67 non-power steering relay rod to Pitman arm question

[Gary S.]

I am getting ready to help a friend remove his very loose steering box and I have run into trouble figuring out how to remove the relay rod ball stud from the Pitman arm. According to my 1966 service manual it states "...remove stud nut. Tap ball stud out of pitman arm ...". I am missing something here because that ball stud is really in there. Obviously I cannot proceed until I figure out how to remove the ball stud without destroying ball stud, clamp seal and who knows what else. We plan on renting the Advance Auto Pitman arm puller and then having Bairs rebuild the steering box.

Lots of information on removing rag joints, relay rod, etc but not the procedure for removing the ball stud from pitman arm.

Any advice here?

Thank you as always.

Gary

[Edward J.]

[Gary S.]

Re: 67 non-power steering relay rod to Pitman arm question

Edward,
Thank you for the comments. I DO understand the pitman arm puller and its use but I talking about the ball stud on the relay rod that goes up through the other end of the pitman arm. That one is in quite tightly and I am unable to see the proper way to remove that so that I can then pull the steering box and pitman arm out together to separate the two.

Gary

[Tom E.]

Re: 67 non-power steering relay rod to Pitman arm question

Gary,
I hit the eye the rod goes through with a 5 lb Hammer. Nice heavy whack! It shock loads the joint and they usually pop right out. Same way you do a tie rod end.
Tom

[Gary S.]

Re: 67 non-power steering relay rod to Pitman arm question

Tom,
I will give that another shot, so to speak. Already had my 5 pound hammer in there.

[Tom E.]

Re: 67 non-power steering relay rod to Pitman arm question

Gary,
If you have 2 big hammers hit both sides at once, it’ll give!
Tom

[Gary S.]

Re: 67 non-power steering relay rod to Pitman arm question

I do but I also doubt that I am THAT coordinated down in the wheel well. Want to join me and give it an NCRS version of "whack-a-mole"?

I will enlist the help of the cars owner.
Gary

[Tom E.]

Re: 67 non-power steering relay rod to Pitman arm question

LOL, I’d be happy to help but it would be awhile to get there from NC!

[Patrick B.]

Re: 67 non-power steering relay rod to Pitman arm question

It is possible to remove the seal, plug and outer spring from the end of the relay rod, and move the relay rod so that the round hole is aligned with the ball stud. The relay rod can then be disengaged from ball stud which stays with the pitman arm. You can then remove the steering box from the car, and either keep the ball stud attached to the pitman arm or remove it with the 2 hammers while holding the pitman arm conveniently in a vice vastly reducing the risk of damaging parts.

[Gary S.]

Re: 67 non-power steering relay rod to Pitman arm question

Patrick,
Thank you for that technique. If Tom's technique doesn't work, I will use yours.

Gary

[Gary S.]

Re: 67 non-power steering relay rod to Pitman arm question

Gary,
I hit the eye the rod goes through with a 5 lb Hammer. Nice heavy whack! It shock loads the joint and they usually pop right out. Same way you do a tie rod end.
Tom

That did it! I held my heavy hammer against the eye of the pitman arm, smacked the opposing side with my second heavy hammer and two wacks later the post popped out. Great idea. Of course, AFTER I did this, I see the same technique in the Service Manual but I guess I wasn't looking as opposed to reading the text.

Thank you

Gary

[Tom E.]