Hi,I have a 97 B3500 van, and I am trying to replace



my steering gear, everything is going well, but the pitman arm is really seized on there, I have tried everything , but it won’t budge, so I thought I would just put a new pitman arm on the new steering gear, all my local,part stores say there is no listing for a pitman arm on my vehicle, I have tried rock auto, and just about everyone I could think of, so I’m here asking if anyone here has run into the same problem, there must be a cross reference number , or maybe it goes by a different name, but it sure looks like a pitman arm, if you can help me, I’d really appreciate it,,,thanks a lot,,,,,

 

There is no joint on the pitman arm to wear out, so, likely they didn't sell them often enough to make it worth maintaining the parts supply.

Yep, pitman arm gets a REALLY good grip on the shaft there, and they essentially become one. Beating it off with a hammer, or heating it with a torch enough to get it to come off, is going to trash that seal, and possibly the bearing as well. Think I would just stick a pickle fork between the pitman arm, and the steering linkage, and separate it there.

 

Put a puller on it and rap the side of the pitman arm where the spline is with a hammer. If you get a swing on it....

 

To get mine off I cranked down a pitman arm puller and then heated the pitman arm all around the shaft area with a propane torch. After a minute or so it popped right off. Oh and if you do this, keep the big nut on the shaft by a few turns just so the hot arm doesn't come flying down and hit you.

 

I believe this is this the one you need, part #52037992
https://www.ebay.com/itm/MOPAR-52037992-Steering-Pitman-Arm/133377330286

 

Thank you for all your help, I’m still trying it with the pitman arm puller and heat, still no luck, but I’ll keep trying,,,I think that might be thenpart# I was looking for, I’ll see if I can find one locally,,,thanks again,,,