What sort of Symptoms from Warn Idler Arms?

[Rileysowner]

I am wondering what sort of driving symptoms one would experience with warn idler arms. Last time I checked they seemed good (assuming I was checking properly) but I noticed some vibrations while driving down the highway today. Not extreme in any way, but noticeable and annoying. Having said that it could be the road I was on, but since I will be doing the oil in a week or so, I thought I would see if idlers could cause something like that as I have not replaced them but have replaced pretty much everything else up front. If such a thing might be the issue I may just spend the money and get some high quality Moogs and be done with it for a while.

[Smiliesafari]

Bad idlers will make the steering feel real loose. Your van will need constant steering input to keep it in a straight line.

[Rileysowner]

No problem there. Steering is good, so I will just keep looking, or pay more attention when driving on better maintained roads to see if I notice the same vibration then.

[CaptSquid]

While driving in a straight line, take your hands off the wheel. If the van wanders SERIOUSLY, you probably need front end work.

Another way of telling: While the front end is off the ground, grab the tire at the 12 and 6 positions and try to push in and out on the top and bottom of the tire. If it moves, it probably needs work.

[Rileysowner]

While driving in a straight line, take your hands off the wheel. If the van wanders SERIOUSLY, you probably need front end work.

Another way of telling: While the front end is off the ground, grab the tire at the 12 and 6 positions and try to push in and out on the top and bottom of the tire. If it moves, it probably needs work.

That would be the test I have done. I will check next time I have the van up. The rest of the front end was done, but idlers looked good back then.

[LiftedAWDAstro]

To check the idler arms, grab the wheel at 3 and 9 and go back and forth while watching the idlers. If the move up and down more than about 1/8" - 1/4" they are worn.

[kc5gxl]

To check the idler arms, grab the wheel at 3 and 9 and go back and forth while watching the idlers. If the move up and down more than about 1/8" - 1/4" they are worn.

Hello all;

Along this vein, shaking the wheel as mentioned by LiftedAWD will also let you see if the tie rod ends are bad. All tie rod ends should be tight and have no play. If any looseness is evident...IE...if one part of the joint moves and the other part doesn't, then it is bad. Any looseness in the joint can cause a shimmy, and steering wander. All worn joints are susceptible to failure which could cause loss of steering and control of the vehicle.

It is a very good idea to check for worn steering parts every time the front tires are off the ground. Cheap insurance.

As for the shake described by the first poster of this thread, it could be a lot of things including road surface, idler arms, tie rod ends, tire balance, shocks, worn ball joints, worn control arm bushings, or even bad tires. Don't throw money at something just because it hasn't been replaced before. Find out what is causing the malady and repair that. You will be money ahead.

Drive safe,

Dan Harriman
Tyler Texas

[JaxSPL]

Good information there Dan. I just started experiancing a shimmy/shake at about 55mph. This started after I had a tired change on driver's front. Had it rechecked to find out the tire is good.
Turns out I need to do a balljoint replacement job. Not looking forward to that.

[Rileysowner]

Jax, the ball joints are not too bad to do. I did them in the last year, and now I know I could do them much faster.

[SoCalli V8]

To check the idler arms, grab the wheel at 3 and 9 and go back and forth while watching the idlers. If the move up and down more than about 1/8" - 1/4" they are worn.

And replace them with MooG components only, which are Heavy Duty with grease nipples and will last. Don`t be tempted to buy that cheap ch1t on evil-bay, because it will fail, and leave you disappointed .... (been there, done that and wasted my ca$h !)

[MountainManJoe]

Nobody mentioned bearings.

If they're worn, you will feel vibration while driving. With the vehicle jacked up, the wheel will be loose in all directions.

[kc5gxl]

Nobody mentioned bearings.

If they're worn, you will feel vibration while driving. With the vehicle jacked up, the wheel will be loose in all directions.

Aye, laddie;

You are correct! You can check to see if the bearings are loose or worn while driving, too. If you hear a howling or whining noise coming from the front wheel area, if you move the sterring wheel left to right, or right to left, and the noise stops, it may quite possibly be the wheel bearings. Also if you hear it and when you lightly apply the brakes, it may be loose wheel bearings.

Thanks for bringing the bearings to my attention. I had forgetten about them. Always check the simple things first. Quite often, the simple things are what is out of adjustment or worn out.

Drive safe,

Dan Harriman
Orange Texas
91 Safair Shorty V8 RIP