Trouble Pitman Arm Nut

[just_dirty]

Any advice on how to remove the Nut that connects the Pitman arm to the steering Box? These are the two problems i'm encountering:

1) Without loosening/removing steer box mounting bolts I can only get a very large Crescent wrench into the space (since i cant find a 34 mm Box wrench). The problem with that is I can't apply nearly as much force as needed to break the Nut loose.

2) With the steering box loosened I can get a 34mm socket onto the nut but when I apply any amount of reasonable force the steering box wants to spin/twist. I tried holding the steering box with my foot while I tried to break the damn nut loose but eventually it started to spin/twist

Any advice would be appreciated. I just replaced the ball joints and tie rods and would like to wrap up the pitman arm and just go in for ONE alignment.

 

[southboundchicken]

I removed the steering box and secured it in a big ass vice

 

[bottomline2000]

same here.. removed steering box. bust the nut off with an impact...that's the ez part. IMO taking the pitman arm off should only be tried with an impact set on kill..tighten puller, hit it with the impact, hit pitman arm with a dead blow hammer and repeat until that sucker comes off. it will slowly start moving. use a dead blow, just using an impact will break the puller. i got my puller from harbour freight since my Oreilly's only had one not made for an impact...screw that (pun intended)

 

[latvius]

Remove 2 of the three steering box bolts and loosen the third until you can get you're socket on it and use a large impact. I had to go buy an HF 1" drive impact and it took it off with ease. Same advice as above put your puller on until tight, get your biggest ball pein and smack the crap out of it. Tightening the puller by itself will only break the puller (ask me how I know). The key is hitting it HARD with a BIG hammer and getting yourself enough room to take a BIG swing.

 

[ivin74]

I removed the steering box and secured it in a big ass vice

x2, thats what i did

 

[Larryjb]

I'm struggling with this nut too, but I thought I was the only one. I've got some Deep Creep soaking on it, I'll try again with the crescent wrench one more time. Otherwise, I'll have to get a 34 mm impact socket. I only have a small compressor for air tools, but it's been enough for lug nuts. Hopefully it'll be enough for this pitman arm.

edit: optional solution, have stronger neighbour reef on crescent wrench.

 

[latvius]

I wouldn't use a crescent wrench you run the risk of damaging the nut and you won't get it off that way. It is torqued to 185ft pounds. You need a big impact, I had a small air impact (3/4") and it laughed at me. So I bought the HF 1" it took it off in seconds. Small compressor should be ok as you only need air for a quick burst with the right impact.

 

[SnowDrifter]

You can fit a shallow 1/2" drive socket in there with an extension. Use an impact wrench to bust it loose if you have access to one. Else bust out the breaker bar and get to work