ahickman

Noticed an increasing vibration at higher speeds the other day in my 94 pickup. Thought maybe lugs were coming loose (aluminum rims), but were snug as bug. Took off the front right tire and wobbled the front rotor. Noticed that the idler arm has some slop in it when pushed back and forth. Not sure if I need to replace the idler arm or the whole idler arm and bracket. Napa has both, but I hate to buy uncessary parts. Can make a suggestion on how to test further or what to buy (arm or arm+bracket)?

Thanks,
Aaron

CyMoN

you can buy the brass bushings or call the dealer and get the poly ones for around 5$

Jay351

Be aware that the brass bushings are notorious for not fitting. You need to machine them to fit most of the time.

Go grab the bushings from the dealer, tear the idler apart and replace them. There is a writeup in the tech section.

ahickman

Excellent. I assume the stock bushings are polymer based? Hard to believe poly could take that much strain for so many years. Thanks for the input.

thook

I'm going to be doing the same real soon to the '92.

Hey Aaron, how've you been? Your trucks all running good now?

bigt

i though they werent gonna saftey my new right hand drive surf today because it needed idler arm..but i dont know if they used a lhd or re bushinged it or what..
but they did it in a hour

904_runner

funny i just noticed i need to tear mine apart and redo the bushings. anywhere you can order from online? the local dealer doesn't really have anything.

CyMoN

mine they had to order the parts guy did not even know they where replaceable he told me the 15 years he worked there they had never had someone buy just the bushings.

abecedarian

they are brass.

abecedarian

you'll know right away. if it's LHD, the steering box is on the left and if it's RHD, the steering box is on the right... and either way, the idler is on the other side.

ahickman

Yo, Thook! The new avatar.........I don't know what to say. Looks like you even made the wife blush.

mt_goat

Someone started making brass ones, but the factory uses plastic ones. I replaced mine once, but they really didn't need it too bad. I'm still using the stock plastic ones without problems.

runnerfreak88

the ones on my 86 wore out a month ago perty easy to replace just every thing was very tight so it took awhile to get them off but other then that very easy. i bought my bushings at auto zone like 2 bucks a piece

AxleIke

The stock ones are Poly.

Just put in a new set on mine. 5 bucks with tax isn't bad.

thook

Oh, that's not me in the pic. That's just something someone posted in making fun. Lol...it'll be changed out soon, though.

904_runner

^ don't lie, thats you!

FredTJ

Also, get an idler arm brace:




Make sure you get the lower rear a-arm braced up too:






Fred

thook

Hey Fred........where'd you get the brace and the truss? Sonoran? What did they run you, if you don't mind?

I seriously think my buddy could fab me up either of those, but I'd need to make templates for him. Is there a chance you take pics all around so I could get an idea'r of how they assemble to the vehicle?