2wd guys, how did you remove your idler arm?

[benoit454]

I just removed my first idler arm today on dad's 84, it was a PITA, getting it loose from the center link/drag link, whatever you want to call it was easy. The hard part was getting it loose from the frame bracket. I was removing the tie rods to replace all of those and the idler arm to replace it, so I alreayd had a hammer and pickle fork, which was perfect(of course) for the tie rods and the idler to center link, but up front it didn't want to do anything.

My hayes manual says use a suitable puller, and remove the nut and cotter pin from the relay rod, which was not informative enough to help me any. I read the book after I had already got it off LOL.

What ended up working for me was penetrating oil around the top where the threads are, and between it and it's frame bracket. Hit it with a pickle fork several times, then hit the idler itself front and side some, and repeat several times, then after wearing my arm out on the pickle fork, I hit the idler again a couple easy taps and the thing came loose.

So were you supposed to use a pickle fork?

Just hit the idler with a hammer?

Use a pitman arm puller or other puller on it?

I got it done as I mentioned just wondered if maybe there was an easier way or if I done it wrong LOL.

[Long79]

I have always used a pitman arm puller and sometimes a torch to heat it up a little not glowing but pretty hot, makes it alot easier going back on too if you heat it up

[benoit454]

I would if I had a torch, I worried about messing up the frame bracket for it. Can you buy new frame brackets?

[87GMCChris]

Idler or piman arm, i am a little confused... sorry. But when i did my pitman arm i heated it and used a puller. On my idler, it came with the bracket to the frame. Just 2 bolts and it came right out. Besides the center link of coarse. Mine is an 87 though what year is the one we're working on? Nevermind i read its an 84. But this is the way my 87 came apart.

[benoit454]

yep it has 2 bolts but it didn't come with the bracket. I saw in lmc that 83 and older I think had the idler with a bracket made on it, and 84-87 or something had one like we got. LMC has the bracket, they call it a support, but we didn't get one, I got the idler off, now we are fighting with balljoints lol.

[dccarpenter]

I used the fork to get mine off, I just wailed it between the joints at each of the two bolt locations, it eventually busted loose. Took a couple minutes but wasn't too bad, getting the cotter pins out to remove the castle nuts took just as long.

Did the repair in the autozone parking lot

Mine had been covered by leaking engine oil for 2 years so no heat or oil needed, was nice and loose.

[justpball]

Bfh

[78 Chevyrado]

Originally Posted by dccarpenter

Did the repair in the autozone parking lot

Mine had been covered by leaking engine oil for 2 years so no heat or oil needed, was nice and loose.

See just make the seal above it leak and keep driving it for a year or two and it will come right off.

[63chevyll]

did use use the special Ider Arm bolts. If not you will never get it aligned and it will pull to the right big time........

Please say you did, you might have to redo the whole job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[63chevyll]

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HAHHAH, Post #9


I couldnt resist, seemd like a good time to mess with ya

[benoit454]

hmm ours did not have castle nuts and cotter pins on it, the new one does I think. The old ones doesn't for sure though. The outer tie rods did, inners did not, ball joints did too.

I haven't got to ours yet, the spindle and lower BJ on the DS has held us up, now it's done though. Driver's side now has new upper control arm, lower ball joint, and PS is up next. No upper control arm for it but new top and bottom BJ's then the new tie rods idler arm and sleeves.

I used the fork on ours as mentioned but used a hammer too and it finally let loose. The lower ball joint was holding into the spindle on the ds, until we took a pickle fork to it again, and used a 16 lb. sledge hammer. A few whacks and it was broke loose, 5 seconds with the ball joint press/ c-clamp tool and it was out.

I'm gonna make a new post about the POS ball joint press. Be looking for it if interested.