I'm currently in the process of making the 93 Dakota I happily purchased days ago safe to take up the hills. Biggest of these is replacing the Idler and Pitman arm which is proving to be a real pain in the rear.

I'm having alot of trouble getting them out of their homes even with a two jaw puller and an hours worth of hammering. So far I've only attacked the Idler arm but I'm willing to bet the Pitman is going to be the same deal. I sprayed some corrosion killer onto it before calling it a night. Anyone have any suggestions on how to make changing these not such a pain?

Thanks in advance

 

A pickle fork can help, an air hammer attachment is best. There are pullers like the pitman arm puller that is smaller that should do it to pull the joints off the tie rod bar. Like this one. http://www.autozone.com/autozone/cat...7022/image/%5D

You WILL need a pitman arm puller to remove the pitman arm off of the gear box shaft. It is a pain to line it up, it is best to remove 2 of the 3 gear box bolts, loosen the last one. Then shift the gear box upwards to gain clearance for the puller.

 

That things pretty damn close to the two jaw puller I've got already except for the puller alot more adjustable. Hopefully tomorrow night I'll have more luck with a bit more time to work on the truck.

 

Bit of an update here an hopefully an opening for anymore tips
Got the Idler Arm off finally after about a straight hour(Not even kidding here the thing was really on there) of hammering a two prong splitter inbetween it. Moved onto the Pitman arm now. Got it broken loose and now I just have to take on that huge nut that holds it to the stearing gear shaft?

Thats tomorrows job though lol

Btw Crazy4x4RT I ended up picking up a proper Pitman arm puller for when I attempt to get that off tomorrow. Thanks for the advice

 

Thanks for the tips. After the brake job from hades, if im allowed to say that, I checked the fronts, greased all etc. I was shocked to find the pitman arm rubber gone, grease still there. Guess what Im doing next rofl.

 

the way i would do it is put the jaws on it and heat them, then i would tighten the puller as they got hot. then i let the pullers cool and i would hear a crack. (sometimes the puller would fly off, so be careful). let physics do the work.

 

Well due to a lack of the right tools I gotta get the pitman arm changed at a shop. Tried everything I could think but it was a no go. Oh well lol

 

I gave up on taking my old pitman arm off too. Although I ended up changing the steering box and pitman arm. Granted, I needed to replace the PS pump and lines, and the lines threaded fittings broke off in the PS gearbox, so it all worked out for me!

 

Pitman arm was finally changed courtesy of Canadian Tire. Gotta tell yea I really enjoyed standing at that window where they let you watch them work while the apprentice mechanic they stuck with the job gave it all he had to take that arm off lol.

Luckily for me I don't need an immediate realignment since the truck doesn't drift right or left. Probably will get it done in a few weeks though.