seperating control valve/pitman arm
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
Pickle forks almost always ruin a rubber seal that is part of the ball joint stud, tie rod end, or the control valve stud. If you are replacing the seal anyway, a pickle fork will work on the above parts.
However, you should not use a pickle fork to try and remove the pitman arm from the steering gear. The pickle fork can potentially distort the barrel of the steering gear. This could cause the pitman shaft seal inside the gear to leak.
I think that the theory behind placing a heavy mass against the pitman arm and then whacking the arm with a hammer is that the heavy mass absorbs most of the shock and prevents damage to the internal gear parts. I know that this procedure is described in the Chevrolet shop manual.
I prefer a puller for all of the above repairs.
Jim Shea
However, you should not use a pickle fork to try and remove the pitman arm from the steering gear. The pickle fork can potentially distort the barrel of the steering gear. This could cause the pitman shaft seal inside the gear to leak.
I think that the theory behind placing a heavy mass against the pitman arm and then whacking the arm with a hammer is that the heavy mass absorbs most of the shock and prevents damage to the internal gear parts. I know that this procedure is described in the Chevrolet shop manual.
I prefer a puller for all of the above repairs.
Jim Shea
