idler and pitman arm bolt.
 

These bolts that attach it to the center link are called prevailing torque nuts. there like normal nuts but have some plastic liner at the top...

I replaced everything up front and i cant get these to tighten past halfway through the bolt. The joint stud from the idler arm spins and the pitman arm does the same. How do i torque this i cant even drive it yet cuz it pops when i turn the steering wheel. I have the lil foamy inserts in, it doesn't call for any washers, :( HELP !!
Thanks in advance.

Re: idler and pitman arm bolt.
 

get a clamp and squeeze the ball joint together into the centerlink a bit to create the friction required to allow you to tighten the bolts.

Re: idler and pitman arm bolt.
 

i tried the clamp, but it wouldnt work, so i just put a bottle jack under the centerlink close to the joint, and that did the trick.

Replaced centerlink, idler arm, all tie rods, end links, control arm bushings, sway bar bushings, ball joints.

I think i tightened something to much cuz when i let go of the wheel now, for it to return to center it don't, it wants to keep going in that direction.

and i have a popping noise when i turn the wheel.


Hmm so much to figure out lol

Got the alignment done, didnt help just fixed the slight pull.

Re: idler and pitman arm bolt.
 

When you replaced the idler arm did you check the hight adjustment per the shop manual? The idler arm has an up/down adjustment at the body mount.

Tip: I put a small smear of anti-sieze on the tapers so it's easier to separate the parts down the road.

Re: idler and pitman arm bolt.
 

id did mark the idler arm, but i got paint happy and painted that metal plate along with everything else i pretty much came in contact with, it says, i adjusted it yesterday "idler arm" but i still could have done it wrong, my first time this hardcore into the suspension.

I made it as level as possible with the center link before i tightened the prevailing nut.

Re: idler and pitman arm bolt.
 

Idler arm/center link measuring instructions are in this thread:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...m-removal.html