I need to know do i have to take off or loosen the gear box to replace the pitman arm? about how long of a job is it to change the pitman arm and idler arm?

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Things You'll Need

Adjustable wrench

Pitman arm puller

Torque wrench

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Instructions

Park the vehicle on a level surface and make sure the front wheels are pointing straight ahead. Make sure the vehicle is in park (or in gear if you have manual transmission) and set the parking brake.

Disconnect the pitman arm from the steering box from underneath the front of the vehicle by turning the holding bolt in a counterclockwise direction with an adjustable wrench. Place a pitman arm puller (available at auto parts stores) over the pitman arm and tighten the nut on the puller in a clockwise direction with an adjustable wrench until the pitman arm loosens from the steering box shaft. Remove the pitman arm and the puller.

Open the hood and loosen the lock nut on top of the steering box from the engine compartment with an adjustable wrench in a counterclockwise direction.

Place a torque wrench on the steering shaft and turn the wrench one complete turn. Make sure the torque reading is approximately 2 inch pounds. Tighten the adjusting nut on top of the steering box (it comes out of the center of the lock nut) in a clockwise direction with an adjustable wrench one half turn if the torque wrench reading is too low. Loosen the nut in a counterclockwise direction if the reading is too high.

Rotate the steering shaft with the torque wrench again. Make adjustments to the steering box adjusting nut as described in Step 4, if needed, until the correct reading is obtained on the torque wrench.

Make sure the steering wheel is in the straight ahead position and reattach the pitman arm to the bottom of the steering shaft on the steering box. Tighten the holding nut in a clockwise direction with an adjustable wrench until the pitman arm seats into place.

Tighten the lock nut on top of the steering box with an adjustable wrench in a clockwise direction. Close the hood

Seems like you are doing what you can. Why not disconnect the pitman from the truck and drop the steering box with the pitman arm on it? Although there is a cost for another pitman arm, you risk damaging the steering box components by beating on parts like the pitman arm that connect to the steering box gears and bearings.

If you are missing work and have extra costs, replacing the pitman arm may be a cheaper alternative.

You dont remove the gear box to remove a pitman arm. They have a tool called a pitman arm remover. That is what you do the job with. Remove the cutter pin and nut from the one end. Then use the tool to finish removing the part.

remove the p/s lines to the gear box, take the nut of the pitman arm and seperate the center link of the pitman arm, remove the front shield, remove three bolts from the side of the frame holding the gear box onto the frame, you will need a puller to remove the pitman arm off the gearbox, reverse procedure to install. add fluid.

No. You just need a pitman arm puller and the correct wrenches.

you will have to remove the steering gear box to change the pitman arm. the idler arm is on the other side by the passenger wheel. one nut and two bolts going threw fender take it off.

Take the bolts out that attach the steering box to the frame and pivot the box so you can fit the puller on.
Leave the steering shaft and power steering hoses attached.
Mark the new pitman arm and old one in the same place and mark the pitman shaft to keep the same position of the new pit man arm on the old shaft as the old pitman arm.

yes you need to unbolt the steering box and drop it a little. not to hard. then you remove the nut and you will have to use a puller most of the time.

Don't worry it is not too hard if you keep at. One "special tool" that you will need is a ball joint separator to separate the ball joint on the idler arm from the steering. When changing make sure to compare your replacement parts with the original and if necessary make a diagram of how things go together. On the bottom, there is a castle nut and a cotter pin. Remove the pin and loosen the nut then use the ball joint separator to remove the idler arm. (This is the hardest part of the job.) Then remove the remaining bolts and take the part off. Before putting the new idler arm make sure that you put the new grease fitting on it (and go ahead and squirt a little grease in it even though it already has some) and in between the new ball joint and the steering there should be a plastic bearing that slips into place. It's a pretty straight forward job and once you take a good look at it you will see what all needs to be done. Hope this helps, let me know how it goes. Goodluck!

pitman arm? you need to replace the "idler arm" also. thats a pretty good job you will need a pitman arm puller and an impact wrench. then you will have to loosen the gear box to turn it about 25 degree to get to the bolt on the arm. then youl need a pickle fork to remove the tie rod. im asuming this is a 4x4 hope this helps good luck man