Ringworm

Whatever it's called. the arm opposite the steering box arm connected to the relay rod. Is this one piece (arm and bracket)? Where can I get a new one besides a dealer and what kind of a job is it to do myself. TIA!

stackedyoda

Search for idler arm rebuild, theres some info on brass bushings used to rebuild the arm.

MudHippy

To replace the idler arm = removing 3 bolts and a TRE.

To replace the idler arm bushings = removing the cap, nut, TRE, the arm, and bushings.

TONS of info available on how, thank you for SEARCHING!

For parts

Thread closed please.

Swim

I currently run the Total Chaos Idler arm. I'm impressed with it's build quality. Well worth the $350 it cost.

Swim

Oh, and it's really easy to replace. Literally a 10 minute job... or as 4crawler would say... a 1 banana job.

Ringworm

Thanks for the replies on this. I'm not sure if the wear is in the shaft area or the ball connection to the relay rod yet. Had an alignment done and the shop advised me of the problem. Guess I'll raise the truck and shake things around to see where the wear is. I didn't realizise the the idler arm was rebuildable. It looked like one piece to me. My question was, can you buy the arm seperately from the bracket them just replace the bushings in the bracket. I haven't taken anything apart yet so I'm not sure what I'll need to buy in advance of performing the job. Hope this all makes sense.

Swim

Technically yes you can rebuild it. I'm on my phone right now so I can look up the parts

MudHippy

NO! DAMMIT!!! SEARCH!!!

The part #s for the bushings are posted umpteen times on this site. You can also buy them, or the idler arm assembly, at ANY autoparts store! And NO, you can either buy the bushings and replace them, or replace the entire idler arm assembly. INFORMATION ALSO POSTED ALL OVER THIS SITE AND THE INTERNET IN GENERAL!!!

Can we please close this thread now? It serves no purpose AT ALL!!!!!!!! This is just about as stupid as asking how to change a flat tire. Not to mention, FRICKEN UBER-NEWBIE TECH!!!!!

xxxtreme22r

Let me get this straight, alignment shop informed you your idler arm connections are loose, yet still did and charged you for an alignment? Time to find a new alignment shop. You cannot possibly do an accurate alignment with any bad joints in the steering. It is 100% impossible. Even if I was wrong about the accurate part (which I am 90% positive I am) it still serves no purpose at all as the tires will still wear tires/pull/vibrate as if the alignment is off. They took your money and gave you nothing. If you told them to do it anyway, your a fool.

Swim

Sorry hippy. While it is true you can get them anywhere, I prefer the ones 4crawler has. Yes, searching is great and usually turns up what they need, but there are times when a search returns nothing useful.
It was posted, I replied. You are still the man mud!

mightymouse

iTrader: (6)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMNry4PE93Y

MudHippy

Bronze bushings eh? Hmmm...I wonder where the idea to do such a thing on a Toyota idler arm came from?

You're damn right I'm the man! Certainly the idler arm man atleast!

250rmike

rockauto.co for the whole replacement arm and toyota part numbers 90385-18068 for early trucks and 4runners 90386-19005 for 93 to 98 trucks and the dust seal part number is 90304-31012 here are the links to where i found this https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/t...s-right-70825/

searched for idler arm bushings beleive it was the 3rd post down

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f128...ld-how-144151/

how to rebuild in the tech write up section under maintenance and repair only one page to search through there

Ringworm

Thanks all! I'll follow your posted links and go from there. The alignment only cost $50 and was worth it since I had them put on a new set of tires, I didn't want to tear them up before I got around to fixing the idler arm issue and it made a world of differance. Both tires and alignment were needed desperatly.

xxxtreme22r

just remember if you do not get the Autozone FA5040, McQuay-Norris FA5040, or Kragen/O'Reilly FA5040 brand you will not be able to use the sdori bushings.

Any other brand/manufacture oem or not is an inferior setup to the above mentioned.

A bad idler arm will still tear up tires. I don't care what you say.

Ringworm

Duly noted! Thanks for all your help on this.

kvanmet

Hello. i am new to this forum. im not sure if i should be posting here but this is my problem: i have an 86 4runner, just bought it. the camber is off in both the front tires (negative camber). i took it for an alignment thinking that was what i needed, the dbag gave me some run around about how he couldnt do it but also suggested that i replace the idler's. since i knew the bearing was loose in the front right, i replaced it; this fixed some of the camber problem but it is still off. so i guess my question is, will replacing teh idler arms fix me up?

BMcEL

Sounds like you're new to a lot of things...the steering linkage has NOTHING to do with camber. Do you have ball joint spacers installed?

highonpottery

iTrader: (1)

Firestone is a good place for alignment since they have a lifetime alignment for around $100-150; really good for those with steering issues and need to go back frequently either after replacing/fixing parts or after a hard day of wheeling an IFS rig

kvanmet

im not sure, i dont know what they are or their function