any idler arm tips
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 22
From: nc
Car: 91RS
Engine: carb'd 357 vortec
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi
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?
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,928
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From: Georgetown TX
Car: Base 91 'bird
Engine: 3.1 v6
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 9-bolt 3.27 & PBR
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.
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 27,893
Likes: 2,435
Car: Yes
Engine: Usually
Transmission: Sometimes
Axle/Gears: Behind me somewhere
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.
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.
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,051
Likes: 4
From: Iowa
Car: 92 Camaro RS
Engine: LS1
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 10bolt w3.42 Torsen
Re: any idler arm tips
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. Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 22
From: nc
Car: 91RS
Engine: carb'd 357 vortec
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi
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
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,928
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From: Georgetown TX
Car: Base 91 'bird
Engine: 3.1 v6
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 9-bolt 3.27 & PBR
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.
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 27,893
Likes: 2,435
Car: Yes
Engine: Usually
Transmission: Sometimes
Axle/Gears: Behind me somewhere
Re: any idler arm tips
shakes real bad when braking. only when braking. can def. feel it in the brake pedal
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.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 22
From: nc
Car: 91RS
Engine: carb'd 357 vortec
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi
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.
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.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 22
From: nc
Car: 91RS
Engine: carb'd 357 vortec
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi
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
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
Last edited by budget builder; Sep 3, 2014 at 07:52 AM.
Supreme Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,036
Likes: 5
From: knoxville tn
Car: 86 IROC
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 700-R-4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 open
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
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
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 22
From: nc
Car: 91RS
Engine: carb'd 357 vortec
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi
Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 255
Likes: 4
From: Watertown NY
Car: 1986 Trans Am
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700r4
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.
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.
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