Bad Idler Arm?

[CJM]

In my never ending quest to basically rebuild the T100 (LOL)Im pretty positive my idler arm is bad.

If you jack up the frontend and grab a tire at 9 and 3 you can wiggle (more than Id say is normal) it a bit and hear a small clunk. The following is newer or good: Steering box, pitman, center and drag links, TRE's. The idler is about 3 years old maybe?

If I take a prybar and place it between the frame and the idler and grab the wheels the clunk is gone. The clunk def sounds like its coming from the idler arm as well. When driving down the highway the more bumpy the road is the more the truck wants to wander as well as vibrate slightly, specially over bumpy roads.

So idler arms bad or what?

[Robinhood4x4]

Have somebody wiggle the tire while you hold on to the idler arm and see if you can feel it clunking. You should also be able to see it shifting, I would think.

It sounds like it is the idler arm, but 3 years is still pretty new.

[CJM]

I agree it seems like it, I can feel it clunking myself but Ill find someone to give me a hand.

Gotta remember, due to a bad axle I didnt have the cash to replace for a LONG time the frontend vibrated worse than anything.

[corax]

I think the T100 idler is the same 4wd idler that Toyota used from '86-'95, so if you do get another one here's some advice from SDORI


Beware of parts normally spec'd for 2WD 4 cylinder trucks being sold for 4WD 4 cylinder and V6 trucks and 4runners! One example is the Sankei 555 idler arm. This arm as been sold (packaged) as an FA5040 but is not the same arm. The shaft is of a smaller diameter and the arm is not as strong. It is also more expensive, sometimes 2X more, than the stronger actual FA5040 sold at AutoZone. SDORI recommends customers purchase from a local autoparts store or if ordering, doing so from a major chain like AutoZone. These stores can quickly and easily address these issues.
(+ it's lifetime warranty)

Insist on the FA5040 part number if it looks like this
http://www.yotatech.com/~corey/tech/cebby_idler/1.jpg

[CJM]

I was gonna buy a moog one off rock auto for 64 bucks. MOOG Part # K80536 it does list it as for 4wd.

Checking vatozones website it lists for only 35 bucks...score. Ill pick one up tomorrow if I can swing by.

[CJM]

Update: I never did get around to getting an idler arm. After looking at it, it seemed pretty good.

Fast forward to today: I have taken the truck to 3 different alignment shops and what does #3 finally tell me-the idler arm is bad. It has ever so slight play in the shaft.

So now I gotta put the one form autozone on, and go back there.

[mastacox]

Remember also that you don't necessarily need to replace the whole idler arm if its wobbling since it's probably just the bushings. You can get replacement bushings from Toyota for like $6, and they're pretty easy to put in.

Back when I had my '92 4Runner I gave up on the stock idler arm after having to replace the bushings about once a quarter (the ball joint spacers and cranked torsion bars I'm sure didn't help). I got the Total Chaos idler arm and never needed to worry about it again.

[CJM]

For the 35 bucks and lifetime warranty for the better idler arm, imho autozone was worth it.