Having trouble with Idler arm removal

djturnz · 10-07-2008, 08:26 AM

I cracked the nut loose, but now the shaft just spins so I can't get the nut off. I used a pickle fork to seperate the idler from the relay bar.

How do I hold the post still so I can get the nut off?

The book said I would need a puller, but I don't see how a puller would help. The fork did the job of the puller.

Any ideas?

ls1s10onair · 10-07-2008, 09:05 AM

it really helps if u have an impact gun..... is there a hex key hole in the end like the full sizes?

djturnz · 10-07-2008, 09:28 AM

No impact gun.

No hex key hole at the nut end. I'm pretty sure the other end is sealed.

ls1s10onair · 10-07-2008, 09:35 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by djturnz

No impact gun.

No hex key hole at the nut end. I'm pretty sure the other end is sealed.

wait a minute..... (sorry, i work on all kinds of vehicles every day, and i was confusing this style arm with a full size) if its 2wd, isnt the idler arm 1 piece? what is spinning? the 2 bolts going into the frame are nuts and bolts, so ull have to hold the other end with a socket.... and if you mean its spinning on the center link, then just put pressure on the joint holding it into the center link...... (you could vise grip it down if u want)

djturnz · 10-07-2008, 04:09 PM

The two bolts are still in the frame.

The bolt with the castle nut that attaches to the relay bar is what I am talking about. I broke the nut loose and now it is spinning with the nut. I don't see anywhere to get a hold of it to vise grip it. I tried to pound the pickle fork in to put tension on it again, but the fork just pushes out.

I may have to get out the Dremel and remove the nut sideways.

I also thought about cutting a slot in the screw head and using a big flat head to hold it. However I can't really get a wrench on it, I have to use a socket.

djturnz · 10-07-2008, 04:10 PM

Oh, it's 4wd. 97 Jimmy

GeorgesBlazah · 10-07-2008, 07:39 PM

You tried puttin pressure between the centerlink and the idler arm and then trying? You may need two poeple. Otherwise it looks like your gonna hafto cut that bitch off.

ls1s10onair · 10-07-2008, 08:04 PM

what i meant was vise grip the top of the idler arm to the center link.... if you put enough pressure on it, itll stop spinning

Yogi · 10-08-2008, 09:35 PM

Can you retighten the nut and get the taper to reseat, just a little? If you can get the taper to hold it, then you could back the nut off and then give the bolt a whack to get it out of the taper.

djturnz · 10-09-2008, 01:11 PM

I am going to have another try at on sunday. I may hafta cut it if I can't get it to sit still.

djturnz · 10-28-2008, 07:56 AM

I used a big C clamp and it was cake after that.

Thanks

10-07-2008, 08:26 AM	#1
djturnz Registered User Age: 29 Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 29 Location: User is: OffLine	Having trouble with Idler arm removal I cracked the nut loose, but now the shaft just spins so I can't get the nut off. I used a pickle fork to seperate the idler from the relay bar. How do I hold the post still so I can get the nut off? The book said I would need a puller, but I don't see how a puller would help. The fork did the job of the puller. Any ideas?
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-07-2008, 09:05 AM	#2
ls1s10onair Local Tech Age: 26 Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3,242 Location: westwood, nj User is: OffLine	Re: Having trouble with Idler arm removal it really helps if u have an impact gun..... is there a hex key hole in the end like the full sizes?
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-07-2008, 09:28 AM	#3
djturnz Registered User Age: 29 Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 29 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Having trouble with Idler arm removal No impact gun. No hex key hole at the nut end. I'm pretty sure the other end is sealed.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-07-2008, 09:35 AM	#4
ls1s10onair Local Tech Age: 26 Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3,242 Location: westwood, nj User is: OffLine	Re: Having trouble with Idler arm removal Quote: Originally Posted by djturnz No impact gun. No hex key hole at the nut end. I'm pretty sure the other end is sealed. wait a minute..... (sorry, i work on all kinds of vehicles every day, and i was confusing this style arm with a full size) if its 2wd, isnt the idler arm 1 piece? what is spinning? the 2 bolts going into the frame are nuts and bolts, so ull have to hold the other end with a socket.... and if you mean its spinning on the center link, then just put pressure on the joint holding it into the center link...... (you could vise grip it down if u want)
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-07-2008, 04:09 PM	#5
djturnz Registered User Age: 29 Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 29 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Having trouble with Idler arm removal The two bolts are still in the frame. The bolt with the castle nut that attaches to the relay bar is what I am talking about. I broke the nut loose and now it is spinning with the nut. I don't see anywhere to get a hold of it to vise grip it. I tried to pound the pickle fork in to put tension on it again, but the fork just pushes out. I may have to get out the Dremel and remove the nut sideways. I also thought about cutting a slot in the screw head and using a big flat head to hold it. However I can't really get a wrench on it, I have to use a socket.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-07-2008, 04:10 PM	#6
djturnz Registered User Age: 29 Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 29 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Having trouble with Idler arm removal Oh, it's 4wd. 97 Jimmy
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-07-2008, 07:39 PM	#7
GeorgesBlazah Slap my meat on your pita Age: 24 Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 7,215 Location: south jersey User is: OffLine	Re: Having trouble with Idler arm removal You tried puttin pressure between the centerlink and the idler arm and then trying? You may need two poeple. Otherwise it looks like your gonna hafto cut that bitch off.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-07-2008, 08:04 PM	#8
ls1s10onair Local Tech Age: 26 Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3,242 Location: westwood, nj User is: OffLine	Re: Having trouble with Idler arm removal what i meant was vise grip the top of the idler arm to the center link.... if you put enough pressure on it, itll stop spinning
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-08-2008, 09:35 PM	#9
Yogi Registered (Ab) User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 4,093 Location: League City, TX (Houston) User is: OffLine	Re: Having trouble with Idler arm removal Can you retighten the nut and get the taper to reseat, just a little? If you can get the taper to hold it, then you could back the nut off and then give the bolt a whack to get it out of the taper.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-09-2008, 01:11 PM	#10
djturnz Registered User Age: 29 Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 29 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Having trouble with Idler arm removal I am going to have another try at on sunday. I may hafta cut it if I can't get it to sit still.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-28-2008, 07:56 AM	#11
djturnz Registered User Age: 29 Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 29 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Having trouble with Idler arm removal I used a big C clamp and it was cake after that. Thanks
	[Reply w/Quote]