2wd guys, how did you remove your idler arm?

[benoit454]

I just removed my first idler arm today on dad's 84, it was a PITA, getting it loose from the center link/drag link, whatever you want to call it was easy. The hard part was getting it loose from the frame bracket. I was removing the tie rods to replace all of those and the idler arm to replace it, so I alreayd had a hammer and pickle fork, which was perfect(of course) for the tie rods and the idler to center link, but up front it didn't want to do anything.

My hayes manual says use a suitable puller, and remove the nut and cotter pin from the relay rod, which was not informative enough to help me any. I read the book after I had already got it off LOL.

What ended up working for me was penetrating oil around the top where the threads are, and between it and it's frame bracket. Hit it with a pickle fork several times, then hit the idler itself front and side some, and repeat several times, then after wearing my arm out on the pickle fork, I hit the idler again a couple easy taps and the thing came loose.

So were you supposed to use a pickle fork?

Just hit the idler with a hammer?

Use a pitman arm puller or other puller on it?

I got it done as I mentioned just wondered if maybe there was an easier way or if I done it wrong LOL.