How to Use a Pitman Arm Puller

A pitman arm is the arm attached to the shaft at the bottom of a steering box in a car or truck. This arm connects the steering box to the steering linkage. This arm is held to the splined shaft by a large nut which must be removed to make it possible to take the pitman arm off, but as the fit is tight a pitman arm puller is required to remove the arm from the shaft.

Things You'll Need

• Cotter pin remover
• Wrench kit
• Tie rod end puller
• Pitman Arm puller

Instructions

How to remove a Pitman arm

1. Use a cotter pin remover or pair of diagonal wire cutters and remove the cotter pin in the tie rod end in the outer end of the Pitman arm.

2. Use the appropriately sized wrench and turn the tie rod end nut in a counterclockwise direction to remove it from the tie rod end.

3. Remove the tie rod end from the Pitman arm with a tie rod end puller. Fork tools are available for this purpose are available but not recommended.

4. Remove the nut from the steering shaft end with the appropriate wrench. Turn the nut in a counterclockwise direction to remove it.

5. Loosen the center screw on the Pitman arm puller until the tangs on the puller can be inserted between the Pitman arm and the steering box. Center the nub on the end of the pulling screw in the recess in the steering shaft, then hand-tighten the pulling screw as much as you can. Tighten the pulling screw with a hand wrench until the Pitman arm pops off the shaft.

Tips & Warnings

• Never strike a Pitman arm with a hammer. Doing so will cause damage to the bearing which supports the shaft in the steering box.