some heat may help as well.

 

^^^ do not heat unless you want to replace your steering box... there is a seal right above it.

Those junk box pitman arm pullers are just that, junk. If you want a quality puller you're going to pay for it. I got a steering wheel puller with interchangeable jaws from snap-on. sure, it's expensive for the simple fact it says "snap-on" on the side but damn has that thing never let me down. you can impact the crap outa it. But if you're stuck with those autozone junkers, put as much pressure on the pitman arm as you can with the puller before it starts bending then start "shocking" the pitman arm with a hammer. be sure to leave the nut partially threaded on to prevent hurting yourself. The pitman arm usually will pop off pretty hard with a few good whacks with a hammer. Hope this helps

 

I have a large bearing puller with 3 jaws that works wonders. It is designed for industrial equipment found at rock quarry's.

 

OP should be good on destroying the seal, as long as he doesn't try to sell it as used and working...

 

That bearing/seal is done for haha. Over it. After I was done whaling on it, It was leaking just sitting there without even moving.

I don't have a torch or anything though. Got a Harbor Freight heat gun but that isn't going to do much.

Taking a break for the night... May just pull off the box tomorrow and find somewhere to take it that has the tools to pull that sucker off. Didn't think this was gunna be such a PITA

 

That sucks. Spend much time driving on the beach?

 

Hit up some locals, someone probably has a stock pitman arm laying around, I know I have at least 2.

 

Never have yet. Don't have any rust problems. Things like rear shock bolts and fender flare bracket bolts come off like butter for me. I dont know what's up with this

 

Hahah so funny. I ended up just unbolting it and taking out the box with pitman arm still attached and got angry at it and just threw it into the street. Picked it up and gave it a few frustration whacks and off it came...

Back on track. Definitely going to invest in a nice expensive puller next time around

 

I like the cone style ones, like this:

http://www.grainger.com/genericZoomM...r&ref_page=idp

Takes away that feeling that the claw is going to lose it's place and snap down on things. Might as well order something now while you don't need it...

 

I definitely like that one a lot. You have personal experience with one like that? Or anyone else have experience with that? If so, where is a good place to get a quality one?

 

I second the "tap" on the side of the pitman while under tension to hopefully shock it loose idea.

on another note, anytime I use a puller or pickle fork for something like this I leave the nut on the tre or whatever I'm seperating to keep it from becoming a projectile when it finally breaks free.

edit* just saw you got it off of there

 

Haha yep finally got it. And I'd definitely advise anyone in the future to leave the nut partially on while beating the pitman arm to death to get it off. You want it to be able to catch that flying hunk of metal