Greetings, my name is Mark.

You are right. You will need to remove the gear to gain access. I don't know if you are familiar with a "pickle fork". Sometimes these can be worked in there to help in the removal.

I have included GM instruction for removal of the arm and gear.
Hope this helps you on your way.

Take care,
Mark



Pitman arm removal

1. Raise the vehicle.
2. Suitably support the vehicle with jack stands. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
3. Remove the relay rod nut from the Pitman arm ball stud.

Do NOT reuse the nut.

Notice: Do not hammer on the pitman arm, pitman arm shaft or puller. Damage to the pitman arm or steering gear may result.





4. Use a puller in order to remove the relay rod (10) from the Pitman arm ball stud.
5. Remove the power steering gear.
   

Mark the Pitman arm (1) and the Pitman shaft in order to ensure the proper alignment at assembly.

6. Use the puller in order to remove the Pitman arm from the steering gear Pitman shaft.
7. Inspect the ball stud threads for damage.
8. Inspect the ball stud seals for excessive wear.
9. Clean the threads on the ball stud.

1. Place a drain pan below the steering gear.
2. Remove the hoses from the steering gear.

2.1.	Raise the hose up in order to prevent oil drainage.

2.2.	Cap or tape the ends of the hose and the gear fittings in order to prevent the entrance of dirt.

3. Remove the intermediate shaft. Refer to Intermediate Steering Shaft Replacement .
4. Remove the pitman arm.
   




5. Remove the steering gear frame bolts and the steering gear.

Okay now, are you saying you can't get the pitman arm off the steering gear? That should be looking at you. Your puller should fit there.

To me, the instructions would be interpreted as remove the pitman arm from the steering gear, remove the steering gear, and then remove the pitman arm from the steering linkage.

You may have to improvise here. It is not in concrete the way you HAVE to do it. What about removing the whole steering linkage? Tie-rod ends, idler arm and pitman arm. Drop the linkage down and replace the arm. You're going to have to get your truck aligned no matter how you do, so what does it matter?

And of course not, you would not beat on the pickle fork on the gear end. You could use the pickle fork to separate the arm from the linkage.

And YES, that is just a plastic shield when if you look at it, you will see it wraps around the linkage and just snaps together. The inter. shaft is splined on the gear with a pinch bolt. Remove the shield, remove the pinch bolt, and slide the shaft up. Mark it on that splined shaft as to install it like you removed it.

If you were at shop, this repair pays less than an hour. You need to do what it takes to replace it.

I am going to open your question up and opt out.

Another expert can probably help you better than I can.

Thanks

Then if there is no way the steering wheel is out, then the pitman arm is not perfect and is the cause of it being out.