Lately I've been noticing that my toyota is wandering just a tiny at speeds above 70 mph. It acts as if there are sudden, but minor crosswinds that are just nudging the vehicle around a tad. It's not bad as even at 106mph its very minor. (done on a rather deserted strech of highway...still stupid)

In any event, Im running 235/75r15 Michelin X Radial LT 6plys in perfect balence. (Lifetime balence, rotation, and road hazard.)

I have a 1990 4Rrunner, 4x4, with the 3.slow and about 223,000 miles on the old idler arm. Might it need to be rebuilt?

Thanks,
Steve

 

Here's the test. Lift both front wheels off of the ground then go and push up on the passenger wheel. If yours was like mine, it will be flopping around inside the housing. This was quite disturbing when my shop showed me. I just had mine replaced about two months ago.

106mph? must be a big downhill

 

I'm sure that you've checked this but look the tire pressue can have a lot of effect on that too.

 

Not really that big of a down hill - but I was on a down slope when I hit the limiter . My 3.slow can maintain 100mph on flat ground it just takes a while to get there. I'm hoping that with a new exhaust and the ECT mod that I'll be able to hit the limiter on flat ground.

btw - thanks for the input I'll do that today before I go to the beach (doing the speed limit that is.)

 

Yup, tires are inflated to 42lbs all the way around. (Thay are 50psi rated 6plys) Any more inflation and the center beads wear more than the outside beads.

 

I've heard about a heavy-duty rebuild kit. Since I'm on my third idler arm in 5 years and it's been about a year and a half since I replaced it. It probably wouldn't hurt for me to rebuild mine before vacation time.

It wasn't commuting that wore it out.

 

Make sure your tires are rated for 106 mph, I know mine aren't!!!! You would NOT want to have a blowout in a 4Runner going 100+mph, you would flip like a freaking pancake. You might break a "most rolls" record, though...

 

Most all tires I've seen are S speed rated which is something like 107mph i think.... Agreed however, that would be a wreck I'd probably end up going to the morgue not the hospital....

EDIT - While I cannot find my exact tires, Michellin X radial LT, I have found several tires that are close. They have a R speed rating which is exactly 106mph according to tire rack.

 

MOOG makes a heavy duty idler arm that is a direct bolt on replacement of the factory one. It dwarfs the stock arm and it also has two zerks in it so you can grease it.

 

Cool! That's something Ill check out directly as well. Thanks!

 

Hey Joey! Glad you like the arm. Got to you a lot quicker than i thought it would. I have to go buy an arm from Milner in the UK, cause i think a second hand one is too risky. Maybe i'll get lucky and it will be a Moog too!

 

Idler arm test - grab it and see if it moves. With wheels on the ground it shouldn't move at all. With the front wheels lifted, it should only pivot side to side.

 

Delboy I haven't put it on yet hoping to do that tomorrow if I get time. Little concerned with messing up the rubber seals on the end of the arm with the picklefork. My truck feels fine right now and usually if it works fine don't mess with it right...hahahaha Ya right what would be the point of mods then...hehe I'll let you know how the install goes!
Joey