I am replacing my '74 power steering with '70 manual, entire system, from gearbox to idler arm, to tie-rods. The '70 MS idler arm is missing some of the bushing, and I need to replace it. But the bolt that runs through it has been scored to keep the nut from backing off. The '74 PS idler arm looks a little different, and has the grease zerk at the bottom, and appears reuseable. Is there any difference in the dimensions of these? They "appear" to be the same size... Should I remove the nut and cut new threads on the bolt from the 70, or should I use the PS arm? Other option is replace for around $50, which might be easier than messing with either...
I think the bolt on the idler arm came with the score from the factory. The aftermarket ones the nut is welded to the bolt. I think they do this to keep the nut from backing out and causing you to totally lose the steering. I would get a new idler arm with the new bushing.
I'd replace it just for the fact that you already got it apart and won't have to worry about it later...
Well, I got it back together using the 74 newer idler arm, but I will not drive seriously until I get it replaced. I need new tie rods and that bushing, then the front end (minus the uper and lower ball joints) will be completely new. I just can't afford the tie rods right now, the holiday season thins out the check book. But at least now I can drive around the neighborhood, but I won't trust it on the highway (even though, except for the center link and steering gear, it is the same stuff I was driving 70 mph on just a few weeks ago!) Now that I have seen it up close and dissassembled, I am actually feeling kinda lucky that all that 35 year old stuff was keeping me on the road at all! Just a warning for anyone still driving on stock parts, those things really need to be replaced. Mine looked fine on the car, and didn't have any play, but when I popped them off and inspected each individually, there was a great amount of variance in how each ball joint behaved, some were real tight,needing to be forced to move, and some would just flop around when you picked up the tie rod.
'Glad to see you found out now - the easy way. I would think any of the autoparts stores would have the idler arm from $25 to $30. I'm sure you've checked though.
Cheapest I have found is AutoZone $49. Which isn't too bad, since it is the anchoring point for then entire steering system...
