The McQuay-Norris idler arm I got from AutoZone bolted up OK, since the
bolt holes were the same distance apart, but it hangs down (the support
bracket) about an inch farther than the original. I can't recall if the
actual arm itself was longer too, but I had the mech install it anyway
since he and his boss thought it would be fine. They test drove it and
said it was OK. I have driven it about 100 miles so far and it seems
fine. Am I wearing out my ball joints at an alarming rate now, since the
connection to the centerlink is now (I think) about an inch lower?
Actually, I suppose if the arm came out an a different angle , it could
compensate for the lower support bracket drop.... Hmmm...Should I be
concerned? Is this normal, for the replacement part to be so different ?
I was expecting it to be an exact match. I wish I had studied the 2
parts more closely before they installed them. All I know for sure is
that the support bracket on the new one is about an inch longer. And the
part number on the box is what it's supposed to be. Hopefully I haven't
hosed up the suspension.
I kept the old idler arm for reference. Thanks


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88 GTA 5.7 TPI Charcoal Grey Bone Stock except for loose muffler which makes it a bit louder than normal.

I sure hope all that is normal because I just went out today and bought a McQuay-Norris idler arm for my bird.

the center link being level is what you need to look at.

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350 with stealth intake, holley carb, 470 lift cam. 700r4 with .5 boost valve, vette servo, tci lock-up kit, B&M megashifter. Richmond 3.73 gears, powertrax locker, timkin bearings, synthetic lube. Custom 3 inch single into 2 2.5 pipes. 1 1/2 drop springs, 1 5/16 solid front sway bar, 1 inch rear bar, custom subframe connectors, custom LCA relocation brackets. Kobel ground FX, currant red metallic paint. Lots of other stuff...
82camaro

91TA, Let me know what you encounter !

I am putting mine on tomorrow. I will let you know how it turns out.

I went to a different Autozone and asked to see the same idler arm. I brought the original arm with me. I compared the 2. These appeared to match up perfectly, so apparently the first Autozone had the wrong part, in the right box with the right number on the box. ****ing unbelievable. Now I plan to get my money back on the first one, and get the right one from the other Autozone, and have the same mech reinstall the RIGHT one. He only charged me $15, so no big expense, but what a friggin hassle. Autozone outh to pay for the labor, too, but probably won't. Probably just say "sorry". I can call up their headquarters and so forth but what a hassle. I guess the lesson here is "watch out for Autozone parts being the wrong ones !"

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88 GTA 5.7 TPI Charcoal Grey Bone Stock except for loose muffler which makes it a bit louder than normal.

I installed my new idler arm today. I found out that it to was a little longer. Installed it anyway and then went and had a alignment done on the car. The shop aligned the car with no problem, but the centerlink did appear to be a little higher on one end now. My part# was FA1399.

91TA,
Thanks! I am going to keep my M-N idler arm now. It turns out that the "other" idler arm (see previous post) was really the same as the first M-N arm, but I thought it was different ( long, long story.. AUtozone was NOT boxing the parts wrong, after all). I am going to get the car aligned too. Glad everything worked out OK for you and the 91. My part number is also FA1399, btw.
LAter,
GTA88

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88 GTA 5.7 TPI Charcoal Grey Bone Stock except for loose muffler which makes it a bit louder than normal.

Just to add some more detail here.... There apparently are 2 ** SLOTS ** in the frame that let you adjust the idler arm so it fits right, to compensate for a shorter or longer idler arm replacement part !! The instructions say nothing about a slot. You cannot see the slot, even from under the car. I was watching the mech install the idler arm, and he never mentioned an adjustment slot. Man, I could've saved myself hours of freaking out had I known that the new arm was going to fit since there were adjustement slots.... I was thinking there were just 2 bolt holes.....

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88 GTA 5.7 TPI Charcoal Grey Bone Stock except for loose muffler which makes it a bit louder than normal.

are you saying there are two more slots in the frame besides the ones I pulled the old arm out of. The only thing I could seem to do was slide the idler arm up and down in the same slots the i pulled the old arm out of and that still didn't put the center link back where it was before.

there are two styles of idler arms. They function the same but the pivot/joint is of a different design.


James

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1985 Z-28, 350 TPI, T-Tops, edelbrock 6085 heads, ZZ4 cam, accel base/runners & 24 lb/hr inj., ported plenum, everything gasket matched, crane AFPR, SLP 1 5/8 headers, single 3" flowmaster catback, 3" Catco cat, modified tranny, 165 ECM & ARAP code, MSD 6AL/wires, edelbrock STB, Spohn SFC/LCA/PR, GW "wonderbar"

91TA,
I never saw the slots, but I know the mech said there were 2 slots (just the normal 2 slots that the bolts are already in to begin with). For some reason, I didn't see the slots myself, even though I was right there under the car. I did see the mech move the arm up and down, though, and I could hear something sliding. As far as one side being lower, no, my centerlink looks level, but I didn't measure it. The centerlink bends in places anyway, as it should, so who knows how high it's supposed to be at any certain spot? I think since they were able to align your car with no prob, everything is probably fine with your front end. How much did you pay for alignment ? Around here everyone wants 49.99 or 54.99....
I am just so glad to have my beast back on the road. It was hosed up for soooo long. I am getting an alignment soon, though.

GTA88


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88 GTA 5.7 TPI Charcoal Grey Bone Stock except for loose muffler which makes it a bit louder than normal.

GTA88,
I had my alignment done at Sears because I was still under a 6 month alignment warranty since I just bought new tires there. So it was free. The alignment fee around here is around $50 or more.