Anybody ever done the Idler Arm rebuild? Replacing the seals?

Does that pretty much take care of the problem with the idler arm?

I don't want to buy one, and I need to get an alignment, and that was one of the things on my "to do" list before I could get a good alignment.

From what I know, the arms don't go bad, because they're just a hunk of steel, so it's just the seals/bushings.

 

The bushings are easy to replace and cheap.

I had to replace the arm once because the ball joint at the end went bad (but odds are you just need to replace the bushings), and eventually went with a TC Chromoly Idler Arm for added strength.

 

Super easy and cheap...follow these instructions

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/idler/

 

The rebuild is easy.

It does not always fix the problem.

When mine got trashed, it was a physical bend in the arm some times with and some times without bushing failure.

Old, new, braced, unbraced, they would die.

 

likely bushings.

You wil be able to tell if the arm is bent when you take it apart.

I have bent three arms, so its very possible.

 

I replaced my bushings according to 4x4wire and then had my steering link recall done. Toyota told me the Idler bushings can not be replaced - but we all know they can and Toyota sells the bushings? Anyway, they advised me that it would not hold on the alignment?
Can not always go with what they say, but that is my experience. Better luck to you on yours.