RavageTheRoad

Would anyone be so kind as to give me a sort of step by step with this? I searched around and haven't really found much except for klowny's video, but he removed everything when he did it. I unfortunately only have a crappy scissor jack and hand tools to work with. My understanding of the process goes like this:

Jack the car up by the frame

Mark the exact position of the idler arm as it currently sits

Remove the bolts and separate from center link

Install the new one, torqued at 35 ft/lbs


I've seen people have trouble with separating the arm without a pickle fork, which I don't have nor do I have access to, and that is the step i'm mainly worried about. How likely am I to damage the center link or anything else if I start whacking away on it with a BFH? Any other tricks or info I would need to know?

gt4373

naf

iTrader: (7)

The height is set so that the centerlink as at the same height at the idler arm and at the pitman arm, as measured from a reference point on the frame, or k-member.

eseibel67

You can seperate tapered studs by just beating them on the side, but there's not enough structure in an idler arm/centre link to do it. Your gonna need a pickle fork.

RavageTheRoad

There's absolutely nothing else I "can" do in lieu of a fork? I really don't have access to one. Also, I have the new arm in front of me now, do I have to grease it as well? I can see grease in the joint but not sure if it's full or just lightly filled. Either way, would it be enough to drive it somewhere short to have it greased?

naf

iTrader: (7)

'Rent' the fork, or better yet, the puller, from AZ or one of the other chains. You'll have to grease it soon after installation. They usually only come partially filled. Squirt some in until it oozes out the top.

RavageTheRoad

Got it all in place. Now my alignment is slightly off? I scribed the height on the frame and matched it up, and now the wheel has to be slightly to the left to go straight. I had the car aligned about 6 months(?) ago. Is it possible the arm was bad and the guy didn't notice/check at the time? It would have been glaringly obvious. I shook down the front end after I got sideswiped by a trash truck and noticed significant play there immediately.The steering is way tighter and more responsive than it ever has been, for what it's worth. Something I should check into or did I not match it up exactly?

eseibel67

Your alignment was done with a loose idler arm, which is highly unusual since alignment mechanic first checks for steering looseness before he starts.

Your going to have to get it adjusted.