It's an easy but physically demanding if you do not have a pneumatic set of tools. The specialty tools you will first have to get your hands on are a Tie Rod remover. otherwise know as a (pickle fork). There are two sizes of these large for ball joint removal and small for Tie rod removal. Looks like a big 2 pronged fork. The next Tool is a Pitman arm remover. Usually you can rent or barrow them from your local auto parts store. Drive your blazer up on to a set of repair ramps. Block the rear tires.The bolt to the center link from the pitman arm has a crown nut on it with a cotter pin going threw it. Remove the cotter pin.and remove the crown nut. Then with the Pickle fork and a 5 lb. sledge hammer. place the pickle fork between the center link and the pitman arm bolt. Give the end of the Pickle fork as many good blows on the other end as it takes for the center link to release from the pitman arm. Once that is done take a break I know you'll need it. Next is the Pitman arm to the steering gear shaft. Hope you can get your hands on a good breaker bar or an impact wrench and a socket large enough for the steering gear shaft nut. Remove the nut. Then place the Pitman arm removal tool between the pitman arm and the steering gear housing. Start tightening the threaded rod the remover up against the shaft. It is hard as hell to remove because pitman arms rarely go bad. It's usually the center link that fails.It will take a lot of strength to remove and you may want to use a little penetrating lube on it. Once you get that off you may want to replace the steering gear shaft seal as well. Otherwise just reverse the removal steps. The shaft is notched and so is the pitman are make sure they line up. then Torque to spec.s If you plan on keeping the blazer get a repair manual from your auto parts store. It will help you put a great deal.
SOURCE: replace idler arm/pitman arm
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!
SOURCE: repair steering linkage
You'll have to rent or borrow a pickle fork and a pitman arm puller. There is more than one size of pickle fork so specify for tie rod ends. You can buy them too, about $100 for the pair and they are not vehicle specific.
Jack and block up your front end so the wheels are clear. Take the nut off the tie rod end and wedge the pickle fork between the tie rod and the drag link, rap with a hammer until it separates. Loosen the bolt on the collar and unscrew the tie rod end. Count the turns when you remove it and screw the new one in the same number of turns.Fit it into the drag link and tighten the collar and the new nut.
Take the nut off the idler arm and use the pickle fork to separate it from the drag link. Unbolt the idler arm from the frame. The new one goes on in the reverse.
You'll probably need an adjustable wrench to remove the nut from the pitman arm,it's bigger than most wrench sets. Separate it from the drag link first. Slide the puller on and tighten it up. Once it starts to turn hard, give the bolt on the puller a rap with the hammer and tighten some more. Repeat until the arm comes off. Slip the new one on and tighten.
Don't be shy when you tighten these parts because if there is play, the holes in the drag link will oval out and you will have to replace it too. Don,t use a pickle fork on the pitman arm or you will have to replace the seal in the bottom of the steering box. Hope this helps.
SOURCE: I have a 1994 chevy k1500 4x4 and need to change pitman arm
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.
SOURCE: i need to replace my idler arm and pitman arm on
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.
SOURCE: How to change the pittman arm and idler arm on a
Pitman arm requires a pitman arm puller, and a tie rod seperator or "pickle fork". Remove the cotter pin on from the joint on the pitman arm and center link, then remove the nuts from both ends of pitman arm. Use the pitman arm puller to remove the pitman arm from the steering gear, then use the tie rod seperator to remove the end from the center link. Reinstall and retighten nuts, do not leave out the cotter pin.
Idler arm will require tie rod seperator. Remove the cotter pin from the end at the center link, use the tie rod seperator to seperate the joint there. Unbolt the idler arm from the frame, and remove. On reinstalling remember to install a new cotter pin. It would be best to have the front end alignment checked after replacing these parts.
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