what is an idler arm ?

[84pininfarinablack]

My mechanic tells me after putting in all new brakes that my idler arm is causing the car to pull to the left when braking.
What is an idler arm ? Im not finding this part anywhere ? How much do they cost approxomately ?
thanks for your help

[wachuko]

My mechanic tells me after putting in all new brakes that my idler arm is causing the car to pull to the left when braking.
What is an idler arm ? Im not finding this part anywhere ? How much do they cost approxomately ?
thanks for your help

24 and 25 in the diagram:

[wachuko]

It is a simple part... I they must sell replacement bushings for it. Here is what it looks like (removed from the parts car)







Check with any of the vendors... looks like it is around 130.00 - 175.00 new:
Idler arm



Improve (ball bearing) idler arm

[engineerted]

Yours is not Item #24, those ones are the oil damping ones, and are NLA, but yes you can replace them with the one you show but you need to know what shaft sytle you have. Not all arms fit the same shafts.

Ted

[wachuko]

Yours is not Item #24, those ones are the oil damping ones, and are NLA, but yes you can replace them with the one you show but you need to know what shaft sytle you have. Not all arms fit the same shafts.

Ted

Cool, good to know.

[84pininfarinablack]

Thanks guys just had to make sure they werent making up a part to sell me..
would this thing make my car pull left when braking ?

[Foster48x]

It's part of the steering linkage so it would definitely affect your steering if it locks up. If it was me I would take it apart and clean it up before you replace it.

Check out this thread on the idler arm from a while back. Its got some good info in it.
http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... =idler+arm

Rick

[84pininfarinablack]

thanks guys.. should i pay for a front end alignment ? Can those be done on fiats ? I read somewhere they were pretty much fixed in the right position from the factory and adding shims shouldnt be ever needed unless car is wrecked or something.
Is this wasted 69.00 ? or worth it . ? thanks for your opinions.

[majicwrench]

While it is remotely possible that idler arm is causing brake pull, it is not very likely. Did brakes pull before the repairs??
Alignment, for me at least, unless tires are wearing poorly I would not get an alignment.

Keith

[Foster48x]

I didn't have any alignment issues with mine prior to replacing the front end so when I replaced all of the linkage I took the tie rod ends and threaded rods out of the car intact. Laid them out on the garage floor and built the new linkage to the exact width on both sides as the old one. Put it all back in and the car tracks nice and straight and I haven't seen any abnormal tire wear.

I did try to have it aligned at a couple of local big chain shops but none of them had the equipment to align a 30 year old car. Evidently the new machines they use don't have the codes needed to properly align a Fiat.

Rick

[So Cal Mark]

I doubt that the idler is causing a left pull

[84pininfarinablack]

thanks Socal.. Yes the physics of it baffle me... why would decreasing the wheels equally cause a pull because of the idler arm being worn or bad bushings .. it makes no sense. but if my idler arm is shot i guess ill need a new one..
Ill let you know if it fixes anything.

Do you think its an air bubble still Socal ? We got 4 new calipers.. new pads. new mc.. and its all pumped up and brakes great. But he says a pull when braking...
damm thats why i started tearing apart my working brakes from the begininng... its funny that this problem made it.

[84pininfarinablack]

also how hard is it to put in the idler arm? is it a piece of cake ? it looks easy 4 bolts i guess.

[So Cal Mark]

did you replace hoses too? Are the caliper slides lubricated? Is the toe-in set properly? How sharp is the pull? Does it turn the steering wheel when braking? Is this the car with no flow to the right front caliper?
It's easy to check the idler for looseness, jack up the right side of the car. Grab the front and back of the tire and see if there is any play by turning it back and forth.

[mdrburchette]

Pulling while braking could be caused by worn bushings too. Mine did it until I replaced the control arm bushings, ball joints, etc. As far as aligning the vehicle, do you have an owner's manual? The specs would be in there and most shops should have the specs in their computer. Even the local GM dealership has the specs for my 72 and that's who aligned it last.