Pitman arm removal

[cchase]

Since so far I have not come to a solution to the shaking steering wheel in my 1993 Chevy truck, I decided to start working my way outwards from the steering box.

Picked up a new pitman arm today and got the old one off the splines on the steering box, got the other end on the connecting rod popped out of its socket, but now can't get the arm out.

The instructions with the new pitman arm tell you to remove the connecting rod end first, pop it out of the connecting rod, and then remove the end on the output shaft.

My Haynes manual tells me to remove the output shaft end first, and then the other end.

I have tried both ways but have the same problem both times. If I loosen it off the output shaft, I can't pull the arm down enough to clear the end of the output shaft. If I loosen the other end, I can't get the stud to clear the hole in the connecting rod. If I loosen both, still can't get it to come off either.

What are the tips and tricks on this operation? What obvious thing have I missed? I already tried rotating the wheels to full lock left and right to see if it would help me in the task of bending the arm down and off the shaft or rod.

 

[mechtech2]

Sound obvious.
Just do like it says and also remove the tie rod end[d].

 

[cchase]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Sound obvious.
Just do like it says and also remove the tie rod end[d].


To clarify,

The issue here is no matter which end (or both) I loosen, I can't actually take the pitman arm off. The connecting rod doesn't move out of the way enough to clear the end of the ball joint end or for the pitman arm to clear the end of the steering gear shaft.

 

[mechtech2]

Loosening the box is next.
It is probably 3-4 bolts and a couple of minutes to swing it out of the way.
At least take a look.

 

[cchase]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Loosening the box is next.
It is probably 3-4 bolts and a couple of minutes to swing it out of the way.
At least take a look.


This is what I ended up doing yesterday morning. Ended up working... thanks for the suggestion though, if I hadn't figured that out myself would have needed it.

 

[mechtech2]

Sometimes it takes a day or two to fully think like a mechanic.
[when you don't do it every day]
Same for a carpenter or painter.
Different sequences and priorities -different approaches.

 

[cchase]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Sometimes it takes a day or two to fully think like a mechanic.
[when you don't do it every day]
Same for a carpenter or painter.
Different sequences and priorities -different approaches.


Very true. That's why I like to do work myself, I can take my time and make sure I don't break and bend things because I like saving as much as I can in any job.