Steering arm removial

[GRM]

I have a bet housing, so wI have to pull my drivers side steering arm whenever I put in a birfield. This wasnt a big deal till I got my marlin arms. There were tough to get on, and now, impossible to take off. Are they any tips togetting these boogers off?

[BLUCRUZ]

try a little heat, not too much though, I have to hit mine with a dead blow hammer to get them loose

[BigMike]

Have you tried to use a flat-head screw driver on the back side while using a soft hammer and tapping up with equal force on the arm side?

What ever you do, don't heat it with a torch for too long! 

[BigMike]

Hey Blucruz,

I see your a member of the Pair-o-dice wheelers.. How's Jason Maxson's new 4Runner project coming along? and did he ever sell his MR2?

[brainlessfool]

and how, and where is red?

[GRM]

I tried the screwdriver thing. It wouldnt budge. tried hitting both sides of it with a hammer, wouldnt budge. Havent tried heat yet, but I dont exactally like using heat unless 100% necessary.

[88runner]

maybe loosening the nuts     

[GRM]

Loostening the nuts?

Only thing I can think of is to doubble nut the studs, and back the studs off to see if that will help (be able to spin the arm). I feel like the tolerances between the new steering arm and the bearing are MUCH tighter than the old one.

Mike are you guys noticing this in the shop? Or is it just me (I tend to find most problems are centralized around me).

[Bazzi]

have you tried to move the birfield.   

(I am not sure that Í understand the problem cause of my language difficulties) but if I understand it correctly and if I remember it correctly I think I had the same problem once I broke the steering arm on a trail. We had a spare but we could not remove the broken one until we opened the birfield and pulled it out. Then suddenly everything was loose. And the problem was solwed.

I have not given it a much thought since then.

[GRM]

Yes the birf is out, but it takes a dead blow to get the birf out without pulling the arm (bent axle tube). I just need this darn arm off to get my bellfields in.

[WHITE_TRASH]

Why not pull the bottom trunion bearing cap and use an old broken extension or a long drift to drive the arm up from the bottom?

[BigMike]

WT: That is good advice. May a Good Turtle come your way.

[GRM]

I cant get the bottom arm out either. I used to use the drift thing to get the botom trunion cap off.

[Bazzi]

If you have allready removed all the seals. There is probably nothing wrong with heating.

remember do not head the steering arm you want that to bee cold
just heat the housing around the arm

[GRM]

how would heating the housing help? The steering arm is stuck in the bearing. Unless I go inside the knuckle and heat the bearing.

[84runner]

Why do you have to pull the arms to to repalce the birfileds ?

[Bazzi]

I am sorry I must have missunderstood the problem 

I checked Haynes (toyota repair manual)
I am not sure that this is what you are looking for but here goes:

This is the closest I found regarding your problem
Steering linkage- removal
Before removing any steering link components obtain a balljoint seperator. It may be a screw type puller, or a wedge type tool. However the latter usually tears the balljoint seal, it is  possible to jar a ballpoint taper pin free from its eye by striking opposite sides of the eye simultaneously with two large hammers, but the space available to do so is usually very limited

I do not know if this helps you with your problem. I can´t imagine the problem cause I have never had this problem my self.

  If I would be in your shoes, I would just use violense, heat or anything else nesiserie at least after trying everyhing ellse, after getting the booger out I usually see what the problem was, then I can replace the problem. 

If you are afraid of damage something I would seek help from a proffesional. 

with regards Bæring

[GRM]

The reason why I have to pull the arm to get the birfield in, is because the axle tube is bent, so the birfield doesnt clear the knuckle with the steering arm on.

I havent had a chance to try, I am super busy until monday. If I really cant get it off, I may be making a drive out to marlin.

[WHITE_TRASH]

You said the birf is already out and both caps are stuck on correct?  Why not get a turnbuckle fron the hardware store and put it between the caps on the inside of the knuckle.  By turning it out you would force either the arm or the bottom cap out of the knuckle.

[84runner]

The birfield is still in there WT and he can't get it out cause the housing is bent

[WHITE_TRASH]

Yes the birf is out, but it takes a dead blow to get the birf out without pulling the arm (bent axle tube). I just need this darn arm off to get my bellfields in.

The birf is out apparently

[84runner]

 

[Jimmyg]

Can't you pick up a new used at the wreckers fer cheap $100.00 or so

[GRM]

I can get a used housing for $50. Problem is that I dont have $50. Its either go wheeling ot get a new housing. Since the bent housing isnt dangerous, I;ll go wheeling.

On second thought, if I have time early tomorrow mornin, I may go get another housing.
SInce this axle is already built up (fully rebuilt, lockrite, bellfields, and highsteer), maybe I should just bite the bullet.

Shoot, I just realized I have 1100 in parts into my axle in the last 1k miles. Eeek.