With 125K on my stock steering system, and running 32" and 33" for the last 5 years, I'm surprised I am just now starting to have issues.

As a start, I picked up a new idler arm from Autozone, branded as Duralast. All the other parts stores had "stock" looking stamped arms, at ridiculous prices (over $100).

This one is a completely different design, all cast and machined, and bolted right in no problem. This one was only $45 and seems way beefier.

Has anyone seen these yet? I know there was a design issue, but was Duralast the only one to redesign theses?

edit: it also carries a life-time warrantee

I've never seen one before, but it does look a lot beefier.

Duralast is Auto Zone's own branding name so it is certainly made by someone else, but someone took the time to reengineer the part. Where was the part made? It has to say somewhere on the box or part.

Funny you should ask . . . It's actually made right here in the US! It's good to see we still make decent parts and can sell them for competitive prices. . .

I've been using disposable Duralast parts for years (pads, rotors/drums. . . ) and can't say anything bad about them.

Nice! Great to see we still do make something.

How are you going to put a brace on that?

It doesn't look like it will need one.

All cast...it should hold up well.

damn!
That looks stout!

That does look stout.
might be hard to create a brace for it, but it looks stronger than stock

There isn't anywhere to brace this because it has already been "braced" by re-engineering the connection plate and joint type (same balljoint as at the centerlink) and the relocation of the joint much lower, closer to the axis of the centerlink. I think you would sheer the connection at the center link before anything happened here.

For the engineers out there, note that the moment arm was significantly decreased here.

I'm just excited that someone took the time to fix a known problem

Looks interesting. I need to replace my OEM, and am thinking on this.

Has anyone tried this with the grassroots/hoohaa centerlink? I was wondering how the ball joint on the idler arm would hold up when attached to the stronger grassroots/hoohaa set-up.

k_enn

Kenn,

I don't think its a ball joint I think (didn't take it apart) its a greasable bearing/shaft configuration. It has no lateral play. Pretty stout!