Brian and I started around 10 today to install his new Calmini steering system on his Pathfinder. 4.5 hours later he has a new set of outer tie rod ends and nothing more.
Following the directions in order, we first separated the outer tie rod ends from the knuckles. The boot on one was completely destroyed in the process, the other was cut pretty badly but could have been patched up if necessary, but Brian already had some spare Moog ones that he was planning to put on anyway so we didn't really care.
So then we decide to tackle the pitman arm nut. Didn't take long to figure out that his giant monkey wrench was not suited to the job, so off to Sears we go to either talk a grease monkey into hitting it with an air gun for us real quick, or pick up the necessary socket and breaker bar (3/4" drive is all that size comes in). We found a willing grease monkey, but the manager nixed the idea, so we walked back to the tool section and Brian plunked down his $ for the tools.
Back at Brian's house we were unable to budge the pitman arm nut, even with a cheater bar. However, we came up with a handy remedy for this problem:



Just hooked the chain to my X and backed up gently, piece of cake!
So we continued on, removing the idler and steering stabilizer from the frame, leaving only the pitman arm left and we could pull all the old linkage out. Brian had been spraying penetrating oil on the pitman shaft daily for a few days, and had ordered a pitman arm puller for $10 from Harbor Freight that appeared to be just the right size. Well, he cranked and cranked on that sucker while I banged on the arm with a 4 lb. maul to help vibrate it free. For a split second we thought it had come free, but alas, it hadn't. The cheap-ass puller had broken. So off we go to Sears again to pick up a new one. Brian showed the guy the broken one and the guy said he doubted he had anything much stronger, so we drove on to Papa auto parts where Brian purchased a similar one for $45 and was assured he couldn't break it. Can you guess what happened?



Yup, two busted pitman arm pullers! So at this point we had wasted enough time and Brian needed to get ready for a camping trip, so we put everything back together, replaced the outer TREs, did a quickie eyeball alignment, and called it quits.

Anyone know how to get the goddamn pitman arm off?
Brent

Sweet...I recieved mine thursday, but won't be able to install till next week.. Ya that Pitman arm is the only thing that looks like it would be a pain in the @ss, can't f@wkin wait though. This is just one BEEFY @ss system!!


"This country with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabite it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, then can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to Dismember or Overthrow it." -- Abraham Lincoln

Brent, I would also take a rubber mallet to it and try to break it free. Thing must be seized on there real good.

And keep spraying penetrating oil on it.

Good luck.

Matt

BoBBed BeeOch
*Under Construction*
http://www.highboyz4x4.com/

To remove Pitman Arm:

I used a Large Adjustable wrench to get the nut off (I think it was about 14" long or so). The pitman arm puller I used was actually a modified one. It's all machined steel, and was orginally designed for pulling off Jeep size Pitman Arms! What we did was cut the two ears off at slight angles for a tight fit (it was origanaly modified for a 1979 Ford F150 Highboy), then used a 1/2" drive socket on the puller.

Tightening up the nut when replacing the Pitman Arm, is another story! I used the same Huge Adjustable wrench, and the handle off my Hi-Lift Jack. You'll know when it's tight enough! I did have to use a BFH at help it along in the tightening process as well, but it's on!

The Idler Arm was a bit of a nuisence too. The front hole on the Calmini Idler Arm was 1/16" off. Easily solvable w/a drillbit 1/8" larger. Still was a tight fit, but went on w/out hassle after that!

Good w/your truck, and you'll the steering!

Oh, BTW, currently, a steering stabalizer won't fit w/the Calmini setup w/out some modification. I just removed mine, and gave it to my Dad for his Jeep. Unless u run 34" or taller tires w/this system, a stabalizer isn't neccesary anyway!

______________________________


Isaac

1993 Nissan Hardbody 4-cyl 4x4 on 33's
Too many mods to list

My pitman arm popped right off. I used a a pipe wrench to loosen the nut. And then had to tap the pitman arm puller in with a hammer because it was a tight fit. Once it was in you are supposed to tighten the screw into the whole and then hit the nut with a hammer this should loosen it. I used a impact wrench and the arm slid right off. Putting on you will need a long piece off pipe to get the pitman arm back on very easy. I had no other problems. Everything lined right up and took me about 2 hrs or less, But I had air tools. As far as a steering stablizer goes My looks like it will still fit I wont know till tues when I get a chance to put it and see if there is enough room.

quote:

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Anyone know how to get the goddamn pitman arm off?

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You might want to try putting a propane torch to it for a while.

quote:

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http://mywebpages.comcast.net/Xterra/Pitman.jpg

Just hooked the chain to my X and backed up gently, piece of cake!

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Brent,
After seeing this, I thought, creative idea. I've been fighting to break my bolt free for the last few nights without blowing every penny I have on another wrench. I kind of duplicated what you did except for a few exceptions this morning.

check it out....hehe


*Xterra -> 90' Toyota Corrolla (took a lot more gas pedal to break it free though I'ms sure
*Chain -> 2" tow strap
*3/4" breaker bar -> 18" monkey wrench.

I had to put vise-grips on edge of wrench to keep strap from slipping off, but it worked after couple of tries!! haha!

As far as getting the pitman off, here's a link earlier where I asked same questions to the SWANKY crew who had just finished the installation. I have a few days until my steering arrives, so I'll just keep pouring PB blaster and WD-40 on it. Sorry, not reccomending Datz510's advise on putting beer on it, to valuable a commidity.

http://nissan4wheelers.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=227600023&f=146605233&m=5086083493

===========================
1994 Pathfinder SE
-V6, 5-Speed, Smittybilt Rear Bumper, Lots of rusty chrome
===========================

Damn You guys are weak . I didnt even need a breaker bar to loosen it. Putting it back on you do need a breaker bar. Dont buy the cheap pitman arm pullers. I got mine from napa. Little tight putting it on but the hammer helped it slide in.

Find some penetrating oil with teflon in it. Spray it every 15 minutes or so, and try it, WITHOUT a vehicle. After about 3 or 4 hours, if you don't have it off, just cut it off.. I mean, you are getting rid of it anyway right? hehe Seriously though, penetrating oil with teflon is SCHWEET.

_____________________________
I'm bout my money you see, girl you can holla at me
If you f'n with me, I'm a P-I-M-P
Not what you see on TV, no Cadillac, no greasy
Head full of hair, beotch I'm a P-I-M-P
Come get money with me, if you curious to see
how it feels to be with a P-I-M-P
Roll in the Benz with me, you could watch some TV
From the backseat of my V, I'm a P-I-M-P

Oh, Tuff guys are ya!!!!

Try break'n a bolt loose out East where we run around about two+ months a year in a nice bath of snowy, icy, salty, calcium chloride soupy crud that makes parts weld themselves together due to rust. Every job on the frame level of the truck requires a drill and a metric tap to fix whatever bolt breaks during the job. I actually was going do what Mikey had stated before seeing OffroadX's post and just cut the $#%^! thang off before take'n the beater corolla to break it loose. (See, toyota's do have a use in the world)

After looking at it trying to get the pitman off, 1/2 of the threads that the nut that holds the pitman on are gone due to rust. I've also snapped my three jaw pulley puller, but will make some custom modifications to repair and beef up and keep reapplying every kind of rust solvent solution I can find.

I can't image what the guys out here with the pre 93' Pathfinders and Hardbodies are going to have to do once they're stuff is released by Calmini.

You are right though, it wouldn't hurt me to get back to the GYM and strengthen up a bit.