Suspension and Chassis Questions about your suspension? Need chassis advice?

any idler arm tips

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Old Aug 28, 2014 | 05:57 PM
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budget builder's Avatar
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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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Old Aug 28, 2014 | 06:52 PM
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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.
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Old Aug 28, 2014 | 07:05 PM
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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.
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Old Aug 30, 2014 | 06:24 PM
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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.
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Old Aug 30, 2014 | 06:46 PM
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Car: 1984 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Engine: 5.0 Liter 4-BBL V8 High Output
Transmission: 5-Speed Manual
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: any idler arm tips

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Old Sep 2, 2014 | 10:21 AM
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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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Old Sep 2, 2014 | 11:14 AM
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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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Old Sep 2, 2014 | 07:38 PM
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Re: any idler arm tips

shakes real bad when braking. only when braking. can def. feel it in the brake pedal
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.
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Old Sep 3, 2014 | 05:04 AM
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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.
nuff said!!! thx
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Old Sep 3, 2014 | 05:49 AM
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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

Last edited by budget builder; Sep 3, 2014 at 07:52 AM.
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Old Sep 10, 2014 | 10:02 AM
  #11  
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From: knoxville tn
Car: 86 IROC
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 700-R-4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 open
Re: any idler arm tips

Originally Posted by budget builder
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
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)
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Old Sep 11, 2014 | 08:39 AM
  #12  
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From: nc
Car: 91RS
Engine: carb'd 357 vortec
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi
Re: any idler arm tips

Originally Posted by rusty vango
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)
10-4 thx
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Old Sep 11, 2014 | 08:56 PM
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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.
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