Pittman arm???

[TwistedCU]

FIRST QUESTION: I haven't put the drop pittman arm on my Jeep from when I installed my new suspension. It seems fine, and I'm not sure whether or not I want to bother with it. I'm getting an alignment check Tuesday (no problems, just a check to see if adjustments are needed from lift). Should I put the pittman arm on or say the heck with it? I have MANUAL steering (BDS didn't even offer a manual steering drop arm, I had to buy it elsewhere).

SECOND QUESTION: anybody know what size the big nut is holding the pittman arm on? It's bigger that my largest socket (1 1/4").

 

[jeepin916]

well i think u should put the pitman on its less stress onthe gear box i didnt put it on mine and now i got a leaking gear box but its up to you, i figure that if i buy it i should use it.....
and for the nut on my jeep it was a 1 5/16 but still i dont know what kind of jeep u have...

 

[OutOfStep]

I would put the new pitman arm on if the jeep was raised more than 2", otherwise I wouldnt worry about it as long as the jeep drove and handled well

 

[TwistedCU]

'92 YJ. 3 1/2" bds lift. Yeah, I guess it should be a no-brainer to put it on. I'll pick up a socket after work tomorrow so it will be on there for the alignment Tues. That sounds like it should be the right size (1 5/16") socket, because my 1 1/4" was just barely too small. Thanks

 

[PASmokeater]

you can use a big adjustable as well....spray some PB Blaster on it, and the nut should losen right up...the problem is getting the actual arm off. Good luck




Rob 8)

 

[TwistedCU]

I have a puller for the arm, that should make it a little easier I hope!

 

[jeepinstien]

If your not experiencing bump-steer I would leave it alone. I believe the correct angle on the drag link should be 3 degrees. Check this before you take it off for nothing. If you decide to do this you can remove the nut with a pipe wrench. Coat the pitman arm with pb blaster and let it soak in. Hold pressure on the arm with the puller and and hit the arm on the side of the gear box with a BFH to break up the rust between the splines. Before you install the new one coat the splines with anti-sieze.

 

[Snitty]

i've seen even pitman pullers break on pitman arms... they are a bitch... if you can't get it... use the cutting wheel and cut a vertical line in each side... might take some time, and it will destroy the stock arm forever, but it will come off

 

[Tug-n-pull]

This was the hardest part and the part that made my skin crawl on my lift. Could not get it off with a puller no matter how I tried, then went to a friends shop and he said I can get it off no problem. Took a 4 foot piece of drill steel and set it on the arm from above through the engin compartment. Heated it up a bit and knocked the day lights out of the pit man arm about a half a doven times with a 4 lb hammer. I was beside myself as he did this. But that puppy was off in a short amount of time. No real problems after he was done but man I could just see me haveing to buy a new sterring box. This is not some thing I would advise for you to try but it worked for me. :? Tug

 

[TwistedCU]

I'm not having any problems at all except that after installing the lift, my steering wheel is not centered anymore. I'm pretty sure the angle is over 3 degrees, but Whitey steers fine & rides great, and I think I'm just going to get the alignment done with the stock arm. From what you all are describing it sounds like something I don't want to get into if I don't have to. If there's a problem trying to align the front end, maybe then I will attempt putting the new arm on. I can live with the misaligned steering wheel if that isn't corrected with the alignment.

 

[jeepinstien]

They will center the steering wheel when the alignment is done.

 

[TwistedCU]

I bought some PB Blaster today and soaked the pitman arm. I'm going to let it sit overnight and give it a shot tomorrow morning. Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[Tug-n-pull]

PB Blaster is so nice. It makes liquide Wrench and WD 40 seem like water. I have been sprayen the suspension parts on Tugly every few days for a over a month now and any thing I plan to work on any time soon I start sprayen asap. Tug

 

[redrooster]

You should change the pitman arm with that much lift. The penetrating oil should help. If not then heat the pitman arm around the outside and use the puller while it's still hot. Try a 1/2" impact on the puller. That way you aren't twisting the puller around with the torque of the wrench. Check the seal and make sure you didn't melt it with the heat.
I'm not sure if the YJ steering box mounts are as weak as a CJ, but if they are then you should put a steering box brace on it while you are down there.

 

[TwistedCU]

I was going to leave it alone, but I figure driving it on the road is no way to judge. If I have a problem it would be while offroad, so I'm going to put it on in the morning (have the day off :lol: )

 

[TwistedCU]

I overslept this morning and couldn't get the pitman arm done, so I went looking for a shop who would put it on and do the alignment. First stop was a paint/body/towing place up the street where I see a couple of Jeeps sitting every once in a while. The guy there is starting a Jeep club "Parkville Jeeps" and gave me a great deal on the work! (doing it tomorrow). We're going to set up a day trip to Delta, PA to go 4wheeling! I love it when a plan comes together!!!