automan25

The link below is to a photo from a '69 Mustang with power steering. I'm trying to remove the ball-joint stem from the Pitman Arm as you can see in the photo. Any ideas? Does anyone know if it's threaded such that I can put a strong pair of vice grips on there and turn, or do I need to use a puller to remove it from the top. I'd like to get this done without removing the Pitman Arm from the steering gear.

http://home.comcast.net/~automan25/mustang_PA.jpg

Thanks,

Jeff in Washington

mstngsule68

heat up the arm and start bangin on it, why are u trying to remove it anyways?

67mustang302

Explosives.

You might want to remove the arm and chuck it up in a vise, so you don't damage anything else in the process.

kalli

search the forum. there was the same post/question about 2 or 3 weeks ago

JamesW

Tie rod puller/pitman arm puller. 7 bucks

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/pho...1799/01752.gif

kalli

so options are 7 bucks or brute force

andrewmp6

A puller will work best beating it off is ok but watch your fingers with a hammer.

109jb

If you decide to pound on it, make sure you put a nut on that is covering the threaded end of the joint if you need to re-use it. If you are replacing it completely, beat away. I personally use a tie rod puller because they work well. In the past I used the fork style separator below both with a swing press and as a air hammer attachment.

109jb

Guess I should have looked at your picture first. The fork separator ain't gonna work. I'd go for the screw type separator that pushes the remaining piece out.

automan25

I don't really care if I harm the ball joint in the process here,but I need to save the pitman arm. What I still need to know is, does the ball joint SCREW into the pitman arm, or is it PRESSED into it (like how the steering wheel is connected to the steering shaft)? I don't want to try to force it out with a puller if it is screwed in, or it will damage the pitman arm and elicit much profanity from me. The same holds true if I try to unscrew it and it's pressed in.

Thanks,

Jeff