Center link playing violin with headers

[Kern Dog]

The outer tie rods need to come off first. Taking the pitman and idler off first leaves the center link too flexible and it often bounces when you're trying to smack on it. It helps to use a gear puller rather than a pickle fork but it looks like the way your headers are routed, that may not leave enough room.
If I had your car, I would steer hard left or right to get the pitman end out of the way of the headers.

 

[Moparfiend]

It’s going to be one of those days The drag link is off and now trying to remove the idler arm WITHOUT damaging it. So far no go. The dam pullers are all slipping. Going to get some 1/2-20 nuts so I can smack it out. Sometimes brute force is the only solution……

 

[BigFlo]

Have you tried heating the center link? And hitting it with a hammer while you have pressure on the idler arm with the puller?

 

[Moparfiend]

Have you tried heating the center link? And hitting it with a hammer while you have pressure on the idler arm with the puller?

I beat it off….. waiting for the comments to start……

 

[BigFlo]

Probably not the first time that’s happened.

 

[khryslerkid]

It’s going to be one of those days The drag link is off and now trying to remove the idler arm WITHOUT damaging it. So far no go. The dam pullers are all slipping. Going to get some 1/2-20 nuts so I can smack it out. Sometimes brute force is the only solution……

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Smack it right here with another hammer on the opposite side.

 

[Moparfiend]

Smack it right here with another hammer on the opposite side.
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She off thanks

 

[Kern Dog]

Next time, try one of these:

 

[RussT Plymouths]

Or you can try one of these, an old rusty, long shank, mag wheel lug nut. This one is smashed flat on top.

I've been using this method since the 80's, especially when the parts are off the car. I had a couple coffee cans full of old rusty takeoffs, they come 7/16", 1/2", and 9/16" for trucks. Thread it on leaving it backed off about one thread and smack it with your favorite hammer. Never lost a thread or destroyed a grease boot on tie rod ends, idler arms, pitman arms, and ball joints.

The old lug nuts didn't survive the beating though.

 

[Moparfiend]

Next time, try one of these:

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I did! Could find one that would fit in there. Even opened one up on the grinder. It was just too tight. All slipped off……