In this video I replace a pitman arm on a 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe. The procedure is similar for Chevy and GMC trucks and SUV's.
Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. South Main Auto Repair assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. South Main Auto Repair recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not South Main Auto Repair.
Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. South Main Auto Repair assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. South Main Auto Repair recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not South Main Auto Repair.
Wow great video, love how you showed every detail! For example showing us how to loosen the steering box. It's easy enough where you could have just said to loosen it up but the fact that you showed it in the video was awesome. It helps us DIYers that's never touched this kind of stuff before Thanks!
I just did this job on an 07 GMC 1500. Everything was on tighter than welding – this job will challenge your religion – the pitman arm was just not going to come off – so being a 71 year old retired wrench this is what you do – take the steering box out – take a 4 inch grinder with a cut off wheel on it and cut off the outside of the pitman arm as close to the splines shaft as possible – put your puller on it and get it tight – then take your 4 in grinder and put a 60 grit flapper grinding disk on it – start grinding the flat you just made with your cutoff wheel towards the splines on the shaft – when u see or hear the pitman arm crack it might come off – if it's still stuck take a chisel and put it in the crack and give it a few wacks – that will cause the pitman to spread ever so slightly and release the splines on the steering box shaft … just add the 3+ hours book time for the R & R of the steering box to the job … I'm ordering one of those big air hammers tonight…
One more for Mr o
Great Video and Job Sir…..
So, Eric, seeing as how both ends of the arm were so lose, could you maybe have just torqued the bolts and gotten that thing to tighten up? Did it unquestionably need to be replaced?
45 year mechanic. I prefer your videos over others. Thanks for the heads up.
Great job thank you
Moog is junk!
What's the part number on your low profile puller?
It's not fair!!!!!!!!!!! It all came apart so freaking easy!!! I call foul!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As you were running into interference I keep thinking like a junkyard mechanic. Take a torch and burn off the stuff in the way 😉😂 than tell someone else it's ready to go back together and watch their reaction.
Not on a street vehicle but fun to think about.
Just replaced mine based on the info from this video. Wasn’t quite as easy lol but successful! Thanks for the info !
Sooo….I'm just curious and just asking. Would it not be easier to loosen the sway bar (linkage and frame bolts – just loosen, not remove) to get the pitman arm out rather than messing with the gear box? I've never worked on a 4WD suspension (it's planned for the weekend when it stops raining), but on my old 2WD, that's how I got the pitman out and back in. So again….just asking. This thread may be so old, no one will respond. But thank you.
I am curious as to why you didn't just take the sway bar down an inch or so by loosening the mounts on both sides, so as to have room to access and remove the pitman arm from the steering box. I would much rather fight the weight of a stationary bar without removing the mounts entirely than muscling and fighting the weight and bulk of the steering gearbox.
That’s awesome dude like a rough estimate how much does it cost to do a job like that?
Just recently did mine, and went like this, didn't remove the box, was kinda nervous cause I'm a first year but went smooth like this
wait till the next one
Can’t stand states with “inspections”. What a joke.
You should’ve showed the difference in movement or non movement after you put new part on.
Should help the next guy out and put some anti seize on the splines.
I've seen a few videos talking about cars failing inspection what does that mean I've never had to get that ??
What do you mean when u say it came in for a state inspection?what is that?
Take that bolt loose on the steering box. Set it on the ground turn wheel back and forth works about 57.87% of the time
How about a video on pulling a pitman arm that's rusted rock solid on….that requires the force of a nuclear weapon to remove? 🤪
Great video, thank you. I've been thinking that they have changed the angle of tapered parts. Have noticed for a couple of years now, that steering parts come apart with a lot less struggle than they once did. Hope that's the case, I'm fixing to do just that job on my own GMC.
Any easy way to tell what groove I got? They have 3 and 4 groove.
I am about to do the pitman arm on my 95 Suburban K2500, on the ground, bad back and not expecting it to go even close to that easy. Really do not want to pull the steering box completely off.
Is the Escalade about the same?
Thank you, this was extremely clear for me.
Excellent 👍
Is going to save our day tomorrow 💙💙💙
My ‘faithful 01 Suburban has 210k miles on it, I’m starting to see uneven tire wear. I want to keep it, so should I just go ahead and change out the pitman/suspension related parts ?
Any luck turkey hunting this spring ?
I was just thinking "Wow, I actually think this guy is pretty cool"…..then the damn thing fell off like I have never seen. What the heck? was this staged? ppl I've known from up north have always told me we don't know about suspension rust buildup and the evils of road salt in OK. I was expecting a knuckle bloodbath, a minimum of 10 expletives, and that 1 5/16" wrench to bounce off of something in a fit of fury. I think I hate you now.
Good video
Too bad you live 3000 miles away. I'd have you do my car! Thanks for the great video.
I wanted to see you tighten that puppy it was the hardest part for me 🤬
Is lube used on the tapered shaft beneath the thread portion of the ball joints; where they meet the connecting arm?
You are a frecking Genius!
I got my suburban back from alignment shop the other day. They put new parts including pitman arm in, but the steering wheel is now 90 degrees off. I'm NOT taking it back to them, but I should, with the wheels straight, be able to take the pitman arm loose, turn the steering wheel where it needs to be, and put it back together, correct?
I just did a full suspension rebuild on my 2006 Chevy Avalanche 1500, the pitman arm had to be the most difficult thing to break loose, used a puller tool on it with a breaker bar and it ended up breaking the attachment on the breaker bar, stripped the threads on the puller tool, tried separating it with a picklefork and sledgehammer. And nothing was working. Had to step it up about 10 notches, took an angle grinder to it and ended up cutting a wedge out of the original arm, putting the picklefork into the wedge and with the heat generated from the grinder, striking it a couple times in the wedge caused it to break free, took loosening the castle nut on the idler arm to get the bar to come down far enough to install the new pitman arm. Once it was back on, new inner and outer driver side tie rods were installed. The tire was put back on and now the truck runs great after the alignment.
Just done the same job on my 98 C1500. Only I replaced the entire steering linkage. Everything except the gearbox. Off to alignment today. Appreciate the video. I had to use the puller.👍
I have an 02 Tahoe will I need the wheels off the ground or will it be find siting on the ground while I do my pitman arm an idler arm
Just helped my bro-in-law do his yesterday. His pitman arm was on so tight we had to use a grinder on the eyelet of the arm itself, cut a cannel 90% depth as to not damage the splined shaft, and drive a chisel into the cut to get it to split it open. Easy peasy after twenty minutes of grinding/cutting.
That's bullsheedo man
Would an 2001 be similar
That's funny truck fails inspection because of a loose pitman arm but that dodge minivan had a ball joint ready to fall out and that was okay. SMDH.
Ordered parts to do my 2001 1500 HD. NOT SURE IF MINE HAS 3 or 4 big splines. I’m praying for the correct part! I hope mine goes this smooth, every bolt I’ve turned on this truck has been like it’s welded on. Great video! Thank u
Question how many groove splines are in a 2006 GMC Sierra 1500