Idler Arm

It's all right if you sometimes wander about (whatever you take that to mean). But if it's your steering system that's doing the wandering, you'd better do something. Steering wander, or the wheels' side-to-side drifting and loss of directional stability, is most likely caused by the malfunctioning of a part in the steering linkage called the idler arm. Although this part has the term "idle" in it, it's not in any way like that, because this arm helps transmit every inch of turn of the steering wheel to your wheels. It functions together with the pitman arm to track down and control the steering links. At one end, it's attached to a frame bracket with a pivot; while at the other, it connects to the center link through a ball joint. Thus, it keeps the center link at its proper height while serving as a steadying support for the whole steering linkage at the same time. Though this arm handles less stress than the Pitman arm, it's the steering component that's most prone to wear and tear. It's got its own assembly of bushings, washers, nuts, and grease seals that you have to watch closely. You must especially keep tabs on tattered bushings, because they're the first to fail in an idler assembly. Regular checkup and maintenance is thus very important in keeping it in good condition. Now, if you need a replacement for this part, you need not wander like your steering system. Get an idler arm replacement from Auto Parts Warehouse and enjoy our affordable prices now!