Is steering arm removal with wheels on possible?

[alex e]

I am removing the steering arms for modification to accept 1 ton TREs on my 4X4 labs steering rods, with Saginaw going in as well along with that. I popped the steering arm nuts off and cone washers came right out. However, the arms will lift .25" and that's it, on both sides. I put the front up on jack stands and tried wiggling the arms off while pushing the wheel in. No luck.

I must be missing something here but can't think straight either as I have the crud, day 2. Is the spindle hanging on simething inside the knuckle housing? Is the arm hanging on the threads of the studs as I move it upwards.




alex

 

[grasshopper]

I don't see why they can't come off with wheels on--having never done it, I don't know for sure.

I recently rebuilt my axle with wheels off and both my arms didn't come off easily. I had to bang and pry worrying about stud threads the whole time. I also had to be careful to not ruin the shims, which may not apply in your situation(?).

Good luck!

 

[Mr. Toad]

The steering arm is pressed into the inner race of the top knuckle bearing. Usually you press the steering arm out, from the inside of the knuckle.

I suppose you could pry/lever it out from the outside, but I don't see how this could be done without marring the mating surfaces on the bottom of the steering arm and the top of the knuckle (where the shims are).

Good luck!

 

[cruiserjunkie]

I installed my 4x4 labs arms with the wheels on with jackstands just taking the wieght off. old arms did hang up on me also just pryed them up using a bar on front and back of arm

 

[alex e]

That's what I'm trying to do.......time to go get one of those long pry bars that looks like a giant screwdriver.......

 

[dgangle]

I just went through this, wheels off however. I used a couple screwdrivers as prybars, important to lift off equally 90 degrees apart. Doing so is prolly going to make marks on the shims and mating surfaces. I was shimming using the SST centering tool and new shims were used. I used a small file on the mating surfaces to remove any burrs caused by prying. Technically speaking, Mr Toad has it correct by using another SST tool for this purpose but I have gotten around without this tool countless times. If you muck up the shims and you plan to reuse them, simply hammer them down on a flat surface with a hammer.

Taking the wheels off gives you a lot more room to get in there. You will still neeed to jack up the axle as I'm sure you are aware.

 

[alex e]

Hey Dave, axles are jacked up. I'm just feeling poorly and didn't go that extra step. I'll take the wheels off when I'm better and finish 'er up. Maybe even put in the long wheel studs I got?

 

[dgangle]

I meant 180 degrees apart.

Yea, take those wheel off...more room to hammer and pry away!!

 

[cruiserbrett]

I suppose you could, provided the truck was on jackstands, and the wheels werent dangling.

Problem arises from the fact that the steering arm holds the king pin/bearing on the upper half of the knuckle. while it might stay aligned, it may be hard to do it without the wheels removed. wheels and knuckle could shift and be hard to align.

why not take the wheels off?

 

[hellbent40]

after tearing down a few sets of front axles to salvage the thirds... i found that a gear puller was the fastest way to pull the steering arms... 6 inch gear puller (three arm) with a piece of steel plate set on top of the steering arm studs and gear puller around the arm... works for me everytime..

 

[alex e]

dang good ideer!

 

[hellbent40]

thanks... think the gear puller was $20 bucks... from the auto parts store