Ok, so far I have the 1-5/16" socket & breaker bar, Pitman arm puller, Liquid Wrench penetrating fluid, jack stands, new Pitman arm, Hays Ford pick-up manual, various pieces of info from evryone & his brother.....BUT!!!... there isn't enough space between the Pitman arm & the front frame cross member to get the puller in place and crank off the arm. I must be missing some little tip to do this and I haven't stubbled on to it yet. If anybody has an idea as to how to get the puller in place...please let me know! oh, by the way, this is on a F-150 4x4 so there is an extra crossmember in the front that I don't think is on the 2 wheel version. I did buy a "special" Pitman arm separator which looks like a ball joint separator, but now I believe I need to remove the steering crosslink bar in order to remove the Pitman Arm...this is becoming a major repair disaster!

Joe(losing his)cool

 

Joecool,

Have you read the procedure for the 4x4? Does it tell you the steering box must be removed? It does. Not only that the arm must be installed before reinstalling the box.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

My pitman arm was replaced yesterday at the dealer under warrenty and he did not remove anything except the pitman arm, It took him maybe an hour to replace and align so I hope this will help. Is it common for the pitman arms to fail at 14,000 km? My 99 had the same problem but at 47,000km.

 

Remove the steering box

-Jon

 

Just did this job on my truck. Pull the steering gear. I tried prying the pitman arm off and blew the seal on the steering gear (330 $ for a new one). Pulling the box is easier and the job should take about an hour. Make sure you don't mess up the steering wheel alignment when you disconnect it from the gear box. Also I had to tap on the pitman arm with a hammer to break it loose so the pittman arm puller would get it off. Hope this helps.