How to Repair a 1995 Chevy Silverado's Pitman Arm

In 1962, the Chevrolet C- and K-series pickups made their debut in the form of the C-10, 15, 20 and 30 and the K-10, 15 and 20. The C in the name indicated that the truck was a two-wheel-drive model and the K indicated a four-wheel drive. In 1975, Chevy changed the names of the C- and K-series trim levels to, in ascending order: Custom Deluxe, Scottsdale, Cheyenne and Silverado. The 1995 Chevy C1500 Silverados pitman arm was responsible for transferring the movement of the steering gear to the steering linkage. Over time, the ball-and-socket joint in the arm can wear out, and the only way to repair the problem is to replace the pitman arm, which requires two special tools.

Instructions

Removal

1

Turn the steering wheel until you engage the steering wheel lock. Raise the front of the truck with a floor jack and slide jack stands under its frame rails. Lower the truck onto the jack stands.

2

Slide under the drivers side of the truck until you reach the pitman arm. Pull the cotter pin from the pitman arms stud with needle-nose pliers. Remove the nut securing the pitman arm stud to the relay rod the centermost steering linkage using a ratchet and socket.

3

Position a steering linkage puller so its screw part contacts the end of the pitman arms stud and its claws wrap around the relay rod. Tighten the steering linkage puller with a ratchet and socket until the linkage pops free from the pitman arm. You cannot remove the linkage from the arm at this time; all you need is for it to break loose from the pitman arms stud.

4

Remove the pitman arm-to-steering gear nut and washer using a ratchet and socket. Draw a match mark line across the pivot end of the pitman arm and the steering gears output shaft with white marking paint.

5

Place a pitman arm puller so its screw part contacts the steering gears output shaft and its claws wrap around the pitman arm. Tighten the pitman arm puller with a ratchet and socket until the pitman arm pops free from the steering gears output shaft.

6

Pull the pitman arm from the steering gear, then pull it from the relay rod.

Installation

7

Lay the old pitman arm next to the new one and paint a match mark line on the new pitman arm in roughly the same place the line is on the old arm using white marking paint.

8

Slide the pitman arm stud through its hole in the relay rod and hand-thread the new castellated nut, included with the new pitman arm, onto the stud.

9

Align the match mark line on the new pitman arm with the line on the steering gear output shaft and slide the pitman arm onto the output shaft as far as you can by hand. Slide the washer onto the output shaft, then hand-thread the nut onto the shaft.

10

Tighten the pitman arm-to-steering gear nut to 184 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.

11

Position the steering linkage puller so its screw part touches the top of the pitman arm, just above its stud, and its claws wrap around the underside of the relay rods hole. Tighten the steering linkage puller to 48 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket to seat the relay rod on the pitman arm.

12

Tighten the pitman arm-to-relay rod nut to 52 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket. Verify that a valley in the castellated nut aligns with the hole in the pitman arms stud. If they do not line up, slightly tighten the castellated nut until they do.

13

Insert a new cotter pin, which comes with the new pitman arm, through the hole in the pitman arm stud and bend its legs in opposite directions with needle-nose pliers to lock it into place.

14

Raise the truck off the jack stands with a floor jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the C1500 Silverado to the ground.

15

Drive or tow the truck to a nearby auto repair facility to have an alignment performed.