Fellas, I have a follow up question. I plan to take Pops' suggestion and just lower the pitman arm, apply some grease and just reinstall. I'm going to do it this weekend. Question is, what type of grease should I use?

I have some standard all purpose type for wheel bearings and such, but is that recommended?

If not please provide a make and MIL type. Thanks boys!

 

What size is that front pittman nut ?

 

hey i knew somebody that had an '89 f-250 that squeaked while turning in 4wheel drive mode. turned out to be the front u joints hope this helps:santa:

 

Ford recommends ""Premium Long-Life Grease" for the transmission/steering/parking brake linkages and pivots. Brake and clutch pedal shaft."

I’d use that and call it good.

Doug

 

Thanks for the tips guys!

I attempted to R&R the pitman arm this weekend, however I was not able to fit the puller tool into the limited space I had between the structural crossmember and the pitman arm. I attempted to use a pickle fork but the arm wouldn't budge from the steering gearbox. It litterly bent the tool I was using. Any advice on how to seperate the pitman arm? I used lots of penatrating oil too.

 

dad's hoss,

would you mind sharing info as to the size of the front nut and the year/model of your truck.

 

03f150man- I'm not sure of the size of the nut holding the pitman arm to the gearbox. The largest size wrech I have is a 1 1/8". I used a large cressent wrench to get it off. I was pretty tight but I used my leggs to greak it loose.

I am going to have another go this comming weekend to get the pitman arm off. I am going to try and find a shorter bolt from a hardware store and use the puller tool. Hope I can make that work!

Hoss is a '97 F150 4x4 Off Road Package 4.6L

Good luck!

 

appreicate the info. good luck with the puller. All i know for sure is that front nut is bigger than a 32MM and smaller than a 36Mm.

 

Well saturday morning the battle of the pitman arm commenced. It was a beautiful crisp Wyoming morning on the plains of Cheyenne. The projected out look was 60 degrees and clam winds. Squared off was myself and Hoss' pitman arm! The two combatents had faced off just the previous weekend and victory went to the pitman arm. This time I was armed with a new wepon, I had attained a shorter bolt to fit in the pitman arm remover tool that didn't fit in my previous battle.

The battle commenced with the first serious blow being delt by myself, the tool had finally pulled the pitman arm down off of the gearbox splines. Now all I had to do was get the pitman arm off of the retaing bolt threads. To accomplish this last final knockout blow, I removed the two lower gearbox retaing bolts and loostened the upper bolt. This allowed the gearbox to sway at just the right angle to get the pitman arm off !! I installed the new pitman arm and knew victiry was mine.

But... not too fast, the pitman arm battle had one last devistating blow to my pride. When I went to start the truck to see if the squeel was gone, I noticed the steering wheen was 180 degrees out!! Oh what a devistating blow, I was on the ropes, all the air in my sale was gone. I went into a state of furry. I verbally counter attacked with the techniques that would make a sailor blush. I think my neighbors a block away could hear me. Children ran in fear, people closed their windows, passerbys walked on the other side of the street! Somehow as I removed and reinstalled the pitman arm the steering wheel had turmed.

After about 10 to 15 min of letting off steam, I again attacked by removing the pitman arm all over again. I then called in reinforcements, the wife. She held the steering wheel while I reassembled. This time I was finally done. I started Hoss and alas, no squeel! Victory was finally mine and Hoss is again like new. Saturday evening was a celibration reminiciant of any major battle victory. Brews and yes, even the misses was rewarded!

 

I just went up to Orieley's and kinda rented the socket. I put like $80 bucks down for the whole set but when u take it back u get all ur money back. Its cheaper than buying a socket seperate. And yes it is metric.

 

Dad's - nice writing, and a good finish with the misses, too. I almost woke up the house with my laughing. :-D