How do idler arms work

Today's vehicles typically have either a parallelogram or a rack and pinion steering system. The parts of parallelogram steering systems include the pitman arm, center link, idler arm, and the two tie rods. The idler arm is designed to keep the center link parallel to the road surface while allowing the connection to swivel both left and right. The pitman arm is attached to the gearbox; it turns the center link as the driver steers the vehicle.

The idler arm should be lubricated at every oil change. The idler arm, along with other suspension components, should be inspected annually along with a complete wheel alignment. The most common vehicle symptoms associated with a worn idler arm include wandering, tire edge wear, and loose or erratic steering.

Some vehicles may need to replace the idler arm and pitman arm together. Replacement parts may not be too expensive, but oftentimes the steering components take a fair amount of time to assemble and test.

Typically, an alignment is also required when adjusting or replacing idler arms. If you have questions about your vehicle's idler arm or would like an estimate to repair or replace these parts, please contact us. Thirty Day Exchange Guarantee. N ationwide Road Hazard Warranty. Nitrogen Inflation. Request an Appointment. Toggle navigation Dunn Tire.

Both the Idler arm and the Pitman Arm are used on vehicles with conventional suspension systems and parallelogram steering. Rear-wheel-drive vehicles and most light trucks are the vehicles on which this suspension system and parallelogram steering are used. The Pitman arm is the main player whereas the idler arm is a pivoting support for the steering linkage.

The pitman arm usually consists of a splined arm, a threaded bearing stud and a seat. The splined arm connects with the steering gear and the upper part of the bearing stud is made to connect to the centre link of the steering linkage.