Newish Idler arm has a lot of slack/wobble

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Plumcrazyreindeer

Plumcrazyreindeer

Skintback back and haulin a$$
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I replaced the idler arm and pitman arm on my 70 duster to flip the steering link for it to go through a 10 qt pan. Idler arm is the suspect!!! The parts were relatively new from the guy I bought the motor and set up from. The old one I removed was tight and stiff, no play whatsoever. The new one I installed has some slack and that just does not seem right. When I asked the gentleman who I bought the complete set up from he told me that his original was just like that and he bought this one to try and correct it but when he replaced it it had the same problem. He ran it anyway the car would hit the 130s every pass and said to drive smoothe and straight. He made the comment that when the wheels came down from hard wheelie in slow motion video the tires would wobble for about .5 seconds. But not noticeable in the car only on slow motion video. I made some washers to fit the metal bushing rod the bolt goes through to maybe stiffen it up but was minimal. Should I make thicker washers to work with this or is this just inevitable that it will have that slack? Another option is what bushing works the best to correct this? Thanks in advance!!! The first photo is the new arm installed with only the bushing as its intended and the old one laying next to it. The second and third is uninstalled with the washers I made.

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Looks like the ear on your K member is bent up.
 
I’ll take a look at that up close and see if I can persuade it to get right. The bushing on that arm is a soft foam like material around the metal inner tube that the bolt goes through. That’s where it gets movement from. The bushing on the old one is a hard rubber
 
I took several new ones back before I found one that wasn't sloppy out of the box.
 
Plumcrazyreindeer said:
Was it a particular brand that you bought
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Not 100% sure as I bought the stuff 3 years ago, used to buy Moog exclusively. Went through the same thing on my Chevy pick up. 3 Moog idler arms in a years time. With the quality of suspension/steering parts it's becoming more cost effective for me to buy the cheap shyt and a lifetime alignment in this disposable world, and just keep an eye on things.
 
Plumcrazyreindeer said:
I’ll take a look at that up close and see if I can persuade it to get right. The bushing on that arm is a soft foam like material around the metal inner tube that the bolt goes through. That’s where it gets movement from. The bushing on the old one is a hard rubber
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Those foam and hard rubber parts are not bushings, but basically just dust covers and if you are real serious about getting rid of any vertical play in the idler arm they make a bearing kit to replace the inside parts with kind of like this.
I don't know who carries them though.

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TrailBeast said:
Those foam and hard rubber parts are not bushings, but basically just dust covers and if you are real serious about getting rid of any vertical play in the idler arm they make a bearing kit to replace the inside parts with kind of like this.
I don't know who carries them though.

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I used to see those for OEM idler arms. I always questioned if they would fit one that had been replaced at some point in time with an aftermarket replacement.
 
I have replaced original ones and there is usally a shim or washer that it with the arm and it all fits tight.
 
I'm pretty sure Firm Feel or PST or someone had rebuildable idlers...
 
i would think i would not buy that stupid-what brand?-foam thing. is the foam a cover and there is hard rubber underneath? tight and hard rubber is what u want, MAYBE if I hit the lottery I might try the needle bearing deal, no , I would try a big bronze bushing with a grease fitting!
 
And I thought I was the only one with this issue as my Dart eats Moog idlers in a matter of months. I haven't gotten around to finding out why as this past summer was dedicated to a new engine but it is curious as Moog has always made quality parts. The rest of the front end is tight and quite obviously my car is no wheelstander..............
 
Moog is not made in China! 90% is made right in the USA. Call their tech support 1 800 325 8886 & ask them? Watch the attached youtube link. Cheers!
 
CL3406 said:
Moog is not made in China! 90% is made right in the USA. Call their tech support 1 800 325 8886 & ask them? Watch the attached youtube link. Cheers!
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Edelbrock will tell you the same but you know where most of those goodies come from lol. Look at atracingworld web page most of that stuff is name brand stuff without the stamp when you get it. Some stuff comes with the stamp but I still think it’s from over the pond.
 
Hey everyone. I made a temporary solution to my problem until I get a better part. I made a inner spacer to go behind a welded on washer and zero slop. Took me about 15 minutes to make the 3 parts and tack it together. The wobble could not be corrected the pivot point was in the inside of the bushing so I braced it from the outside. Works great and I don’t think I even need to replace it later time will tell thanks for the suggestions

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