Idler Arm

1. Raise the vehicle. Support the vehicle with jack stands. Allow the front wheels to rotate freely and the steering mechanism freedom to turn. Position the wheels in a straight ahead position.
- The front differential carrier shield must be removed to access idler arm and steering linkage.
2. Place a spring scale near the relay rod end of the idler arm. Exert a 110 N (25 Lb) force upward and then downward (the force is forward and rearward) while measuring the total distance the arm moves. The total allowable movement is 2 mm (0.080 inch). Replace the idler arm if it exceeds this test.

NOTE:
- Jerking the right wheel and tire assembly back and forth, causing an up and down movement of the idler arm, is NOT an acceptable testing procedure. There is no control on the amount of force being applied to the idler arm.
- Diagnose carefully whenever shimmy complaints are suspected of being caused by loose idler arms. Before inspecting suspension or steering components, technicians should consider areas such as dynamic imbalance, runout, or force variation of wheel and tire assemblies, and road surface irregularities.