Steering linkage stuck

I am trying to remove the connector rod on my 74. I removed the castle nuts and cotter pins but it doesn't want to come out. The 74 FSM shows the threaded ends up from the bottom at the pitman arm and down through the top at the wheel. Both of mine go bottom to top, would this make a difference? The tires are still on (31" dvr/32" pass). I would use a BFH, but I am concerned that is could somehow damage the pitman arm/steering box. According to the FSM, once the nuts/cotter pins are removed the rod should come out. I thought about chainsawguy since I am going to replace anyway, but i would still have to bang the ends out. Thoughts, hints and tricks will be greatly appreciated.

 

The tie rod and drag link have tapered studs that wedge into the steering knuckles and pitman arm when you tighten the nut. To get them loose I use a good size hammer and strike the pitman arm and steering knuckle right next to the stud, sometimes it takes a pretty good swing.

 

Use a tie rod end removal tool. There are a couple of different ones, C-type or pickle fork, and two different sizes. The small one for the tie rod ends and the larger one for the pitman arm.

 

smack the spindle end or pitman arm with 2 hammers (not a bfh) on opposite sides at the same time usually takes 1 or 2 hits and they pop right out

 

Just don't hammer on the threaded end of the TRE.

I use a pickle fork, but the other methods are fine too.