Idler arms

ANYTHING TO DO WITH STEERING, FROM STOCK TO RACK AND PINION UPGRADES
User avatar

SoCalli V8
Retired
Retired
Posts: 1209
Joined: Wed Sep 20, 2006 5:42 pm
Location: Lost Angels, Sovern KarlyFornia.

Re: Idler arms

Post by SoCalli V8 »

Make sure that you keep that receipt in a very safe place, then you can go back to Autozone every year to exchange those poor quality idlers, and do the job all over again. Image
`86 V8 Lowered Cargo, extensively modified, shaved bald, wearing the shortest, sluttyest white primer dress....

A British Wanker living in So KarlyFornia.
My Astro tows my toys to Glamis sand dunes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp2pqjQtpso
First ever canal jump at Glamis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXZjM84x_Xc
User avatar

LaGrasta
I sleep in my van
Posts: 724
Joined: Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:07 pm
Location: Mission Viejo, CA
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 3 times

Re: Idler arms

Post by LaGrasta »

SoCalli V8 wrote:Make sure that you keep that receipt in a very safe place, then you can go back to Autozone every year to exchange those poor quality idlers, and do the job all over again. Image
I don't buy it. Although every "rebuild" part has potential to fail, I have had great success with "lesser" brand name parts. Autozone is my place of choice, in fact. My complete upper and lower control arm assemble with joints installed for my 1963 Falcon have been perfect for 30,000 miles. $190, made in some asian country.

Keep 'em lubed, you'll be fine.
1998 Astro, 246,000 miles

K&N air filter
TruCool trans cooler
2" Overland lift & 15" BFG Terrain, 3.73 gears
JET Performance SCU-2000 (Speed Control Unit)
Gabriel Ultra shocks, rear AirLift bags & sway bar
Draw-Tite Dual Port Hitch System, hitch-mounted bike rack (4), hitch-mounted cargo tray, Thule roof-mounted cargo box

Rebel
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 2009
Joined: Thu Sep 14, 2006 7:24 am
Location: Evergreen, Al. 96 mile marker, where life is slow and there are no rules.

Re: Idler arms

Post by Rebel »

There is a way to never buy idlers again.

You can remove the old, about 70lbs. of scrap iron.

Image


and replace with:

Image

for about what new Moog idlers will cost.
89 Astro, 350 V-8, Shaved doors, Filled Slider, Corvette IRS, 94 Mustang GT Rack & Pinion(Thanks to Skip), Cad Tail lights from SoCalliV8 ( RIP) Miss you my friend.

VIDEO

Image





If you drive illegally, they take your driver's license. If you're here illegally, they want to give you one :)












Image





If guns kill people, do pencils misspell words

mca
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:26 pm

Re: Idler arms

Post by mca »

Sorry guys - I doubt my dog haulin', tractor towin', dump run, beater van is worth all that much more than the price I paid for steering and brake components (pads, rotors, and calipers - great info on these AS and ASV forums on brakes BTW - 3500 4WD calipers are sweet) I installed this holiday weekend! It sure drives a lot nicer now that the front end doesn't rattle when going over bumps and the brakes don't try to shake out my fillings anymore though! Should be even better after getting an alignment tomorrow to true things up again. :yawinkle:

MCA
User avatar

Rileysowner
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 1290
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 7:14 pm
Location: Exeter ON
Contact:

Re: Idler arms

Post by Rileysowner »

Rebel wrote:There is a way to never buy idlers again.

You can remove the old, about 70lbs. of scrap iron.

Image


and replace with:

Image

for about what new Moog idlers will cost.
As tempting as that is, I know unless I had someone here to help me I could not do it with my present ability/knowledge. Someday maybe, but not yet.
"I have a torque wrench and I am not afraid to use it."
Jim
1997 GMC Safari RWD, Power Windows and Locks, 7 passenger, a/c, rear heat

http://rileysowner.blogspot.com/
User avatar

LaGrasta
I sleep in my van
Posts: 724
Joined: Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:07 pm
Location: Mission Viejo, CA
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 3 times

Re: Idler arms

Post by LaGrasta »

rack & pinion... NICE!

Interested in giving some details?
1998 Astro, 246,000 miles

K&N air filter
TruCool trans cooler
2" Overland lift & 15" BFG Terrain, 3.73 gears
JET Performance SCU-2000 (Speed Control Unit)
Gabriel Ultra shocks, rear AirLift bags & sway bar
Draw-Tite Dual Port Hitch System, hitch-mounted bike rack (4), hitch-mounted cargo tray, Thule roof-mounted cargo box
User avatar

Smiliesafari
ASV Supporter
ASV Supporter
Posts: 2667
Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2006 12:34 pm
Location: Orlando, FL

Re: Idler arms

Post by Smiliesafari »

Man, where have you been? :muhaha: The rack and pinion conversion is probably the best documented mod on this site. \:D/
1996 Safari SLX Hotair balloon transport vehicle
User avatar

Rileysowner
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 1290
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 7:14 pm
Location: Exeter ON
Contact:

Re: Idler arms

Post by Rileysowner »

I keep looking at it, and keep reading it, and keep realizing that at this point I won't be able to do it. ](*,)

Check out HERE.
"I have a torque wrench and I am not afraid to use it."
Jim
1997 GMC Safari RWD, Power Windows and Locks, 7 passenger, a/c, rear heat

http://rileysowner.blogspot.com/
User avatar

LaGrasta
I sleep in my van
Posts: 724
Joined: Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:07 pm
Location: Mission Viejo, CA
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 3 times

Re: Idler arms

Post by LaGrasta »

DUH, I never once looked at the "rack" thread. I will now, thanks. 8-[
1998 Astro, 246,000 miles

K&N air filter
TruCool trans cooler
2" Overland lift & 15" BFG Terrain, 3.73 gears
JET Performance SCU-2000 (Speed Control Unit)
Gabriel Ultra shocks, rear AirLift bags & sway bar
Draw-Tite Dual Port Hitch System, hitch-mounted bike rack (4), hitch-mounted cargo tray, Thule roof-mounted cargo box

ep77mark
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2009 6:46 pm

Re: Idler arms

Post by ep77mark »

SoCalli V8 wrote:
mca wrote:Doing this job tomorrow. Got all Autozone Lifetime parts - idler arms, drop link, tie rod ends and adjusters. Physically it looks like a pretty simple job, but does anyone have the torque settings to be used on each of the nuts and bolts in doing this job?

Thanks,
MCA
Make sure that you buy everything HD Moog...... everything else that is lower quality, will wear out in less than a year......

Then you will be doing this job over again.... when your new tires scrub out, > again.....
Moog's idler arms are amazing. If you grease them regularly, they'll last 2, 3, or 4 times longer than OEM. On my '94 Astro, I've got around 500,000 km on the left side Moog idler, and over 300,000 km on the right side. I switched to Moog ball joints and few years back, and it's the same deal with them. If you grease them, they last.
User avatar

SnoDrtRider
I get chills without my van.
Posts: 65
Joined: Sat Aug 27, 2011 8:14 am

Re: Idler arms

Post by SnoDrtRider »

Just paid $115.90 for two Lifetime Warranty idler arms at Auto Zone that is about half the price the local jobbers wanted for the Moog arms. I can change them in about 15 minutes. If I need to change them every year no big deal.

LiftedAWDAstro
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 4379
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
Location: New Haven, NY

Re: Idler arms

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

Hate to say it, but I did the same thing and bought the AZ ones. I've had the Moogs and they didn't seem to last any longer than the AZ's. I too can swap them every year or 2 if needed.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy
User avatar

1Gary
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 2743
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 4:18 am

Re: Idler arms

Post by 1Gary »

Any difference in the Moog problem solvers and what was just known as Moog's??.
1979 Malibu drag race only car
1999 Sonoma 4.3 5 speed-Rufus
1989 Astro-Ole Yellar cancelled-still selling off parts
1985 Astro-shop van R.I.P. my friend
1994 Astro LT RWD W4.3 rod knock RIP
1982 Winnebago single rear wheel-Chevy 350 Scraped 1/28/13-broken dreams......


Rochester,NY

Cobra
ASV Supporter
ASV Supporter
Posts: 1750
Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2007 2:31 pm
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Idler arms

Post by Cobra »

looks like i'll be doing my idlers again soon i wonder if that rack will fit above my skid plate....

edit: i just went through the thread again it hasn't been done on an AWD yet? really?
1998 GMC Safari AWD, BFGoodrich AllTerrain T/A
Jet performance tuner 91 octane preset, Jet under-drive pulleys
Rancho 999000 series shock, on-board controller to be installed later
DHC rock rails and skid plate Add-A-Leaf
G3500 front calipers
Zexel Torsen Diff
11" drums
180 amp Alternator
Long tru-cool 4590 trans cooler

1997 gone
Post Reply