge pushed the stud out, and ruins the threads. Take your pick.

 

[83cutlasssedan]

Thanks for the post, I'll pick up a tie rod puller tomorrow.

 

[Bonnewagon]

It might. It works the same as the tie rod tool,it's just bigger. Try eyeballing it under there and see if it will fit,if not then you need the smaller one. If you are reusing the parts then you do need that type tool so you don't damage anything. If you are replacing parts anyway,then a pickle fork tool will pop it right off. I think Autozone sells them cheap. Another way is if you have an air compressor and an impact chisel, run the castelated nut up flush with the top of the stud and use a flattened end chisel attachment on the end of the stud to pop it free.

 

[83cutlasssedan]

Yea, I don't think it will quite fit right. Its a little big and i don't think it will fit in between the two bars, so probably won't work. I'll return it for a puller, I'm not reusing the pitman arm but I am reusing the drag link end.

 

[foxtrot]

When I recently rebuilt the entire front end in my 86 regal, I used a pickle fork to remove the center link. It also worked good but it does in fact ruin the grease seals. I was replacing all of the front end components so it wasn't an issue. It is true as Bonnewagon noted that there are two different pickle forks that are required. One for the center link and another larger one for the ball joints... Make sure to realign the front end after doing the rebuild.

 

[foxtrot]

You sneaked in with your post as I was typing mine. 🙂

 

[madmaxstyle]

when I did mine, the puller I used wouldnt do it without torquing off sideways SO I took the unit off whole with pitman arm attached put it in the vice, tightened on it with the puller then heated it up with a torch and gave it a light tap with the hammer and it fell off. Moral of the story is I had to use a torch to get mine off but then again my car is what you'd call rusty.

 

[83cutlasssedan]

Well I got it off with the puller, and just finished installing the fast ratio steering box with pitman arm attached. All went pretty well, except for one question mark. Where the pitman arm connects to the intermediate rod, it doesn't look like the ball joint lines up perfectly. There is about a 2mm space in between the rod and pitman arm. Not sure if this is anything to worry about or not. Could these parts possibly be different. They look the same to me. Is there something I should know about connecting this joint up?

 

[83cutlasssedan]

My service manual mentions a tool j-29193(steering linkage installer) that I guess you are suppose to screw on and torque down then remove and torque the nut down. I searched on the net and from what I can find it costs a 100$. Is there another way to install this linkage?