after reading all the posts on replacing the bushings I did. But in the process I noticed the bracket attached to the frame rail didn't exactly match the pics in my manual, or posted here. It's upside down. Between the hole for the bolt and the cylinder for the idler arm, there is a flat side and a curved side. All the pics have the flat side down. Mine was, and still is, with new bushings, curved side down.

Which is right side up? Does it matter? Thanks.

 

 

that doesn't address his question, Gavin.

 

I think that's the after market idler arm. Mine is stock. Does the orientation matter? Thoughts?

 

The tapered shaft of the arm goes into the top of the center link, castellated nut goes on the bottom. While the posted pic isn't the best, the orientation is correct.

 

well look at it this way

 

thanks guys, I'm confident I have the tapered arm oriented right, but the mounting unit that attaches to the chassis rail has a 50 / 50 chance of being right side up, or upside down. It appears the difference is in how angled forward the arm pivots. I may try switching it and see if it behaves different.

 

for posterity, in case anyone references this topic in the future, the orientation of the bracket that mounts on the frame rail appears to matter. I flipped it to match the pictures in my manual. The car used to wander, or "hunt" as it drove at highway speeds. After I flipped the bracket the car tracks better. The person who worked on it last had installed it upside down.

the correct orientation is with the flat metal side between the barrel and the hole for the bolt down, and the curved side up. It also causes the whole bracket to ride lower and angle more toward the front of the car.

I don't have pics, but this thread shows the way I think is correct

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-gen-archive-71/steering-idler-bushing-problem-illustrated-513792/