Steering chuck removal help needed

[Dino]

The column is out, the 3 bolts holding the chuck to the k member are out, the big nut on the  bottom is off, and the castle nut on the other end of the arm is off.  Now how do I disengage either side so I can pull the chuck out of the bay?   

[gcdsn76]

Have you removed the driver's side exhaust manifold or headers?

[Dino]

Everything but the brake booster and mc is out, I'm stripping the engine bay.  I figured out I need a small puller to remove the box from the pitman arm so I'll have to go rent one.  My steering wheel puller came with hooks but they are not adequate for this job.  I wanted to remove the pitman arm from the other end as the seals look tired but I'll fight with that after I remove this box and the brake stuff.

[tan top]

  any time ive had to take my steering box out ( 4 times ) , after the resto ( long story!   faulty rebuild box from a well known place )  NOT firm feel , they sell awesome products !        I take it out as a complete assembly with the centre link ,  idler & pitman arm inner outer tie rods attached , from underneath  ,   imo much safer working on a bench trying to remove the pitman arm with a puller ,  they can come undone / let go with considerable force , be carefull .   , also  steering box is heavy  ,  wear thick gloves when lifting etc   

[Bronzedodge]

Faulty box from who?  My Steer and Gear box feels odd - stiff - at times.  It's a little over a year old.

[tan top]

Faulty box from who?  My Steer and Gear box feels odd - stiff - at times.  It's a little over a year old.

faulty box was from year one  ,  I bought the  majority of parts long before I started the three year  resto   ,  decided to go for a rebuilt one because  my original was  full of rust & sludge , & leaking from every where ,  it seemed  !

the rebuilt one from yearone  , worked perfect till the motor warmed up or been running 15 minutes , then would loose power steering , well go very tight ,  swapped changed everything  several times over  pump combos different fluids  ,  got to do it to eliminate stuff    ,  tried adjusting the box  , took it apart  , no idea what I was looking for , while I know how to take them apart & change seals  ,   not done enough  to know how to see  if something is not 100% in spec , unless  obvious  , exactly the same perfect till motor warmed up  , changed return pipes & pressure pipes , even though new , just because type thing

anyways  put my old pump back on  , perfect ! all  be it full of rust & sludge & leaking from every where !   eventually had enough   because just to try the original box again , had to take pump apart after  to clean the debris from original box previously mentioned ,


   in the end ordered up a firm feel box .

[Dino]

Alright, I rented a pitman arm puller from Autozone and disconnected the pitman arm at the center link.  It came right off but I left the castle nut on to protect the stud and had a hell off a time getting the nut off as the stud was spinning!  I cleaned the stud and nut threads and it goes on easily now without the stud spinning.  Either I did this or it had already happened but the seal is torn so I need a new one.  Are these b body specific?  And how are they attached?  It looks to be a metal ring on the arm, I still have to clean the muck off...or do I need the entire pitman arm?  The steering box is fine, it just needs cleaning and some paint.  If all I need is the seal, is there any reason to remove the arm from the box?  These are keyed parts are they not?  My steering wheel is a bit off center but that has nothing to do with the box or arm does it?