any idler arm tips
 

just got alignment done and the tech told me that the idler arm needed to be replaced. not terrible but on its way out. any tips or is it as easy as it seems? anything hidden that I need to be aware of?

Re: any idler arm tips
 

Pretty easy. Might need a decent breaker bar if it hasn't been removed before. Make sure you get the height right with the new one. It can adjust up/down so make sure the center link is level before you do the final tighten.

Re: any idler arm tips
 

Exactly:

The idea is, get the center link EXACTLY level with the control arm bolt locations, and the axis of the idler arm EXACTLY parallel to the axis of the Pitman arm. That way both wheels steer the same at all times.

Re: any idler arm tips
 

:yup: IIRC, you put a socket on the a-arm bolt to take the measurements. I can't recall what you measure to. The directions that came with the moog idler arm i bought explain it. You can handle it. I always recommend using a torque wrench.

Re: any idler arm tips
 

Re: any idler arm tips
 

ok drove it this weekend and it did very well. but now when over about 70mph the car shakes real bad when braking. only when braking. can def. feel it in the brake pedal anything below that speed its smooth as glass. remember I just attempted to have a 4wheel alignment. (they found out it was a solid rearend and couldn't do the rear) and I myself did the frontend rebuild. front end alignment went very well and the results are in the above post. any ideas. this is a 3.1to 5.7 swap 700r4

Re: any idler arm tips
 

Need to make sure everything is tightened right then check wheel balance and if rotors are warped. Maybe check wheel bearings too. Anything that could be out of balance and cause a wobble.

Re: any idler arm tips
 

Needs rotors

Posting on the Internet won't help

Alignment won't help

Balancing won't help

Wheel bearings won't help (except that you'll need them anyway)

Buy 2 rotors and move on

Change out the calipers while you're at it; the pair costs less than a bottle of decent whisky. Less in fact than a set of pads. Oughtta be changed every time you touch the brakes on these cars, they're so cheep.

Re: any idler arm tips
 

nuff said!!! thx

Re: any idler arm tips
 

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/w...696#fragment-3

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/more...721&cc=1035762

I have a stock 91rs body and I'm confused abou which one I'm going to need because one of them needs the bearings and the other one is just the rotor. either way rockauto seems to have best deal.

edit: not confused I'm going to look at my car and see what I need. thx

Re: any idler arm tips
 

be warned about Chinese rotors. in a word they are CRAP!. im finding NAPA has decent ones ,but theyre not cheap. HOWEVER they are worth it. (never a good idea to go cheap on brakes)

Re: any idler arm tips
 

10-4 thx

Re: any idler arm tips
 

Good luck finding rotors at the local parts store that aren't Chinese.
Napa's are China, so is Advance, Autozone, Oreilly, Pep boys, Auto Value.......

About the only way to get American rotors it to buy high end rotors from one of the performance brake companies. Even some of them get Chinese blanks and machine them here.

One of the most important things with new rotors is to not overheat them in the beginning. Go easy on them until they get a few gentle heat cycles to stabilize the metal.