Idler Arm!

[Tulok]

I cannot get my stinkin Idler arm off. the bushing is shot so I'm going to replace it.
I loosen the 18mm nut on the bottom of the subframe, now how on earth am I supposed to get the bolt out of the top?

[AHenry014]

take off the heatsheilds with the various 10mm screws if theyre in the way. other than that i havent had trouble getting the bolt out of the top on both v8 and i6 cars. whats in the way?

[Tulok]

I guess it is just the heat shields... I don't have it on a lift so my neck gets frustrated pretty quickly. Heh heh. I just wanted to make sure there werent any hidden bolts.

[AHenry014]

nope! and AFAIK all the heat sheild bolts are accessable from below. dont remember exactly since my sheilds went straight into the trash when they came off.

[Tulok]

nope! and AFAIK all the heat sheild bolts are accessable from below. dont remember exactly since my sheilds went straight into the trash when they came off.

mine are going to the recycling pile. haha!

[Larry Watson 3]

what does AFAIK mean?

[RVAE34]

as far as I ...??

[Russellc]

I think you need a tools such as tie rod puller to remove the idler arm.

[Baupfhor]

as far as I ...??

Know

[Tulok]

I think you need a tools such as tie rod puller to remove the idler arm.

You mean ball joint puller? yes, or a pickle fork. If you replace the idler arm it will come with a new ball joint.

[SteveMD]

You mean ball joint puller? yes, or a pickle fork. If you replace the idler arm it will come with a new ball joint.

The idler arm joint is actually part of the center link. Some pullers will pop the joint stud out of the idler arm w/o damage to the joint but not ye olde pickle fork which likes to mangle the grease boot.