'98 K1500 Suburban - Pitman/Idler Arm Removal?

After 170,000 miles, it's time to replace the pitman and steering arms on my '98 K1500 Sub. Just wondering if any special tools are needed for this job and if it's a good DIY job for someone with slightly above average mechanical ability? I do plan to have it aligned afterwards.

TIA,
Steve

You will need a puller for the pitman arm, and a seperating tool of choice for the idler arm to center link connection.

The other thing that I would add is that due to it being a 4x4, access to the pitman arm is limited. In order to get a puller on the pitman arm, the steering gear box needs to be unbolted and rotated.

//2000CAYukon

Correct I forgot, good pick up.

I took a closer look at the pitman and idler arms tonight... you're right, access is limited. It looks like I could pop the ball joint tapers out of the center link with a pickle-fork type separator, but the front anti-sway torsion bar is right under the nut holding the pitman to the steering box. Instead of moving or rotating the steering box, would it be any easier to drop the sway bar to access the pitman with the puller?

Steve

I took a closer look at the pitman and idler arms tonight... you're right, access is limited. It looks like I could pop the ball joint tapers out of the center link with a pickle-fork type separator, but the front anti-sway torsion bar is right under the nut holding the pitman to the steering box. Instead of moving or rotating the steering box, would it be any easier to drop the sway bar to access the pitman with the puller?

Steve

I did this on my 90 K1500 Pickup but it very similar to yours. Even with the sway bar out of the way, you need room for the puller and in my case, the front diff got in the way. Unbolting the steering gear box, was my only choice.

Now, back in the day, when I worked in a front end shop, we would use heat from a torch to get the pitman arm off. The problem with that is it can ruin the seal.

//2000CAYukon