pitman puller?

Will the standard, $15 pitman puller from Autozone work on my 63? and while we're at it, what size pickle fork do I need for my ball joints? 15/16 seems to be most common.

Greg, there's cheap pullers and then there's CHEAP pullers. my opinion only... i dunno how often i'd use a pitman puller so i dunno if i'd want one in my tool box (i don't) i'd look into a rental shop ta get a quality one... the pickle forks on the other hand, i have both, large and small and they've paid for themselves by usage... i'd recommend using the smaller one on tie-rods and the larger one on the B/Joints.

i hope i helped in some way ;)


and once again, i KNOW i'm the stud of the town wearin' my Steve's shirt, thanks ;)

Just passing on this tip along with a story.....

I'm changing the Chevelle 66 SS from a manual steering to a power steering gear box and needed to remove the pitman arm from the old gear box. I tried hammering it off and using a regular gear puller (not a pitman arm puller) to pull it off - NO LUCK - that thing is really stuck on there.

I went down to the local NAPA and ordered the new power steering gear box and I told the counter guy that I was having a heck of a time getting the pitman arm off. He told me he got this tip - Put the puller on the putman arm and apply some good pressure then wack the pitman arm a few times with a hammer, it'll come right off.

I went home and followed this procedure - the pitman arm came right off...

Thanks for the help guys. Johnny, I'm not absolutely sure that I can rent a pitman puller anywhere close by. If I could, are you saying it would be any different than this:
http://www.tooldiscounter.com/images/productimages/OTC7314A.jpg

That is pretty much the same thing you find everywhere.

JJ66, you used something like this?
http://shop.com.edgesuite.net/ccimg.shop.com/220000/229000/229022/products/33831135.jpg

Thanks for the help guys. Johnny, I'm not absolutely sure that I can rent a pitman puller anywhere close by. If I could, are you saying it would be any different than this:
That is pretty much the same thing you find everywhere.

JJ66, you used something like this?

Greg, i've sold those for years, there's cheap ones and good ones... but they look the same.

Greg, i've sold those for years, there's cheap ones and good ones... but they look the same.

But to come screamin' back to my original question, they'll all fit on my pitman arm, right? :D :D

the real pitman puller, yes... from my experience.

the lower one i tried years ago a few times and could never get ta work... kept slipping off pitman arm... so in my opinion, no, don't use the lower pictured item...

i hope i helped ya Greg. :D

Yarrrr! :D

In yer first post you said "Autozone" they rent the tools.:rolleyes: :D

So you say! You have never been to my Autzone. It's pretty ghetto, and populated by some folks who neither know or care very much about cars. Truth to tell, I have yet to find a decent parts store in the city.

Sorry to hear that. We have some pretty decent parts guys at our AZ but you just have to catch them when they give a @#$(%!:eek:

I can't tell you how much I miss the NAPA in Reno. Seriously, I think the place near me had all their rental stuff stolen long ago, and it will never be re-ordered.

Thanks for the help guys. Johnny, I'm not absolutely sure that I can rent a pitman puller anywhere close by. If I could, are you saying it would be any different than this:
http://www.tooldiscounter.com/images/productimages/OTC7314A.jpg

That is pretty much the same thing you find everywhere.

JJ66, you used something like this?
http://shop.com.edgesuite.net/ccimg.shop.com/220000/229000/229022/products/33831135.jpg

THESE (http://216.109.125.130/search/cache?p=snap+on+tools+pitman+arm+puller&ei=UTF-8&fr=my_mod&x=wrt&u=www.rentrain.com/abceast/product.php%3Fid%3D15870&w=snap+tools+pitman+arm+puller&d=FEyL72P9NER4&icp=1&.intl=us) are the best pitman arm pullers bar none. Snap-On is the only one that makes this style to my knowledge. You can also get tie rod ends and ball joints to come apart by hitting the SIDE of the spindle/mount with a hammer. It distorts the wedge enough to pop them out.....

I had great sucsess on my '63 with a small 3 armed gear puller and penetrating oil...

I prefer the solid kind, like in the top pic. On my 74, I broke one of the 3-armed pullers and had to go borrow one of those solid ones. It wouldnt budge it either...until I used a 2 lb maul on one side and "shocked" it loose hitting it on the other side with another hammer. ;)

I prefer the solid kind, like in the top pic. On my 74, I broke one of the 3-armed pullers and had to go borrow one of those solid ones. It wouldnt budge it either...until I used a 2 lb maul on one side and "shocked" it loose hitting it on the other side with another hammer. ;)

:D I'm sensing a recurring theme here, and its initials are BFH. :D

Thats a big 10-4 lol. If its never been removed, its gonna need to be "persuaded". Actually, once I got as much pressure as possible on it without breaking the remover, a few good pops with the smaller hammer (use a 16-22 oz to shock it with, but something heavy to back it up) and it loosened right up. Then tighten the remover a lil more, and it eased right on off like its supposed to :D

JJ66, you used something like this?
http://shop.com.edgesuite.net/ccimg.shop.com/220000/229000/229022/products/33831135.jpg[/QUOTE]

Yep that's what I used.... I did spray it down with some "PJ Blaster" the night before too.

I used the solid one on the jeep, but that sucker wouldnt budge. I ended up cutting it off, because I was replacing it with a dropped arm. Since then I have used it again, so now I have had 2 uses with it, and it was the HF cheapie.

You know, if I didn't wait 7 months between asking these questions, and actually doing what I was asking about, I might have an easier time of things. :rolleyes:

Totally forgot about this thread, but did manage to break one cheapie Harbor Freight 6.99 pitman puller in the process. The bfh advice might've saved me buying the $15 puller from Autozone, but that one finished the job.

One thing I did learn, that other newbies might not know, is that the standard pitman puller also does a fine job on removing tie rod ends. I think it's better than using a pickle fork, since you don't have to damage the rubber boot.

For tie rod ends and ball joints I used a pickle fork that attaches to my air chisle. No hassle at all.

Believe it or not, I still don't have an air compressor, so that one wasn't an option for me.