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FJ40 Pitman arm woes-now steering gear box rebuild
- Thread starter Jacket
- Start date
MDH33
Hard Core 4+
Before you start cutting, Did you try the puller everyone recommends on Mud?
OTC 8150 Conical Pitman Arm Puller
OTC 8150 Conical Pitman Arm Puller
RDub
Trail Ready
That puller works amazingly well. Along with some penetrating oil and vibrating blows with a heavy hammer where the arm attaches to the steering box.
If you can't find used, we keep new Japanese ones around.
I've seen that one but don't have it. Would it make the difference here? Not sure. It's a summabch for sure. 48 hours of heat/puller/hammer/kroil/rest/repeat, and she hasn't moved a mm.
I saw those - thanks man.
RDub
Trail Ready
The arm on my 60 wouldn’t budge after similar attempts at persuasion. Five minutes with the OTC tool and it was off.
RDub
Trail Ready
PM’d you
Rzeppa
Rising Sun Member
You have to use heat, penetrating oil, a big a$$ puller and hold your mouth just right.
MDH33
Hard Core 4+
Yeah, probably would. Proper puller, a big impact gun and heat. But, If its already buggered up from pounding on it, the cutting makes sense and you get to buy a new part instead of a new tool.
* moved the thread out of the wanted section
@RDub Ross helped me out with better tooling. Took less than a minute to hook it up and pull off the pitman arm.
I'm impressed - a proper tool did in 1 min what I couldn't do in 2 days with a standard puller and all the extra BS. Didn't need to whack it, or make the funny face Jeff suggested. Huge thanks to Ross for the tool assist.
Anyway - steering box is out and now I can get to work with my pile of @cruiseroutfit parts to seal this thing up and get a full steering refresh.
@RDub Ross helped me out with better tooling. Took less than a minute to hook it up and pull off the pitman arm.
I'm impressed - a proper tool did in 1 min what I couldn't do in 2 days with a standard puller and all the extra BS. Didn't need to whack it, or make the funny face Jeff suggested. Huge thanks to Ross for the tool assist.
Anyway - steering box is out and now I can get to work with my pile of @cruiseroutfit parts to seal this thing up and get a full steering refresh.
LARGEONE
Rising Sun Member
I need to do this at some point my box leaks quite a bit.
Rzeppa
Rising Sun Member
I actually rebuilt my steering box. Basically new bearings, seals and gaskets. It was pretty straightforward between Haynes and the FSM.
wesintl
Moderator
I think everyone that has a 40 does... I have a seal from 30 years ago still waiting to go into a manual steering box
Yes indeed. In progress.
Just waiting for some paint to dry and then reassembly starts.
I think everyone that has a 40 does... I have a seal from 30 years ago still waiting to go into a manual steering box
Right. And then you can dive into the debate over 90w (leaky) vs grease (less leaky) belonging in the gearbox. I'm going to grease the bearings, the seals and the brass bushing, but otherwise fill it with 90 wt per the FSM.
A true Cruiserhead would save some birf soup knowing it represents the perfect blend of both 90w and grease with the added benifit of moly for his steerig box.
CardinalFJ60
Rising Sun Member
Is that gear replaceable in there? My steering box does not leak, but loose. Tightened it a bit, but still a little loose in the middle and barely a little tight as you get into turning toward full lock. I’m guessing this thing is worn out?
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