i have a pitman arm, idler arm, and tie-rods coming from FirmFeel in the mail and was wondering if any of you guys have tips on replacing them?
i bought a 3 jaw puller from sears today and am going to buy a grease gun as well. are there any other tools i should pickup to make the change go a little smoother?

is there anything i can do now to expedite the process?

any idea on the socket size for the idler arm? i know it's bigger than 1", maybe 1 1/8"?

any advice is much appreciated.

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70 Plymouth Valiant 4dr

Pitman Arm comes off easier with a tight 2 jaw pitman arm puller (most local members have used mine...it has paid for itself ($40 from K-D).

The tierods will require- loosening the tiebolt bolts both ends, loosening the lower control arm pivot nuts, unloading the lower control arm bolts, pulling the torsion bar clips, then possibly taking the lower ball joint loose of the lower control arm along with the shocks, prying the lower control arms back with a crowbar (or running the pivot nuts out to the end and smacking with BFH)....

Assemble in reverse after tie rods and bushing are installed... if you have a sway bar, unload that first...

Good Luck,

-D.idiot

yes
No
Tie rods are between the lower ball joint/steering arm, and the steering /drag/center link at the pitman arm on one side and the idler arm on the other side. All you need to change them is a "tie rod puller", or a "pickel fork". No need to loosen/disconnect anything on the suspension. Remember to get an alignment (at least a toe setting) when done.

Good Luck,

PS: The large nut is on the pitmant arm, not the idler arm.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

Boy you can tell I was awake...I was thinking strut rods...
Thanks Charlie.

Thinking back on this subject, a good thing to check is the fit of the pitman arm stud, idler arm stud and tie rod studs in the center link
I have a couple of centerlinks where the studs have wallowed out
the holes and they are no longer any good to be used.

-D.Idiot

they forgot to send me the zerk (grease) fittings for my tie rods

off to the parts store.

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70 Plymouth Valiant 4dr