Mud-club

Vehicle & Technical => Discovery => Topic started by: xmob on April 08, 2007, 19:54:21

Title: Pitman arm removal
Post by: xmob on April 08, 2007, 19:54:21: Having just destroyed a puller, does anyone have any suggestions on removing the Pitman arm from the steering box? Preferably while the box is still on the vehicle.

I've applied heat using a butane torch, but I'm guessing this doesn't get hot enough. Don't want to give too much heat in case I ruin the seals in the box.
Title: Pitman arm removal
Post by: beast5680 on April 08, 2007, 20:30:31: i did mine with a butane blowlamp and a 10 tonne hydraulic puller it eventually came off with quite a bang, a normal wind up puller wouldnt move it
Title: Pitman arm removal
Post by: Range Rover Blues on April 09, 2007, 13:38:19: Agreed, I found that not needing it as I had replaced the arms and box seemed to do the trick, one swift blow with a hammer once off the car and away it came, the b******.

You could try loosening the nut half a turn and driving it off-road, but don't go on the highway with it like that :shock:
Title: Pitman arm removal
Post by: spy on April 09, 2007, 21:03:40: Oh I remember this fun all too well. I heated it up, tried a bearing puller, a slide hammer and all sorts. Eventually after repeated blows with a lump hammer the damn thing just fell off. Didnt seem to move at all with the 1st 100 blows and then just popped off in one.

If all else fails, try a bigger hammer? :D
Title: Re: Pitman arm removal
Post by: muddydisco on April 09, 2007, 21:11:32: Well i used a sykes 2 legged hydraulic puller and a set of bottles. Put the puller on heated it up bang the arm went about 4 foot in the air off the bench nearly taking my mates head off at work (it was is steering box)
Title: Pitman arm removal
Post by: Evilgoat on April 09, 2007, 21:53:20: The paj's one only eventually yeilded to being cut off :(

The Zook's fell off when I undid the nut.
Title: Pitman arm removal
Post by: winchman on April 10, 2007, 18:18:56: spray with WD40
leave it
Tighten up a Hydraulic puller and apply load, two good hits with the hammer.
Go for dinner
Every few hours tighten the puller and hit it twice.
It will be off by tea time.
I find just leaving it to in between jobs works every time, its the force on it for a long time and the shock of hammering it that frees it.
I have a Hydraulic puller if any one needs it?
Title: Pitman arm removal
Post by: extreme90 on April 11, 2007, 21:34:03: i use a hydro2 leg puller and a set of bottles :twisted:
apply as much pressure as i dare..
light the torch and at arms length apply heat, half to the shaft half to the arm, the rapid expansion just lets it flirt off :roll:
or if you dont have access to oxyacetyline and a hydraulic puller, as mentioned above slacken the nut and give it some serious hammer on the road over speed bumps and hitting kerbs ( my method :twisted: ) or go offroad :roll:
dan
Title: Pitman arm removal
Post by: xmob on April 12, 2007, 02:10:04: Cheers for the suggestions guys.

I think I know where I can borrow a hydraulic puller. My main concern is now heat affecting the seals. How resilient are they?
Title: Pitman arm removal
Post by: mattyme on April 12, 2007, 10:38:55: just my luck really... youve all had trouble getting the nut off!!

i have constant trouble keeping the bloody thing on tight. it lasts about a week and a half then loosens of a fratcion, but , that fraction is enough to make it wander all over the road!! :evil: :evil:
Title: Pitman arm removal
Post by: spy on April 12, 2007, 15:00:16: Quote from: "xmob"
Cheers for the suggestions guys.

I think I know where I can borrow a hydraulic puller. My main concern is now heat affecting the seals. How resilient are they?

I had the bottle on mine till it was almost glowing. The seals gave up six months later, I have no idea if they would have gone anyway. Luck of the draw I suppose!

Good luck with it!
Title: Pitman arm removal
Post by: extreme90 on April 12, 2007, 22:35:09: Quote from: "xmob"
Cheers for the suggestions guys.

I think I know where I can borrow a hydraulic puller. My main concern is now heat affecting the seals. How resilient are they?

tip..if using a set of oxycet bottles, dont use a cutting/heating torch :wink:
use a welding torch as you can concentrate the heat then with a fine flame :wink: not a huge flame that burns everything in sight

mattyme.....i had the same problem :evil: :evil:
i cured it by swinging off the nut with a 5ft bar and then fitting another locking tab and then another nut and swinging off that one aswel :twisted:
o not to mention locktight aswel :twisted:

aint come undone yet :twisted:

i be dammed the day they have come off tho :cry:

dan
Title: Pitman arm removal
Post by: mattyme on April 13, 2007, 02:43:49: id best go lookin for a 5 ft bar then... and somebody with a bit more weight behind them than me!! lol

i still have to jump about in the shower to get wet!! lol which is not a bad thing till you need to lift a disco with a hilift jack... i can swing on the handle!!! lmao
Title: Pitman arm removal
Post by: Range Rover Blues on April 13, 2007, 20:40:26: Can I just throw a spanner in. ANy evidence of heat being applied to a cast component in the steering or suspension is an MOT failure.