I had a post a few days ago about a Quick Ratio PS box. Mine now is stock power steering, leaking, oversteering, box from hell if you will. Never swapped one before, seems pretty cut and dry maybe a couple hour project? Do I need a puller or a special size wrench to get that pitman arm off? Any sealers used? Anything other than a new bottle of power steering fluid smile.gif Just looking for the little details so I can have it all ready. Probably doing it tonight.
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You'll need a decent puller to get the arm off, unless you get lucky and it comes loose easily. To take an arm off of a manual box took both my brother and I working together. We had the box wedged up against a concrete wally, had the puller on it, and we were both working on holding everything in place while we cranked down on the puller. It seemed like it was never going to come off and then WHAM it popped off and shot up about two feet. Wear some hand and eye protection. I didn't, and got lucky that it stopped about three inches short of my face!

Now that I think of it, if there's any way to get that puller on the arm while the box is still bolted to the frame, that could make things easier for you...but that probably won't happen, now will it?

By the way, we bent the main threaded portion of the puller when we did this. Guess it's a good thing it wasn't a high-dollar piece of equipment. :rolleyes:

Yikes. Yeah Ive got 2 pullers I use for different things, steering wheels, pullies, and whatever, not sure what I have. Lets hope I get lucky on this one smile.gif

Go get a pitman arm puller and pull the arm while it is still in the car.

You can rent it from Auto Zone, Advance , etc for a few bucks. Having the right tool makes the job much easier. You will destroy those light duty pullers.
John

What size socket is needed for the pitman arm bolt?

I suggest using the method of loosening ball joints and tie rod ends shown in the Chev service manual. Take 2 hammers and introduce them to your car. Put one hammer against the "loop" part of the Pitman arm and whack the other side of the loop with the other hammer. This shakes up the press fit of the arm on the shaft. I have never done this with a Pitman arm , but it works really well on ball joints and tie rod ends, so it might work here , too.

Thanks guys, good tips. I got my box, but probably wont do it until tomorrow or sunday. I still need to find out what size socket takes off the pitman arm bolt. Any takers? tongue.gif

It's a large nut, somewhere around 1 1/4"

dennis68 and JWagner are way more on the ball than I am. I forgot that they make a pitman arm puller.

I just used JWagner's idea on my ball joints this past week. You can't believe how happy I was that it only took a few minutes, far less banging on the car, AND I was able to save the perfectly good ball joints from destruction! I did use a drift to get at the upper balljoint from a correct angle. It only took two hits.

The pitman shaft nut has a 1 5/16 inch hex.

The power steering gear has a needle bearing inside the gear housing to support the pitman shaft. I do not think that it is a good idea to "bang" on the pitman arm to break the taper connection. Even with a heavy hammer on the back side, I would be concerned about damaging the shaft of the bearing.

The linkage joints and the tie rod to steering arm connections are ball and sockets. "Banging" on those connections won't hurt anything.

the pitman is 1 5/16. I had a 3/4 drive rachet I was using with both of my feet pushing while I held on to my bumper it was tough but I got it.You can rent pitman arm puller at auto zone for a deposit,be careful pitman arm will brake loose suddenly and fly off with alot of force

The nut is 1 5/16 or the socket? I cant find anything to fit this thing. What can I say im bad with sizes :(

The nut is 1-5/16. I used a large adjustable wrench to get mine off because I didn't have a socket that big. You can get the Pitman arm puller for free at Auto Zone through their loaner program. They'll ask you for a deposit, which is refundable when you bring the tool back.

You wont beleive how many places in Sacramento DO NOT have 1 5/16" sockets, no one had them. There was an open wrench for $30 and Im broke, also I didnt think it would have enough torque to pop it off. Turns out my neighbor had the socket, very suprising! The bolt came off pretty easy, a few seconds bracing myself against the tires, one light tap and the pitman arm popped off. This turned out to be the easiest project ive done but dirtiest...I got lucky. 40 minutes to remove everything AND clean parts. I just need to install my new one now, BUT one concern. The little adapter plate between the box and the steering column, hooked to the ragjoint, the gear on that little bracket is missing probably 60% of its teeth, I havent checked if kragen has them yet but id say it would be safe to replace that too :eek: thanks for all the help guys, basically finished the tough stuff.

It has a flattened part and some gear left on it, the steering linkage I think its called, I think I'll re-use it smile.gif