Paul L

When the castle nut is off can I just pound that power steering control valve stud off the pitman arm with a rubber hammer? Or do I need a tie-rod puller?

mikep3

I used a tie rod puller and once it was as tight as I could get it It still needed several hits to the side of the relay rod with BFH to get it to come on done. Same was true with most all of the tie rods, ball joints and idler arm. There are some videos on the web showing how to get ball joints off with blow from a BFH.

Paul L

Looks like I may need a puller. I don't know about a BFH. It should be on there at only 60 ft/lbs but corrosion may be a factor. Hopefully it was greased when installed.

I bought myself a blueprinted steering box from Gary R. for Christmas and look forward in the spring to putting it on.

mds3013

Hello Paul. I know you do not want to do any damage to your components so I wanted to let you know how I did mine. I used a small pitman arm puller. It was a tight fit under the frame but it worked. Mine had been removed back in the middle '80's so might not have been as tight as yours. You could also consider removing the pitman arm from the steering box and after it drops down be able to get to the PSCV easier. AutoZone has these for loan. mike...

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...uller/_/N-264w

Paul L

Mike,

As my pic above shows I do not have to pull the pitman arm that is on the box at 140 ft/lbs, my new steering box has it properly installed already. I just wish to anticipate getting the pitman arm off the power steering valve stud. My initial thoughts are just to hit the stud out of the pitman arm with a rubber hammer. I thought it might just pop out with a couple of good hits. Is this wishful thinking? I can borrow a puller if need be.

mds3013

OK, now I see. Are you just doing the box or other work to the PSCV? If you remove the PS cylinder from the frame mount or the mount from the frame the steering linkage will drop a bit and give you some more room. The stud is pulled into a tapered hole on the pitman arm and they wedge in there pretty good. They make a pretty good "crack" sometimes when they break loose when you use the puller. You have two pitman arms? Keep the one on the new box remove your old one from the old box to gain more room to the stud on the PSCV. The arm to box connection is not as hard to get to. Good Luck with it. mike...

Paul L

Just the steering box. I suspect the linkage will just drop down a bit. Or reverse logic, I just pull the loosened box up and out.

RobbSalzmann

I'm trying to do the same thing. I have my gear box out and on a press with a bearing fixture and I still cannot get the pitman arm off the shaft. I heated it with a torch and soaked with PB, still no joy. Any one else run into this? If so what did you do to get it off?

mds3013

Everything I have seen you do on your car is way above average believe me. It is tight between the motor mount frame horn and the PSCV stud. I edited my previous post with a little more info. mike...

Paul L

Thanks Mike, I appreciate that. This will be an April job as my car is in storage. I am just looking ahead.

mikep3

I used the pitman arm puller, but could not get it on with the steering box mounted in the car. I had to remove it and get two extra beer mechanics to help get it off.

Paul L

You have a PM.

Paul L

Just to reiterate, I have the whole darn thing assembled. I just have to put it on....

Paul L

I am talking about the power steering valve stud, it is like a tie rod, not the pitman arm connection at 140 ft/lbs.

mayberg

The power steering control valve stud connected to the pitman arm.......is there a reason why a pickle fork in an air hammer won't work?

Tim81

I used a small pickle fork on my 81. It was a tight fit and needed several blows with a 3lb hammer. A rubber mallet won't even come close to getting it off......Tim

mds3013

A pickle fork will absolutely seperate the joint. However, to prevent damage to the PSCV which is a thin wall casting I used the puller. Notice the mark to the right of the stud. Damage from '80's. mike...

aussiejohn

Paul,
This usually works. Get the biggest steel hammer or even an axe and rest its head hard against one side of the Pitman arm where the control valve stud goes through. Then hit the opposite side of the Pitman arm with the next smallest steel hammer you have. And hit it hard! The Pitman arm should leap off the stud, or the stud should drop out of the P. arm.

Regards from Down Under.

aussiejohn

Paul L

Famous last words from a Corvette owner...."I thought this was going to be an easy job".

Tom454

Also... Any lateral force applied to the control valve stud is also applied to the bearing in the bottom of the gearbox via the pitman arm. Physics 101.