Steering Arm Removal

[Matt J.]

I've looked at all of the past threads on this issue here at Ck5. Almost everyone suggested that a BFH is the answer. I must have whacked my steering arm at least 100 times from every possible angle using a 3lb sledge and eventually worked my way up to an 8lb sledge. I burned thru a full can of PB Blaster, some penetrating oil and Wd40. Conical washers simply would not budge. I tried numerous methods such as heat, pry bar,chiseled the washers and still no luck. If anyone runs into this issue in the future, try my method. I should have done this from the start because it only took me about 20 minutes to get this thing off.

Here is what I did...

Removed the three nuts on steering arm above the knuckle.
Pitman arm puller on the drag link(with a breaker bar).
I put a cam driven stud remover on the studs to break loose. (thanks neighbor!)
Removed studs.
Ran a tap down the stud holes to clean out dirt rust etc...
Installed the new studs (using the two nut method) plus loc-tite
Done.

I purchased a stud kit from www.partsmike.com. I think I paid like $23.00 plus shipping. They shipped it ground and I received it the next day(that was odd).

I know some people get lucky with the BFH and three whacks and it's off. This was not the case for me. I hope this helps someone with a stubborn steering arm like mine. Good luck...


RoadWarrior138 - 1986 K20 Sub.

 

[kicker30]

My dad suggested that when we were taking mine off but we don't have one so we spent like 6 hours beating on the thing before it finally came off. Wish we had one one!

 

[cegusman]

16 pound sledge work for mine. 2 hits and it was loose

 

[79k20350]

Re you hitting on the cast part numbers? That seems to be the sweet spot...

 

[redbeast24740]

I beat mine for 2 days and a can of pb blaster

 

[Kota4bye]

Yeah, I snapped one of the studs on a flat top I was trying to take the arm off of with the BFH method. You think you're pissed off, until that happens.

 

[Matt J.]

That steering arm is a royal pain in the a**. I must have beat on that thing for three days. Every time I was about to hit it with the BFH, I thought this was going to be the one that cracked it loose. I thought wrong.

Well, the 4" lift is done. Now I'm working on brake line hoses. 4wheelparts sent me the incorrect hoses. This always happens to me when I do an on-line purchase with them! I'm supposed to go wheelin' this weekend. I hope I can get what I need to finish up in time.

I'll post pics of the lift soon.