Mechanic Glossary

Pitman Arm Puller

A specialized heavy-duty puller clamp designed to press the steering pitman arm off the splined output shaft of a steering gear box.

A pitman arm puller is a heavy, forged steel tool designed for steering repairs. The pitman arm connects the steering gear box to the steering linkage. It fits onto a tapered, splined shaft and is held in place by a large nut. Because of road grit, moisture, and the tapered fit, the arm gets rusted onto the splines, making it incredibly difficult to remove without a specialized puller.

The puller features a thick, jaw-shaped frame that slips over the body of the pitman arm and a heavy central screw that rests against the center of the steering shaft. As you tighten the screw with a wrench or impact socket, the frame pulls the arm downward while the screw pushes the shaft upward. The heavy forged construction ensures the jaws do not spread apart under the extreme force required to break the rust weld.

Frequently Asked Questions

Usually not. Standard puller jaws are too thin and will flex or slip off the arm. The pitman arm puller is forged in a rigid loop shape specifically to handle the high torque and tight clearances under the steering box.
In many vehicles, you can use the puller with the gear box still bolted to the frame. However, clearances can be tight, so you may need to unbolt the box and drop it slightly to get the tool onto the arm.
The end of the steering shaft usually has a small dimple in the center. The puller screw has a pointed tip that fits into this dimple, keeping the tool centered as you apply force.
Yes, an impact wrench makes the job much easier. Apply a drop of grease or oil to the puller threads first to prevent them from galling under the high load.
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