Removing PS ball stud from pitman arm

It finally warmed up enough for me to decide it was time to rebuild my PS control valve. Everything was going just fine and it's ready to come out except that I can't get the ball stud out of the pitman arm. I'm using the shop manual and after removing the nut from the ball stud it says to just "disconnent the control valve from the pitman arm"

Anybody got any ideas on how to remove the control valve stud without removing the pitman arm (which I don't want to do)? I keep eyeing my big hammer but don't want to go there.

if memory serves, i had to remove the pitman arm from the steering box in order for me to get the control valve low enough to put a gear puller on the ball stud.

oddly enough the pitman arm removal was a snap, after reading a lot of horror stories from people on this board, i expected the worst. if you can fit a gear puller on the ball stud, tighten it down pretty good and give the pitman arm a good whack. should pop out.

good luck!

Thanks, for the reply. After examining it some more I also concluded that the pitman arm must come off. So I started the search yesterday for a puller and a 1 5/16 socket. Found the puller (cheap one that needs to be modified to work) but Sears and the local parts place were out of the right socket so I can't do anything until I find the right tool.

Thanks, for the reply. After examining it some more I also concluded that the pitman arm must come off. So I started the search yesterday for a puller and a 1 5/16 socket. Found the puller (cheap one that needs to be modified to work) but Sears and the local parts place were out of the right socket so I can't do anything until I find the right tool.

i had an old spindle nut socket that did the trick for me. check that part of the tool aisle in your local shop if you haven't already.

If you are replacing the ball stud (since you can buy them new locally and from mail order) just take a BFH and beat it off.