Some questions regarding replacing the idler arm on my 2wd 93 pickup, extra-cab, 22re. First, are all the center links for these trucks the same diameter? So a 33mm pitman puller tool would work on my 2wd? I've read on other posts that the 33mm one works, but that might have been for the 4wd rigs. Different for 2wd extra-cab?

Are any of the aftermarket idler arms worth buying, or just stick with OEM? I can get Idler Arm - Toyota (45490-39316) for $180, which I assume if the correct one?
It seems that many aftermarket ones fail within a few months? I would be fine paying more for OEM if there is no true aftermarket option that is equally long lasting.

Also, from the pictures online of products, why do all the 4wd idler arms come with a bushing on the end that attaches to the center link, but all the 2wd ones have no bushing in this spot? Is there a separate part I need to order for this? EDIT: Never mind. The 2wd version has the bushing thing mounted on the center link. Any idea on how to replace that on the center link? Which part and tool?

Thanks for any help you can give.

 

Most of the aftermarket suspension components are made in China and are pretty cheap. The quality and durability is typically meh at best. My tongue-in-cheek formula for all aftermarket Toyota parts bitd was, "costs half as much and last 1/4 as long." But I've seen some pretty dismal feedback regarding aftermarket ball joints and similar suspension components. They failed to make even the 1/4 benchmark.

To, correctly identify the part number it's useful to have the first half of the vin or the model#. if you go to Toyota.epc-data.com you can see the info needed to correctly look up the right part. Once you have the part number you can look for the best price. Remember, the truck is officially a "Hilux", it's just not the name Toyota USA put on the fender.

I've got zero technical data regarding the diameter of components. It wasn't info useful at the dealer level.

 

Tool of choice...
a big hammer.

 

I'm just going to go with an OEM idler arm for this one and do the ball joints while I am at it, using Moog. The Moog ball joints are at least made in Japan by 555, so they're probably equal to OEM.

I still can't find out what to do about the joint/bushing that goes into the center link. I can't find the part anywhere or what it is even called. Are these ball joints?

This is the 4WD version, which has the part(s) I am talking about mounted to the idler arm side, where as on 2WD for whatever silly reason, this part is on the center link. Does this part even need to be replaced? Or do people just replace he entire center link with new ball joints already installed?



They come pre-installed on new center links, as shown below.

 

I replaced the center link and idler arm on a 92 2WD. Pretty sure you can get a re-build kit for the idler arm. I just used the cheap stuff for most of it, but I did buy the 555 ball joints.

I used a pickle fork, and a four pound baby sledge(engineer hammer) to take stuff apart. Got the pickle fork at Harbor Freight.

 

id get a ball joint puller. You can rent em. Pickle forks and hammers make the job way harder than it is.

 

Im not sure about your question as far the pivot arm on the bottom of the idler. 4wd and 2wd are probably not interchangable for multiple reasons. Looking at a 2wd idler arm, Im assuming theres a bolt or stud there probably with a bushing, that connects to the centerlink. The difference being the 2wd version doesnt allow verticle movement in that joint. I could be wrong but i think the geometry is very different.

Ball joints are what holds the wheels on the control arms, if youre looking up parts. As an engineering term, what you circled might be considered ball joints but if you went to autozone and asked for a ball joint, theyd think you were talking abt something different.

Can you snap a pic of whats on your truck now?

 

Went through two pullers that bent...one from Harbor Freight, and one I rented from Advance Auto. Pickle fork got the job done.

 

I've done some more figuring this out. The center link has the ball joint pre-installed into the 2WD version, where as with 4WD has it on the idler arm itself. I think most or all people with 2WD replace the whole center link when either the idler arm or pitman arm joints wear out.

I'm thinking I might just do a rebuild on the idler arm bushings and buy a new center link if there is still play left there. Luckily the steering systems on these 2WD trucks are about as easy as it gets for rebuilding. Pretty impressive how tight it has stayed for over 300K miles.

Thanks for all the replies guys.

 

If the joints on the center link are loose, I don't think they are serviceable other than changing the grease boots. Pickle fork will destroy the grease boots.

On my 92 2wd, I replaced idler arm, center link, upper ball joints, steering damper, and inner and outer tie rods.

Install a new bushing kit into the old idler arm. That might be all it needs.