Should I Replace My Idler Arm?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 3,181
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From: Texas City, TX Texas
Should I Replace My Idler Arm?
I have the engine out of my '74, gonna drop in a fresh one after the holidays. "While I'm At It" syndrome has kicked in; I want to replace at least the a-arm bushing and tie rod ends, and lop a half a loop(maybe a full loop?) off the coil spring. I figure I'll call Wilcox and get a complete USA made front kit. How can I tell if the idler arm needs replacing as well?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Corsicana, Tx
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They are easy to change at any time..so that's the good part. I'd inspect it for play. If there is ANY movement in it or tie rods they need changed.
The idler arm takes a lot of abuse and some headers are real close to it and bake the lube.
JIM
The idler arm takes a lot of abuse and some headers are real close to it and bake the lube.
JIM
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 719
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Agree
Agree, I always buy the whole front end rebuild kit for a couple of hundred, plus a little more for the deluxe kit and be done with it. Likely have replaced some good components this way, however, you are not saving much money doing this piecemeal. While you have it all apart, it makes too much good sense to me to go back all new since the extra money is nominal I think given the labor is significant. My 2 cents.
BTW, for what it is worth, cutting one coil off the bottom of the spring on my 68 454 lowered the front about 1-5/8". Easy to cut too much. Hope this might help.
BTW, for what it is worth, cutting one coil off the bottom of the spring on my 68 454 lowered the front about 1-5/8". Easy to cut too much. Hope this might help.
Last edited by 20mercury; Nov 21, 2016 at 09:11 PM.
