Outer Limits 4x4 Board

G'day all, has anyone braced the idler arm on a vitara, something like the one calmini do? or should i just brace & weld it to reinforce the little thing that it is? Pics anyone?
Cheerz
atari4x4 the newbie

gday dude, is yours that silver vit ive seen going down black rd?

but yeah, ive braced up my idler arm stop it bending with bigger tyres on

yup that could be me, nice bit of bracketomertry but it think my wide track mounts differently, it gives me something to work from!
Cheerz
atari4x4

What are you guys doing to bend the idler arm I am running 30" MTR and haven't bent one yet.

i'm only running 30" mtr's aswell and bent mine within the 1st week of getting them, front airlocker and power steering probably contributes to them bending

I have'nt yet but i am certain that i will end up bending it only had my rig on the road a few weeks now, done a epic robe to carpenters rocks trip with no dramas in the vit but plan to get stuck in a rut sometime in the not to distant future. prevention is betteer than cure.

atari4x4

There is a good topic on Zukiworld about the idler arm.

http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=14755.0

Another link to read .

http://www.izook.com/tech/tracker/arm/jimmarm.htm

finally got a start on the idler arm brace after seeing a few different designs & my 2.0l being slightly different to the 1.6l. i came up with this i just need polar_bear to weld it up for me.

cardboard template


steel cut


mocked up

Looks good. If it works out right do you want to make another one or send me the drawings/template

cj,
i can send you a drawing of it once its finished...... my cardboard mockup is long gone. it was made up from 6mm plate that was left over from polar_bear's front bar, it will bolt up to the control arm mount & to the front crossmember/lower radiator support panel once welded. hopefully this is enough to stop the stock ilder arm brace from blowing out, its almost as bad as the coke can front diff housing.

Thanks.

progress report, i had polar_bear lay a couple of welds on my ildler arm brace the other night

gave it a lick of paint & here it is dummied up, still need to drill one more hole in the front rail but its looking beefy & should do the trick


i still need to drill that hole out to M8 & bolt it all up.

cj - if your going to have a play with the idler, why not investigate
putting in bearings instead of bushes ?

Makes a HUGE difference to the steering feel if its possible.

Its on my list ( page 26, item 3826 ).....

I reckon your list and my list probably aren't that much different in length except for one major difference......I have something that drives and can be put into 4wd

I have something that drives and a selection of things that i can put in
4WD - its just that none of the above are in the same vehicle..... yet

MightyMouse wrote:cj - if your going to have a play with the idler, why not investigate
putting in bearings instead of bushes ?

Makes a HUGE difference to the steering feel if its possible.

Its on my list ( page 26, item 3826 ).....

thats not a bad idea, but in all honesty it drives like a drunken horse!

i'm not that fussed about the steering feel, getting home with a buggered idler arm was more of an issue.

I like the arm brace idea, I missed the point a little in that whilst it
improves the feel that's mostly because it stop the bushes pounding out.

I don't have a Vit, so don't really know how well they last - so might be
unnecessary.

atari4x4 wrote:cj,
i can send you a drawing of it once its finished......

cj wrote:

atari4x4 wrote:cj,
i can send you a drawing of it once its finished......

i've been busy "testing" it cj & with my new job i'm not seeing much daylight during the week i'll take some measurements & redraw it this weekend & post them up!

MightyMouse wrote:I like the arm brace idea, I missed the point a little in that whilst it
improves the feel that's mostly because it stop the bushes pounding out.

I don't have a Vit, so don't really know how well they last - so might be
unnecessary.

here is polar_bears stock idler arm bracket after he bent it!

bring yours around again atari, and i'll zap another one up for cj...i think i'm gonna need his help soon

yep, i'll be round after the weekend polar_bear! you do remember what they are don't you? i'll get some numbers off it tomorrow as i've got to give it a service!

Polar_Bear wrote:bring yours around again atari, and i'll zap another one up for cj...i think i'm gonna need his help soon

.... but what what do you need from me If I can help out I'm more than happy to. You can always PM me.

atari4x4 wrote:yep, i'll be round after the weekend polar_bear! you do remember what they are don't you?

nope its been bedlam here just lately, every day just turns into the next have you still got the other half of that winch plate left?

finally got around to getting some measurements off the idler arm brace & scratched up a bit of a drawing, its not to scale but gives an idea of the sizes required.



sorry about the delays there's not enough daylight hours in a day & my zook doesn't fit in the workshop anymore

d'oh, double post..... stoopid wifi