4x4 raised steering arm removal - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

da-burb · 05-12-2003, 02:16 PM

Is there a trick to removing the stock steering arm? I left my truck with the mechanic to finish the 4" lift spring install. The last thing to install is the raised arm. The old one just doesn't come off. Any helpfull hints????

Blazer1970 · 05-12-2003, 03:19 PM

Hit it from the side, hard, with a big hammer. You want to hit from the side right next to the studs, one at a time. This will deform the holes in the arm (momentarily) so that the cone washers that are in there will break loose. It is the same idea that is used to get tie rod ends and drag link ends to separate.

**JIMs70GMC** · 05-12-2003, 08:35 PM

Like Tim said hit it from the sides (I used the back of a 3.5lb axe). Trying to strike from the bottom or using a jack and the vehicle weight to remove will only make them tighter.

Mike C · 05-12-2003, 10:57 PM

Sometimes they are a BEE-OTCH to get off. To say the least. Soak them in penetrating oil and use an air chisel at the top. This worked on one of mine. Next thing is to put some heat on the wedges. I FINALLY got mine out after a couple of sessions with hammers, chisels, oil and heat. FYI, I had to go get new tapered shims.

da-burb · 05-12-2003, 11:08 PM

Oh this sounds like so much fun! I am starting to remember why I stayed away from 4x4's for the first 24 years of vehicle ownership.

TX_Mudder · 05-13-2003, 07:35 AM

Not everything is as big a PITA as that steering arm. The 1-ton front axles are easier to work on. The steering arm is held on by 4 1/2" nuts (on studs.) Easy. Also, no ball joints - very easy to rebuild and not special tools.
Once you get the steering arm off you'll feel better

-- Mike

694X4 · 05-13-2003, 12:15 PM

Yep beat the sh!t out of it with a 3 lb mini sledge and some time after your arm wears out it will come off. I was helping a friend do his one time and he offered a free steak dinner to the person that got it off. I beat on that thing till i couldn't feel my arms any more then his dad hit it three time and it fell off on the floor.

Mudder · 05-13-2003, 12:56 PM

Ah come on guys they all arent that bad! LOL You have to hold your mouth in the right position and say the right words.

694x4 you should have wacked it 3 more times! LOL

694X4 · 05-13-2003, 04:56 PM

Trust me mudder i was saying some words maybe not the right ones but words all the same.

da-burb · 05-14-2003, 01:34 PM

It's off!!! And what a diff it made in the steering. Now I have the complete Tuff Country 4" lift kit on the truck at all 4 corners.

**kwmech** · 05-15-2003, 10:47 PM

For future removal for any one. I do these all day long and for the stubborn ones after soaking and side hitting try this also--- put the nuts on half way and with an air chisel with blunt end [such as you would use to blow out rivets thru the frame] hit the top of the stud also. The nut prevents damage to the threads-most of the time.

Ryan Flowers · 05-18-2003, 12:43 AM

Hit it from the side! That's how I got mine off when doing my lift. Just tap it on the sides and watch for the cone washers to start lifting up. Then you can just pull them up and then the whole thing will slide off.

Hope this helped?

Later,

bodazpa · 05-31-2003, 07:06 PM

take the wheel and breake assembley off, heat it till it glows, then hit the snot out of it with a heavy hammer.The tech from tuff country told me to hit it wuth a soft hammer, I told him that the 5lb maul that I used must have been to heavy....

05-12-2003, 02:16 PM	#1
da-burb "Ochre Ogre" Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Springfield, MN Posts: 3,558	4x4 raised steering arm removal Is there a trick to removing the stock steering arm? I left my truck with the mechanic to finish the 4" lift spring install. The last thing to install is the raised arm. The old one just doesn't come off. Any helpfull hints???? __________________ Bowtie Truck Stop Inc. Mid-West GM Truck Restoration Parts Supplier Your Key Parts, Auto Metal Direct, Dynacorn, and Goodmark dealer. like us @ www.facebook.com/BowtieTruckStop 1971 C-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1971 K-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1972 C-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1972 K-20 Suburban (Yellow- that just aint right!) Springfield, Minnesota 56087

05-12-2003, 03:19 PM	#2
Blazer1970 Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Old Mission, MI, USA Posts: 2,510	Hit it from the side, hard, with a big hammer. You want to hit from the side right next to the studs, one at a time. This will deform the holes in the arm (momentarily) so that the cone washers that are in there will break loose. It is the same idea that is used to get tie rod ends and drag link ends to separate. __________________ Tim

05-12-2003, 08:35 PM	#3
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	Like Tim said hit it from the sides (I used the back of a 3.5lb axe). Trying to strike from the bottom or using a jack and the vehicle weight to remove will only make them tighter. __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm

05-12-2003, 10:57 PM	#4
Mike C Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Austin, TX, USA Posts: 7,723	Sometimes they are a BEE-OTCH to get off. To say the least. Soak them in penetrating oil and use an air chisel at the top. This worked on one of mine. Next thing is to put some heat on the wedges. I FINALLY got mine out after a couple of sessions with hammers, chisels, oil and heat. FYI, I had to go get new tapered shims. __________________ 44 Willys MB 52 M38A1 64 Corvette Coupe 68 Camaro 'vert LT1 & TH700 69 Z/28 355 12.6's @110 69 Chevy Short Step 4 1/2"/7" drop 72 Jimmy 4WD 4spd 4" & 35's 02 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Duramax

05-12-2003, 11:08 PM	#5
da-burb "Ochre Ogre" Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Springfield, MN Posts: 3,558	Oh this sounds like so much fun! I am starting to remember why I stayed away from 4x4's for the first 24 years of vehicle ownership. __________________ Bowtie Truck Stop Inc. Mid-West GM Truck Restoration Parts Supplier Your Key Parts, Auto Metal Direct, Dynacorn, and Goodmark dealer. like us @ www.facebook.com/BowtieTruckStop 1971 C-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1971 K-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1972 C-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1972 K-20 Suburban (Yellow- that just aint right!) Springfield, Minnesota 56087

05-13-2003, 07:35 AM	#6
TX_Mudder Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 126	Not everything is as big a PITA as that steering arm. The 1-ton front axles are easier to work on. The steering arm is held on by 4 1/2" nuts (on studs.) Easy. Also, no ball joints - very easy to rebuild and not special tools. Once you get the steering arm off you'll feel better -- Mike __________________ http://home.houston.rr.com/chevy73/

05-13-2003, 12:15 PM	#7
694X4 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: utica, oh, Posts: 249	Yep beat the sh!t out of it with a 3 lb mini sledge and some time after your arm wears out it will come off. I was helping a friend do his one time and he offered a free steak dinner to the person that got it off. I beat on that thing till i couldn't feel my arms any more then his dad hit it three time and it fell off on the floor. __________________ 69 3/4 ton 4x4 gmc with 6" sky jacker soft ride. 350 / th350 / 205 work in progress

05-13-2003, 12:56 PM	#8
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	Ah come on guys they all arent that bad! LOL You have to hold your mouth in the right position and say the right words. 694x4 you should have wacked it 3 more times! LOL

05-13-2003, 04:56 PM	#9
694X4 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: utica, oh, Posts: 249	Trust me mudder i was saying some words maybe not the right ones but words all the same. __________________ 69 3/4 ton 4x4 gmc with 6" sky jacker soft ride. 350 / th350 / 205 work in progress

05-14-2003, 01:34 PM	#10
da-burb "Ochre Ogre" Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Springfield, MN Posts: 3,558	It's off!!! And what a diff it made in the steering. Now I have the complete Tuff Country 4" lift kit on the truck at all 4 corners. __________________ Bowtie Truck Stop Inc. Mid-West GM Truck Restoration Parts Supplier Your Key Parts, Auto Metal Direct, Dynacorn, and Goodmark dealer. like us @ www.facebook.com/BowtieTruckStop 1971 C-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1971 K-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1972 C-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1972 K-20 Suburban (Yellow- that just aint right!) Springfield, Minnesota 56087

05-15-2003, 10:47 PM	#11
kwmech Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colfax-California Posts: 8,592	arm For future removal for any one. I do these all day long and for the stubborn ones after soaking and side hitting try this also--- put the nuts on half way and with an air chisel with blunt end [such as you would use to blow out rivets thru the frame] hit the top of the stud also. The nut prevents damage to the threads-most of the time.

05-18-2003, 12:43 AM	#12
Ryan Flowers No Brakes Club Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Carthage, N.C. Posts: 263	Hit it from the side! That's how I got mine off when doing my lift. Just tap it on the sides and watch for the cone washers to start lifting up. Then you can just pull them up and then the whole thing will slide off. Hope this helped? Later, __________________ Ryan Flowers 85 GMC Suburban 4x4 379 90 GMC Suburban 4x4 383 01 Chevy Suburban 2x4 350 Click here to email me Click here to visit my web site

05-31-2003, 07:06 PM	#13
bodazpa Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: 283 Small Block ln. apt k10 Chevyland N.J. Posts: 261	take the wheel and breake assembley off, heat it till it glows, then hit the snot out of it with a heavy hammer.The tech from tuff country told me to hit it wuth a soft hammer, I told him that the 5lb maul that I used must have been to heavy.... __________________ 71 chevy 4x4 ,np205 transfer case, 3 speed tranny, sjs 283, 4in suspension lift, and 71 hugger orange paint,33x12.5 parnelli jones on 15x10 m/t classicII, cowl hood,new bed painted, linex liner. Truck has been completed since 2005.... 2003 Chevy Avalanche Z71, on 6in super lift w/ 35in tires RNG4x4 aka the "Redneck Roller" words to live by "If it fits, it fits" "friends help you move, real friends help you move bodies..." Sponsored by "Kick Ass Kustom"

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