The idler arm is a part of the steering system on rear wheel drive vehicles with a steering gearbox. It should be greased and cleaned regularly to prevent wear and tear. It’s important to buy steering components from reputable suppliers and have a mechanic diagnose any issues.
The idler arm is a component of the steering system on rear wheel drive vehicles with a steering gearbox. The tie bars and drag link are attached to the idler arm and rotate about its pivot axis. Typically on the right hand side of the vehicle on left-hand drive versions, the idler arm holds the steering gear opposite the Pittman arm. Working together, these two components allow the steering gear to manipulate steering on both sides of the vehicle equally. Rack and pinion steering systems do not use an idler arm.
As the idler arm breaks, the tires may begin to show uneven wear or the vehicle may begin to wander in the lane. The easiest way to diagnose a problem related to the steering gear is to take the vehicle to a reputable alignment shop where a mechanic can diagnose the entire steering system and recommend any necessary service issues. It is always a good idea to have a second mechanic perform a diagnostic service and compare the two findings.
Most idler arm preventative maintenance can be performed at the oil change interval. A simple greasing of the idler arm and related steering components is recommended to keep this part of the vehicle in top operating condition. Most oil change facilities will perform this service at no additional charge, but this should be requested at every oil change to ensure it is being completed. This is also easily handled by the DIY mechanic with a grease gun in the driveway.
It is also good practice to clean around the idler arm mounting bolts on the frame of the vehicle. Often small cracks will start to radiate away from the bolts. In this case, the arm must be removed and the frame repaired by a competent workshop. Usually a few minutes with a welder will fix the problem, but some repairs require a steel plate to be welded in place to support and reinforce the frame.
While online auctions have become the fastest and often the easiest place to find used car parts, it is not wise to source critical parts like steering parts from this type of parts supplier. The arc of motion is very precise in this case and varying it by even the smallest amount could mess up the steering system and cause the vehicle to handle strangely. Always buy your steering components from a reputable parts supplier and make sure the part is made specifically for the correct make, model and year of the vehicle it will be installed on.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
