Thrust arm success! Now: Center steering link
Thanks for all the help fellas!
We got the thrust arm to break free of the steering plate. Took it to a friend that has a vise and a big air hammer. Braaap and pop! Game over. Beauty. I have that side all buttoned up and am now replacing the tie rods, idler arm and center link. I have all the nuts off and have broken the tie rods loose with the puller, but, how to get at the ball joints from the center link to the idler arm and the pitman arm? There is no space for the puller in there! I would pull the idler arm since it is being replaced, but I am thinking a I don't want to pull the pitman arm, do I? Wouldn't that really monkey up the alignment? Yes, it's going to be aligned anyway, but that seems like a no no.
I just love the descriptions in the manuals "take of the nut, separate the ball joint". Riigggghhht!
Really appreciate all the assistance!
Checker auto parts here , which is advance auto in
San Antonio has a loaner tool that consists of a kit with about 6 different nicely constructed pullers. One of which is a lever type that will remove your center link .. You pay the deposit and get your money back when you're done
Quote:
Originally Posted by Super90
Robert since your's is kind of a one shot deal I would just
mark the alignment of the pittman arm to the teeth on the steering box and also mark it for how far the pittman arm is slid onto the steering box shaft, then undo the pinch bolt that holds the pittman arm onto the shaft, then undo the bolts that hold the idler arm assy to the body and remove the whole assy so you again have room to get a puller on the pittman arm or you can grab the center link in the vise and use a picklefork to separate them if you don't have a puller that will fit... I don't think i'd buy a specialized puller just for this one job. Autozone has a number of loaner tool pullers also since you don't have a checkers nearby.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Super90