99 Blazer LS Lwr Ball Joints and Pittman Arm

[TonyMazz]

Well the time has come at 158,300 miles where I finally need lower ball joints on my 4WD Blzr. Replaced them and now I think I need a Pittman arm to shore of some slop in the steering....
Question: Does anyone know of a way to get it out without ripping the steering box out...I just can't see a way due to limited space. Chiltons, Haynes, and service manual suggest taking the steering box out ...and put the box and pittman arm in a vice, then use a puller to pull the arm off the steering box.....

Just wondered if there was an easier way.....

Thanks all for your help in the past !!!

[maddog24]

158K miles and just now needed lower ball joints! How'd you do it. Mine were greased all the time, and they are bad at 60K miles on my 97 4x4. How hard were the lower ball joints to do by the way?

[slipknot_me]

I recently replaced my ball joints on my 99 as well (106k miles) and wodered the same thing. One could possibly get that big nut off (1-1/8 I think) but you'd never get a puller up in there. Have you had to replace either of your hub assys yet? Thats next on mine after I replace the fuel pump. I have quickly learned all the common problems with my Blazer after joining this forum.

[rlith]

You definatly have to pull the steering box... I will also say those arms are on pretty bad. Last time I removed one it took 2 of us to remove the arm and we broke 2 craftsman breaker bars. (3rd one was a charm)... Last time I needed it done, I simply took the box to a local shop and they charged me 5 bux to remove it...

[Fractured1]

and just a side note, never use heat or pound to remove the pitman arm...good luck...

[rlith]

As long as he heats the arm and not the center it should be alright....

[tom3]

Just did this and the idler on mine. That arm is really tough to get off. For sure, take out the gear box, not that hard and really helps. I used a Dewalt angle grinder with a cut off wheel, cut through the arm most of the way (at the splined area), split it with a chisel and hammer. No way it would pull off otherwise.

[TonyMazz]

Well I decided to take it to my local dealer and let them wrestle with it... once they get it off and reinstall they will need to align it anyway as it will be way then.

It's (Pittman arm) been on there for 6 years of Wisconsin winters and I just don't have the beefy tools to get it off...and If they mess up things like the pittman shaft seal then they will have to deal with it...

[swanny723]

I just did the upper and lower ball joints on my '96 Blazer 4x4. I would recomend doing both uppers as well while you are at it. They are easy compared to replacing the lowers.

[skyzend]

Just starting the pitman arm this weekend.

Research indicates that the steering box must come off but the connecting bolt is tourqued down to almost 200 ft-lbs. No wonder it's hard to come off.

If I have a problem I may just take out the dremmel and start cutting.
Just did a hub/bearing assembly and front brakes last night ... piece of cake.
Only difficulties was getting a socket and extension in to fit the bolts and angling the steering nuckle back and forth. Torquing the new assembly into a rusted nuckle was straight forward but a pain as the bolts needed to be tightened repeatedly in sequence to get the whole rig seated properly.