4runner bending steering idlers.!?!?

[Latitude777]

My 92 4runner has lately started chewing out idler arms.

It always bends them back toward the chassis and chews out the bushes, which aren't reusable once damaged.


I'm running 33 inch tyres but havent had this issue until recently, I've bent 2 in 2 weeks, the first replaced under warranty but won't replace the second one.

Has anyone else had or rectified this before?!

Don't want to spend masses of $$ on parts as I'd rather save my cash for a SAS conversion later down the track.

[UhhOhh]

Idlers are a common thing to go on ifs 4runner. Go the post '94 model ones as they have a marginally thicker shaft to suit the 15x7 alloy wheel/wider tyre change.

Apart from that how's your wheel alignment? Could also be a shit run of repco specials maybe try a different brand?

[georgey]

An engineer at my work told me about this problem.He contacted toyota and all about it and they sent over some japanese blokes to have a look at the one he made for he's 4runner.
Cant remember if anything ever came of it but he made a few arms for the blokes in hes 4x4 club and they never bent them.
Its a common weak point.
Try bracing your next one before you put it on

[SCANAS]

An engineer at my work told me about this problem.He contacted toyota and all about it and they sent over some japanese blokes to have a look at the one he made for he's 4runner.

I call BS, he's telling porky pies. That just doesn't happen

[Frankenyota]

I made a brace to stop the bending of my idler arm on my old 4runner.
Didn't bend one after that.
4 crawler in the states make bronze bushings.

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/IdlerArm.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Matt

[Latitude777]

Any chance you have pictures of your brace?! Thanks for the link to 4crawlers, that was actually the road I was looking at going down, didn't realize it had already been done.

Cheers!

[MADSHORT]

yep this problem has been there since 1986 and toyota still denies a problem with them
good luck
cheers
Gordon

[Frankenyota]

Sorry don't have any pics. But it was similar to this one made by Downey.

http://www.yotatech.com/~corey/tech/ceb ... /cebby.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[UhhOhh]

Sorry don't have any pics. But it was similar to this one made by Downey.

http://www.yotatech.com/~corey/tech/ceb ... /cebby.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That's awesome, this coupled with the brass bushes would improve the idler heaps. Doesn't look too hard to make either.

[georgey]

An engineer at my work told me about this problem.He contacted toyota and all about it and they sent over some japanese blokes to have a look at the one he made for he's 4runner.

I call BS, he's telling porky pies. That just doesn't happen

If you knew him youd know he doesnt lie,
Hes 65 odd years old,has been president of 4x4 clubs.Has no reason to make up stories to make hes life sound more exciting.

Possibly the japs were already here and met up with him to have a look.He just said some japs from toyota came and checked he's out.
This was when 4runners first came out and he bought one brand new.

[Latitude777]

SO i started down the line of strengthening my idler arm...

First step i decided just to get some brass bushing made up for it, cost me $60 made up through DME engineering, a local workshop my brother used to work at.

I supplied the whole idler arm and they copied the old bushes and used the measurements off of the shaft and housing etc.

They look bling at least!