It doesn't seem like anyone else has had this problem, so why is it just me? I ordered the MOOG idler arm the other day and I finally got around to trying to install it today. It bolted up fine, but when I went to attach the center link it would NOT fit, at all. Only 1 thread was showing. So I took and put the idler arm end in ice and took a torch to the steering link. After about 30 min of ice and 5 min of heat the parts still wouldn't fit any better. So I finally said screw it and dremeled the steering link out to get it to fit (flame me later) and started the castle nut. After about 3 full turns the nut became really easy to turn, and I knew that wasn't good. The threads in the nut are shredded , and it was nowhere close to being near the cotter pin hole. Please help me, I am at my wits end and I want to know if I missed something, did it wrong or if I just have to go get an entirly new front steering linkage because of my boneheadedness.

 

Hmm... When I installed my moog idler arm I had none of these problems.

I put it up on the fenderwell? Where in normally mounts, and tightened the screws enough to hold the arm in place, but not snugged down at all. I then went to work on the center link, I got the piece lined up and pushed it in as far as I could. Then as I kept wiggling and pushing on the two parts I had my friend slowly turn the steering wheel. After just a few seconds it found that perfect angle and it slid all together. I then tightened up the castle nut and called it a day.

Good luck, hopefully its not permanently damaged.

 

Thats why the nuts are usually made of a slightly softer metal. You probably just need some patience and another nut. Good luck.

 

yea mine went together pretty easily, you've probably done this already, but closely inspect both the arm and steering linkage hole to make sure there are no burrs or anything else that would prevent the two parts from going together. The shaft on the ball joint is tapered so it is only supposed to go so far before the force of tightening the nut is required to get it all the way on, get another nut and play around with different angles on both the ball joint and steering linkage, it should go together with no problems. good luck

 

Mine went right in....

 

lol, insert innuendo here.

 

oops, reposted myself

 

just a thought here...maybe they sent you the wrong part by mistake

 

what's the part# for the moog idler arm?

My header just roasted the bushing outta my stock one...

 

Just go to www.rockauto.com and do the rundown for the right part number. If you're exhaust is melting bushings like that, I'd say there's a good chance that your timing is too far retarded. I get nowhere near that amount of heat off my RB header.

 

thanks for the info


It happened while I was fiddling with the motor. I had it idling with the choke on at about 2000rpm for a few minutes until it warmed up so there was no airflow to keep things cool. So I don't think there would be any problems with my timing since it runs great with lots of power otherwise.

 

Any chance somebody could post a pic of this idler arm compared to the stock unit? My turbo sits pretty snug against the stock unit, so if the Moog unit sits any farther away from the frame rail, it likely won't fit.

 

Lots of info and pics of the Moog idler arm on this thread https://www.rx7club.com/1st-gen-archive-71/steering-idler-bushing-problem-illustrated-513792/

 

Or, what everyone else is forgetting is the possibility that I am just a jackass. I had to replace all the steering linkage due to a wreck, so I decided to upgrade, but when I reinstalled the center link, I put it on upside down. It will not fit over the idler arm upside down, but it will fit over the pitman arm, go figure. Appreciate the help, but it just goes to show you that it is usually the simplest solution to the most frustrating problem.

 

Wow, I don't think I would have ever thought of that one! Thanks for admitting to us what the cause was...

 

Thanks, looks like from the pics it should fit fine. Another item on the to-do list for the cold season.

 

Unfortunately, since you have been grinding on the tapered shaft of your new arm, you might want to bite the bullet and buy a new one. If it doesn't fit well once the center link is installed upright, it may cause undue wear on the hole in the link. While this may be extreme, steering is a major safety item and if it binds when you need to turn, replacing the arm is cheaper than body and paint work.

 

I didn't grind too much away, it fits fine. But when I finally get the car off the stands I will test drive in the parking lot near my house to make sure everything is still good.