Just changed 2006 Duramax idler, bracket and pitman arm. Cut shaft on pitman arm puller to fit between sub frame and steering box shaft and this was key to entire job. No tap dancing noises

@Vacmasterthegreat Whichever has more play. usually its' the idler that needs to be done most. The idler is pretty easy to do once you watch this video.

I (finally) replaced mine today, but the one I bought came as a whole assembly. so all I had to do was pop the one end off with the fork and take the two bolts out and swap old for new. though I found it easier to cut the 2 bolts off and replace them, because they were really stuck.

great help thanks for the video.

I removed my idler/pitman arm on my 82 corolla the hard way: hammer, air hammer, pickle, brute force...etc...if ONLY I had just borrowed the pitman arm puller in the first place...haha, good info...and I agree on the NAPA/AUTOZONE/ETC parts...for the age of my car, I'm lucky to even get parts to begin with though :(

Thanks a lot for quick nutshell advise. I almost grossly under estimated time and resource on an Avallanche. That would have been fun

If your steering is crazy or you have uneven tire wear or if your car pulls to one side.

If it were very bad. (had play or wiggled while turning the wheel under load.)

I was trying to find what this thing was called. Now i know. I will be dioing this to an 03 silverado 2500HD

great tip thanks amigo

Ive had good luck with the napa premium house brand

Me again, sorry. The dealer (Youngs) did various pressure tests and said the front pump is causing too high pressure and the electronic pressure control solenoid is sluggish but not the main cause. It is a GM Goodwrench trans with between 93 and 94000 miles on it (coincidental on the years, I know) that otherwise works great and goes into lock-up just smooth and fine. I don't want these hard shifts to break anything so I drive it sparingly (freeway) until I can get it repaired

great vid!!

Thanks, Brian. That comment about quality parts is worth remembering. Last summer I bought a thermostat that lasted 6 weeks before my engine overheated. Failed (new) part from a discount parts store.

Brian you should have your own show on TV. By far your instructional videos are the best

25 people with a thumbs down that have NEVER made a video before. Excellent video! Good tip on Moog. I'm getting ready to replace my idler and pitman and have seen several guys say to use them. Idler seems easier to remove from truck compared to removing the steering gearbox. So I'll certainly be following your advice.

@briansmobile1 another ?, when I had the truck looked at, the mechanic was able to wiggle the centerlink and he said that was because of the idler. when I put the car up in the air, I yanked and twisted on everything in the front, and I couldn't get anything to move. truck drives straight and doesn't shake even at 85mph, but the wheel is off center.

Should you replace both idler and pitman arms together? It would seem they would both be under the same kind of stress. I have a 97 blazer and both seem to have play in them. It's like I'm driving the Mystery Machine from Scooby Doo (turning the wheel back and forth and back and forth while going in a straight line).

thats right lifetime warranty : o )

one more question regarding replacing the idler arm, which I am finally going to buckle down and do! would the idler arm make a popping sound when I make sharp turns at slow speeds? if I make a sharp turn, the right side of the truck almost jumps when the wheel is turned all the way in motion

Thanks Brian. I'm now feeling a little bolder about this project.

@Vacmasterthegreat I fail to detect a ? but it may just need an alignment. Another question to consider is does it bump steer? An do you look like you're sawing lumber with the steering wheel?

I wish i would have saw this video about 3 months ago when i replaced the idler arm on my truck. I had to use an air chisel to get the stupid thing off, and i got SUPER pissed! Good video's man, keep it up! 5/5.

@briansmobile1 ok thanks. I have thrown too much money at this truck, considering it's my backup/around town driver, but I don't need completely falling apart.

Thanks for posting - you saved me a lot of grief switching out the idler arm on my Escalade!

Your videos provide a wealth of information that is appreciated! Moog is a great brand overall. However on my 93 & 94 Astros (2wd and 2 idlers) the Moog provides terrible handling (even after alignment) with their ball and socket design. GM uses a "threaded" design which allows limited rotation that a ball and socket doesn't. The TRW HD idlers offer the best handling and durability for these cars. Each one has well over 100,000 on their idlers with no abnormal tire wear and great handling.

MOOG is Gooooooood stuff. Nice vid

thanks for the vid! changing the pitman/idler arm today!

Inspect your steering damper and idler for binding. This may entail isolating them by unbolting other linkages from them.

The idler arm was a bitch getting off from the steering linkage, pickle fork failed sledge hammer failed but with pitman arm puller did a loud pop and came out. Pitman removal was easy.

You're welcome!

Thanks man your video helped a lot

awesome, you were extremely helpful. saved me and my husband a lot of money on replacing our idler arm. thanks!!

Another good one.You,Scotty,and Eric have the best auto repair videos on You Tube. Manny thanks and have a happy holiday.

@ADPTraining Thanks. Will do.

Thanx, answered my question. I was trying to take it apart from under the truck

You're welcome Stig!

Great video. It'll do yo good to look into a waist mounted camera stabilizer. They're not that expensive. Nice information though....

The Lisle recommendation is a good one. Some pullers are too narrow but it's easy to widen the gap using a flap disc in an angle grinder.

@605manuel June and July I have several scheduled. There's one on jetting coming up this week some time.

@Vacmasterthegreat YES.

@gunhillandassociates The foam rubber washers MOOG provides are fine.

Subscribed. Probably one of the best sources for truck repair for sure! Great descriptive content. Wish I had seen your videos a while back before I had to figure out how to get the pitman arm off the steering box. Another video didn't show the puller bottoming out on the frame. Same conclusion...just took the gearbox out. One tip if you don't have an air ratchet is to tighten the puller with all you've got and give the pitman arm a couple taps with a hammer, tighten bolt again another couple of taps and mine came right off. Nothing damaging....just getting it to break loose off the spline.

make some dirt bike videos plz

Great info! Thank you!

I noticed you used the old idler arm bracket... at what point would you replace that with a new one?

@Vacmasterthegreat With the engine off have an assistant move the steering wheel back and forth the amount of play without moving the tires. This will reveal what's moving and creating play. Could also be ball joints.

hello thank you for your explanations!, I am French and I have a chevy blazer, your advice was very helpful! thank you again eric

You'll like the MOOG!

Oops, understand the process b/c there are many reasons I need to be knowledgable. I appreciate your willingness to video & post, just wish I knew where I could find a great mechanic someone I feel I could trust like you. I will be checking back in off & on, but thank you again :-))

i am using the pitman arm puller for the idling arm too. i just got dobe take off the old pitman arm and i had to use a breaker bar and cheater bar for it.

I was told for my 91 sonoma that I need an idler and a center link. for the average get-by garage mechanic, which piece, if I had to choose 1, would be the most important to replace? and which one is easier and less expensive? thanks

@wisewiener1 You're welcome! And thanks for the tip.

Great vid Bri... Keep up the awesome educational vids man!

@peelout40 Sounds like you came away a better, smarter man. Way to go!

brian. thanks for the video. going to try and do idler this weekend. had pitman done at shop. think I can do idler. im a machinist. not a mechanic. anyways. just would like you to know that your doing a great job with the videos. keep it up. thanks. chris

@CURBECK Thanks ; )

@spelunkerd Your repairs are as good as the parts you put in and the methods/habits you have.

@Vacmasterthegreat Yes it's certainly possible.

I use parts from Detroit axle. 5 year guarantee and priced well. I just got a 13 piece front end kit for my 01 k2500 suburban for $168.

thanks brian , good video. thumbs up

@MusiikN0w Thanks!

No. Not properly.

@TheeMarquisSadiq Thanks man!

Moog actually has been having problems last few years they now are made out of the country and often times identical part #s have different fittings and hardware and dumb stuff. The biggest news is that they do not last. My dad and I run our own station and we discontinued the use of moog entirely.

@SkilledEddie

10 жыл бұрын

That is sad. I'm going to rebuild my steering components this summer in my 1997 tahoe now I don't know what brand parts to buy. I was going to buy Moog tie rod ends, pitman arm and idler arm. I heard Moog is now made in China who the hell do i go with now? damn this is really sucking that you can't find quality stuff anymore!

Hi again! However, off topic, how are you with the 4L60E transmissions (the 94)? I'm looking at pulling it, replacing the pump and seals, the electronic pressure control solenoid, filter, fluid and rear main seal on the engine. It has started to engage into drive or reverse (especially drive) very harshly and the 1-2 shift is very hard the first couple of shifts but still always too firm. Regardless all shifts have a "forward thrust" which was never there before. It is worst in the cold.

I have play in my my linkage like a bad tie rod. Problem is though i ive been over all the joints & everything is tight!! When i jack the front end wiggle tire left to right u can def feel play. Driving me crazy!! Only thing left is a bad steering gear? It is leaking too, topside. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks for the advice I did have the debate to buy a moog or not and I am sure I made my choice now. BTW GoPro definitely will make your video superb.

good info thanks! why would I need an alignment?

@briansmobile1 what do you mean by sawing lumber?do you mean like constantly having to readjust the wheel to keep the car in the lane? if so, I get a lot of that.

You're welcome. Thanks for watching!

Yep just sub'd. And yea thumbs down on info like this is sketchy lol. Bout to do the bracket, idler and pitman myself, so any info to get this done easier is a bonus for me.

@Dagothdaleet Cut it off with a cut off tool or use and impact gun.

lol I would on my own car. It's just up to the owner.

So does this make vehicle shake at between 75-85

First Brian, thank you for posting the video. The reason this video was extremely helpful is b/c I am a single woman trying to I

@1elAguila You bet. Thanks as always for watching.

@BIGW0RD You're welcome! Thanks for commenting!

@archifxllc Thanks. Will do. I needed that tonight = )

@blkwizzard50 Heck ya!

If it's bad.

@bretbenge You're MOST welcome and thanks for the comment!

Do you know if they make them for a 1997 chevy blazer 4x4?

TNX for the vid! One question though - if all you are replacing is the idler, and the pitman remains connected the whole time, then why the need for an alignment? The idler arm connects to a bearing that just spins and has no memory or alignment. I ask because I am upgrading to a huge idler arm, and plan on swapping arms without an alignment. Thanks!

back again! I replaced the idler arm and I still feel like I'm sawing wood. steering is a little bit tighter, but not much different than before. what does that mean I need to look at replacing next? tie rods?

Yes. "How to replace your Power Steering Gear Box!"

@anscfoster Thanks for the feedback- hope you enjoy the vids. I enjoy empowering and entertaining folks. I also like to hear from them now and then.

Do you recommend replacing the idler arm bracket with the idler arm?

How tight does the idler arm need to be on the pivot?

How can you tell if you need to replace the part that goes into the bracket itself?

Where does the rubber washer go? My box has nk instructions. Yes I bought moog.

Yes it is guy below me.. and to solve your info and video comment, camera stand/holder/tripod Brian! Lol

I just had my idler & bracket & pitman arm changed on my 2003 GMC Yukon (2wd) and now my steering seems very stiff. If I am driving down the highway and change lanes the steering wheel stay in the direction I turned the wheel. I have to physically center it back up every time. If I turn a corner, the wheel doesn't spin all the way back to center like it used to... its about 1/4 turn shy from centering itself back up. any suggestions ?? I didn't get moog I think I got Federated auto parts

I need to buy a pitman arm puller but they come in different sizes. Which size do you suggest for my 2004 silverado 1500?

if these are bad will it feel like your front wheels wander across the road while your driving or with the slightest bump??

hey brian iam going to have to replace my pitman arm on my 1990 Chevy k1500 the gearbox is wore out as well so iam replacing it could you tell me how to get the new gear box shafts in line the way the old one came out? i know there is a flat spot you have to line up on the pinchbolt on the colum part and 4 flatspots on the pitman arm shaft just need to know how to get the shafts on the new gearbox lined up the same way my old one is when I take it off! if you can help me with that I appreciate it! thanks!

Hello, I didn't put on a Moog one but a house brand. It's a 89 Chevy C1500 and I replaced it twice! The tie rods will hyper extend and the passenger side wheel won't turn!? The idler are will spin around where's it's facing the front! The ball joints are original, that won't cause tension on that side will it? Thanks

I couldn't see, bad lighting

hey just attempted to do pittman and idler on a 97 c3500 dually and i cant break the idler arm free i have tried everything i can think of....the pittman arm came off no problem but when i go to hit the idler with the pickle fork it seems to hit a spot where it wont go any further almost like im hitting solid metal but it doesnt matter from which angle.....any help is appreciated i dont check this often so try me at 1three0four2seven9one0nine7

What year Chevy truck?