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Pittman/ Idler arm needs replacement

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Old Jan 13, 2011 | 12:56 PM
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From: L.A. Cal.
Pittman/ Idler arm needs replacement

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!
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Old Jan 13, 2011 | 02:11 PM
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Search for idler arm rebuild, theres some info on brass bushings used to rebuild the arm.
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Old Jan 13, 2011 | 03:34 PM
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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.

Last edited by MudHippy; Jan 13, 2011 at 03:36 PM.
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Old Jan 14, 2011 | 01:29 PM
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I currently run the Total Chaos Idler arm. I'm impressed with it's build quality. Well worth the $350 it cost.
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Old Jan 14, 2011 | 01:30 PM
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Oh, and it's really easy to replace. Literally a 10 minute job... or as 4crawler would say... a 1 banana job.
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Old Jan 15, 2011 | 04:19 AM
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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.
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Old Jan 15, 2011 | 10:15 AM
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Technically yes you can rebuild it. I'm on my phone right now so I can look up the parts
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Old Jan 15, 2011 | 10:38 AM
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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!!!!!

Last edited by MudHippy; Jan 15, 2011 at 10:51 AM.
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Old Jan 15, 2011 | 10:44 AM
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Originally Posted by 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.
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.

Last edited by xxxtreme22r; Jan 15, 2011 at 10:46 AM.
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Old Jan 15, 2011 | 12:13 PM
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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!
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Old Jan 15, 2011 | 12:37 PM
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From: high ridge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMNry4PE93Y
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Old Jan 15, 2011 | 12:52 PM
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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!
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Old Jan 15, 2011 | 09:46 PM
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From: maryland
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
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Old Jan 16, 2011 | 04:10 AM
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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.
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Old Jan 16, 2011 | 06:19 AM
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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.
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Old Jan 17, 2011 | 04:31 AM
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Originally Posted by 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.
Duly noted! Thanks for all your help on this.
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Old Jan 17, 2011 | 04:35 PM
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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?
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Old Jan 18, 2011 | 09:50 AM
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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?
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Old Jan 18, 2011 | 11:24 AM
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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
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Old Jan 18, 2011 | 01:47 PM
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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?
im not sure, i dont know what they are or their function
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