whats up guys, i dont post much over here because i have a offroad desert truck but i love the minitruck scene and have been a part of a club for going on 10 years. anyway i was wondering if there would be interest in an upgraded idler and pitman arms set? i have a guy that is looking at building some of these and i figured if us desert guys could use them, the minitruckers might have a use too. i dont have any pics or specs yet but i was told the prototype wont be done for up to 3 weeks from yesterday. i do know that they will be using a bronze bushing and made from some good tubing not the crappy plastic that brakes and deteriorates quick. as soon as the pics and full specs come up i will post them in this thread.

 

sweet i might be interested have to save and get a header & 5speed in my truck first

 

I may be interested also.

 

I do not see any issues with stock or lowered trucks with idler arm issues. It is the steering angle of the lifted 2wd trucks that puts premature wear on these items. My 93 2wd has 80k on it with the original idler arm with no play at all. Plus if you are talking about a gussetted bracket that you bolt on to your original idler arm, they do not work. Had a Downey one on my lifted 87 and it did not make any difference. The idler arms still wore out as usual.

James

 

IDK much about lifted trucks. But how does the steering linkage get affected by the lift/drop??? And what would the parts help with?

 

with long travel trucks like mine, the extra leverage from the suspension traveling in its full cycle puts a lot of strain on the idlers weak plastic bushings and wears them out really quick, like over the weekend if you abuse it. also like JamesD said, the angle of the steering will have a big effect and the extra strain from larger/heaver tires can bend the idler and that will throw the alignment and steering geometry way out of wack.

 

it just so happens both of these are parts I need. I would be interested in seeing detailed pictures of the prototype and the final product. Also, What will the final cost be?

 

i was told between $200-$300 and core would be need

 

wow, well I would be interested in seeing a final product for sure.

 

its been awhile but i finaly got a pic of what these will look like installed if anyone is still interested.

 

ya post it up.. would be interesting to see it. I know the abuses from off road and mini trucking are totally different, but still you cant go wrong with overkill suspension

 

I want a set...

 

ok, total price is $275+shipping if needed. he will also need a core of our stock idler and pitman arm because these use the tapered ends to mount up to the stock center link. let me know if you are serious and want a set.

 

ok just got these in the mail today. final price is $300 shipped anywhere and the guy takes paypal. the price went up a little to cover the shipping cost( cause they are kind of heavy), payapl fees, and for the gusset he added to the idler. he also needs a core of a stock idler and pitman arm. they bolt up to the stock center link and they are made of 4130 chromoly tubing and are tig welded. the idler rotates super smooth and uses a bronze bushing so there will be no flex. if you want a set let me know.

 

those look beastly

 

hmm....... im interested. any flex elimination in our steering setup would be nice. im sure it would clean up steering response like nuts over the stockies.

now question, are these stock length? or did he lengthen these to quicken response? i know some of the off road guys use a few methods to quicken the response in steering by either shortening or lengthening (dont remember) to maximize the steering rate to quicken the response a little...... kinda the same effect as a steering shaft planetary reduction unit.

 

i havent measured or installed them yet but im pretty sure they are very close to stock length and angle. i will measure them once i wake up later today.

 

You dont need them for lowered trucks, the reason that they are needed on long travel trucks is from bumpsteer not suspension articulation, this is why the downey idler arm gusset works because it prevents the arm from breaking, and the bronze bushings are used because the plastic bushings crack from the load of the large tires, they can be made at any machine shop for about $25. When I built my desert truck I did alot of research, and the best low cost was the idler arm gusset and bronze bushings, $60. VS $350. and it was tried and tested. I preran about 10 tracks and jumped the truck about 40 times from 3ft to 7 ft. The bronze bushings would be the only benefit to a lowered truck, because it would remove some steering slop. The better place to try to sell would be ttora.

 

i know the benefits, im just giving the option to people if they want it....

 

Of all the Toyota idler arms I have taken apart, I never seen one with plastic bushings, just bronze. The Downey one sucks and does not do crap! I had it on my truck and it did not make a difference. Besides the correct way to get the steering suspension geometry correct is to use drop spindles and if someone wanted lower than that, make a tie rod bumpsteer kit kind of like the ones they use on Foxbody Mustangs: