Steering Drop Arm Fail

[manic]

Alright so I failed to get the steering drop arm off.

I've put this job off for months because I' knew it would be a pain to get off. I used a puller and whacked down on the lugs with an extension and hammer, used leverage, a smidge of heat - every thing I could think of given the tools at my disposal...

I measured the gap between the arm and the steering box before I started so I know that after all my efforts it hasn't budged a mm!

My puller is a piece of ebay crap, it kept slipping off the lugs - waste of money!

I don't want to cut it because I can see myself damaging the shaft with only a dremel to work with. Looks like I will have to go to a proper mechanic and ask them to put my new drop arm on .... oh the shame.

That is unless any one around Melbourne has a proven puller for the drop arm I can borrow?

[460cixy]

A better puller may help but there well known to be very tight yet others I have come across the nuts been loose and the arm was about to fall off of its own accord

[nedflanders]

They are a nightmare, if the steering box is off it makes it easier but I have cut the things off before, use an angle grinder and very carefully cut but make sure you don't cut all the way through,a good smack with a hammer and chisel should then split it where you've cut and loosen it off. Good luck

[camel_landy]

I feel your pain...

I tried to do mine last year but even the hydraulic one I borrowed from work wouldn't shift it!!! In the end, we ended up grinding out the cup for the ball joint in situ.

M

[manic]

OK thanks, so considering

1. this is clearly a job to loath
2. failure is likely even with a good puller
3. I can feel all the muscles in my back from trying to get that blasted thing off

I'm gonna call it quits, do the nut back up and get on with something else.

Next proper drive will be up to Melrose end of March so at some point before then I'll book it in for the drop arm and ask them to give the rover a good look over. This is one job I won't mind paying for.

[grover69]

Don't see the problem I do them almost everyday and without a puller ,try a little heat and a small hammer it should just fall off

[eddy]

If you are only taking the drop arm off to replace the ball joint ,it can be rebuilt in situ Drop arm ball joint renewal - Land Rover Zone or this one http://www.reedx.net/landrover/maint...nkbj/index.htm

[uninformed]

when I did my steering box the new one came with arm.....so I didnt need my old one, but figured id have a go for practice....seems when the old box literally fell out of the truck onto the concrete driveway it was enough that when I undid the nut i could lift the drop arm off with one hand


bloody murphy

[FFR]

Hi,

I tried mine with an hydraulic puller... with no success.

I ended grinding the arm with a great care. A bit of grinding, then tried pulling. It finally came off with a loud bang. The arm, the puller... everything flew over the workbench.

Do not recommend hammering unless you are going to change the steering box sleeve bearings and seal.

I think I have a couple of photos of the cut. It was not a complete cut because the arm gave up thanks to the puller. Maybe the heat generated by the cutting disc helped a bit.

[DT-P38]

Alright so I failed to get the steering drop arm off.

I've put this job off for months because I' knew it would be a pain to get off. I used a puller and whacked down on the lugs with an extension and hammer, used leverage, a smidge of heat - every thing I could think of given the tools at my disposal...

I measured the gap between the arm and the steering box before I started so I know that after all my efforts it hasn't budged a mm!

My puller is a piece of ebay crap, it kept slipping off the lugs - waste of money!

I don't want to cut it because I can see myself damaging the shaft with only a dremel to work with. Looks like I will have to go to a proper mechanic and ask them to put my new drop arm on .... oh the shame.

That is unless any one around Melbourne has a proven puller for the drop arm I can borrow?

I bought and used a Stanley brand pitman arm puller on my V8 County 110 steering drop arm late last year. From memory it was stubborn and needed encouragement but did eventually pop (err bang) off. You are welcome to a loan of the puller. PM me if you like.