Steering Play after Pitman change

[Merc1973]

I wish posters would follow up and not dissappear. A Conclusion to threads like this may help someone else.

This happened to me too. I damaged my steering gear when pounding a pickle fork in my pitmanarm with a mini sledge since a 2/3 jaw puller wouldn't fit. My steering gear had 265k and was getting stiff anyways. New reman AC Delco gear and its like brand new.

 

[BigChuckMN]

I wish posters would follow up and not dissappear. A Conclusion to threads like this may help someone else.

This happened to me too. I damaged my steering gear when pounding a pickle fork in my pitmanarm with a mini sledge since a 2/3 jaw puller wouldn't fit. My steering gear had 265k and was getting stiff anyways. New reman AC Delco gear and its like brand new.

I agree- people need to follow up!
What were the symptoms of the bad steering gear? Was steering really strange and/or wobbly? Not precise?

 

[Merc1973]

I agree- people need to follow up!
What were the symptoms of the bad steering gear? Was steering really strange and/or wobbly? Not precise?

There was now a clunk and I could move the sector shaft back and forth with my hand after beating with the mini sledge. Steering was getting pretty sloppy even before than, afterwards it was much worse. I still have the rattle sound with slow turns from worn intermediate shaft and bearing in the steering column.