First time K5 lift install, i'm stuck, PLEASE help!

[readymix]

Yeah i'm not done, that's why the u-bolts are not tight all the way around. But thanks for looking out guys.

I figured that you were not done. I would hate too see you forget thoguh. Good luck with the steering arm.

 

[BiGGiEB503]

I would just like to say thanks to everyone that contributed to this thread. I'm pretty new here and I was lifting my k5 today and I had a hell of a time getting the steering arm off, so...I checked here and sure enough you guys helped me out...I had it off within 30 secs!

 

[Zeus33rd]

Geez...I could never undertand why people have so much trouble with those things. I've never spent more than 20 minutes working on a steering arm. I've prolly done 15+ of them.

 

[3rdshiftdesign]

KidJethro,

you're in california so the rust probably isn't as much of an issue with you. I think that contributes a lot to the steering arm problems... the cones being rusted in there and what not.

othertimes, some people don't think it requires a 5lb hammer and beat the crap out of it with no luck... just because they're told to hit it hard with a hammer.

PB Blaster, Brass Punch, 5# BFH

 

[MattK]

i think everyone hit all of the best ways to get the dang thing off. i used pb and a 3# HF mini sledge(LOVE this thing) mine was my first and it probably took me a total of 3 hours or so


oh yeah and some good angry music will help with some bursts of fury lol.

 

[BigCountryx]

Yeah, I forgot about that. I put the ball end of a ball peen hammer on the stud and give the flat face a good tap with another hammer. Do that to each stud. This seems to break the cone washers loose very effectively.

Be sure to use Safety glasses if you go that route. Ever seen a hammer shatter.....not pretty.

 

[Zeus33rd]

Being in California has nothing to do with it. I live in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas- It rains and snows here just like anywhere back east. The roads ice up everywinter and salt is used here as well. In this part of cali, all of these trucks are jsut as rusty as anywhere else. The 'Burb I just bought has a floor so bad that if I stomp on it hard enough, my foots gonna go through it.

Anyways, I cannot ever even imagine spending 8 hours on a steering arm...

I'd bet my 5.13 geared, Detroited. 35 spline warn flanged D60 AND my grooved and beadlocked 42's, that I could remove the arm from ANY axle in half an hour or less. I've never spent more than 20 minutes on one.

 

[bozor1000]

Use a pickle fork or a puller