flackmaster wrote:
my suggestion to remove the pitman arm from the drag link was to trick him into diagnosing the condition of the ball stud at the end of the pitman arm. These often have a groove worn into them. I can tell from the photo the ball stud is original by the way it is peened on. Good experience to see that it is greased otherwise...

But yes, simply pulling the pitman arm off the cross shaft can be done without detaching from the drag link.