How to pull the steering drop arm

fgc · #1 (**permalink**) 11-27-2003, 12:55 AM

Hi,

I want to pull my steering box from my car but I'm fighting to remove the steering drop arm (pitman?) Its on really tight and looked like it had also rusted in place too. What type of pulling tool can I use to pull this?

As I do not have access to any special tools, I'll have to make do and I tried using a gear puller... I use that to pull steering wheels with great success.... but could not get the drop arm to budge as it is on much tighter (of course).

Worse comes to worse, I'll remove the 2 tie rod ends and just pull the box with the arm in place.

Now the next question, what must I do to pull the box from the car? I have the carbs removed already, the steering wheel is out... so err what next?

Thanks for the help.

fgc

gotglasses · #2 (**permalink**) 11-27-2003, 10:32 PM

That pitman arm is really tight - you'd best use an impact wrench to loosen it. You'll also need an appropriatly sized pitman arm puller - my old one was far too big . Alfa had a nice little one that you will have to borrow/buy. While you have it off , order the hard to find seal/disc for the output shaft, you'll want to replace it if you are pulling box.

THis is one job you may have to pay a mechanic to do - once you get over a 100 ft./lb of torque things get really difficult.

fgc · #3 (**permalink**) 11-28-2003, 01:32 AM

Thanks for the reply. I agree, once anything that requires over 100lb torque, it becomes difficult. you should have seen me under the car dragging myself around on the ground trying to undo that castellated nut. (I weigh 145lbs)

Took over 15mins of pulling before I got it off.

We do not have an Alfa club here but a loose gathering of Alfa friends and of all alfa owners that I am in contact with, I've got the most tools! (which is to say not alot). What does the pitman tool look like? any way I can duplicate the pulling action with an appropriate tool or something similar?

I just couldn't get the gear puller to square up properly otherwise I think I might succeed. Oh, the box I was trying to pull to replace mine was on a car going to the scrape yard... I failed to pull it now its at the yard which means that I'll have to pay money for it that is if I succeed at it - or if they have not already trashed it by now

fgc

gotglasses · #4 (**permalink**) 11-29-2003, 08:26 PM

Hi FGC - Get a copy of the Cardisc and browse the section on steering / pitman Arm removal - They have you practically dismantle the car! If the arm is rusted on ,soak it with WD-40 for several days. As a last resort heat the joint with at least a MAPP torch , then it will come off. Once you get an appropriate pitman arm puller on it, tighten it and if it resists - rap it hard with a ball peen hammer while it is under tension , that always works on ball joints. This does'nt require an Alfa mechanic - any front end guy will have this off in 5 minutes. You may not want to watch.! Problem is it's connected to several other pieces that may have to be removed along with it.

### MAKE sure to mark the arm/spline so it will go together again correctly - there are marks from the factory but make your own so you can see them. ###

**alberbat** · #5 (**permalink**) 12-03-2003, 10:44 PM

I just took mine off yesterday (first one) from my 69 Spider. I fiddeld with the gear pullers for an hour and a half with no luck.

Went to my local Alfa mechanic and asked what he used; he pulled out a very sturdy Mac PA846 and told me to use an impact wrench on the screw. So I aired up the compressor, found the impact wrench, looked all over for the wrench oil, without any luck so I finally used a few drops of ATF oil and crawled back under the Project. It came off in 10 seconds. Another problem evolved when I used a seal puller to take out the seal. Turns out that the Berman box used an "O" ring with a thin retaining washer. No they are not available anymore. Jon Norman said that if I took the box out they can mill the recess out to take a conventional seal. He gave me an "O" ring that was close and I'll try that and see if I make a mess. This transmission seal change is going to take forever. The transmission is the original reason but I keep finding other stuff to do, I even saw a crack above the cross member but THAT IS GOING TO WAIT.

Bill

gotglasses · #6 (**permalink**) 12-04-2003, 10:57 PM

Hi Alberblat & company!

Glad to hear yours came off - thanks for tool reference and the heads up on the seal availability - thankfully O-rings are flexible and available in so many sizes that by shopping for the Inside Diameter/ diameter of the shaft we should find one that fits and seals well. While there may not be a lot of leakage, there is not a lot of gear oil in there to begin with - and it stinks the garage up something awful whenever it does leak.