idler arm replacement.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
From: Livonia, MI
idler arm replacement.
Hey everyone. My truck is in my comment. I am going to be replaceing my lefr and right front inner and outer tie-rod ends. My idler arm is also worn out. Now when i look at autozone for the idler arm, i have two options. 2 and 15/32" bolt pattern, or 3 and 7/16" bolt pattern. 
Has anyone replaced theirs or had it replaced and would possibly know which one applies for my truck????
Thanks in advance.
Bryan.
Has anyone replaced theirs or had it replaced and would possibly know which one applies for my truck????
Thanks in advance.
Bryan.
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
They are referring to the mounting bolt spacing. I just replaced mine. You need to remove the front skid plate and measure the distance between the bolt centers that mount the idler arm to the frame. Wow, I dodn't know how bad mine was worn(165000mi)! What a differnence it made in the steering. It won't change lanes by itself anymore.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: South of KCMO.
Small highjack here. Do you need to have the alignment chacked after replacing the idler arm? Two years ago the state inspection said mine was a little loose buy not so bad to fail inspection.
Postmaster
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,241
Likes: 3
From: Broken Arrow, OK
You should have it checked, but it probably won't do anything but be better than it was with the old floppy idler arm. The only time I didn't check it I got to do it again because it was bent when it came out of the box. If I had checked the alignment the customer wouldn't have returned with an ill handling truck.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,931
Likes: 180
the idler amr dont have much to do with alignment. it is more of a stabalizer link to the frame. it has no adjustments of its own. extra slop in the link will allow the tie rods to move too much relative to each other.
Postmaster
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,241
Likes: 3
From: Broken Arrow, OK
If the two are exactly the same it won't affect the alignment. If the length, offset, or anything else are off it will change the toe.
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New User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: NE Oh
I had my replaced this past summer, the bolt spacing was the 2 15/32. I think that is the most common. I took the lazy way to make sure I got the right side, bought both and took the wrong size back.
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