Idler Arm Replacement

[SkunkedAgain]

I thought that some of you might find this interesting:

A month ago my mechanic told me that my 2003 F150 needed new lower ball joints and idler arm. I had him do the ball joints but, until I sell my other truck, am low in the savings account and told him to hold off on the idler arm.

Wednesday night I started working on the idler arm myself. I bought a ball joint fork but couldn't pry the idler arm out of the control arm. I soaked it with liquid wrench and gave it a few taps. I then tried using all three of my gear pullers to get the idler arm out. Nothing. I banged the stud with a hammer. Nothing.

I let it sit 24 hours and worked on it again last night. I still couldn't get it to budge no matter what I did. I threw a pitman puller on there and tried several times. I couldn't turn it any more. Nothing.

I'm laying under the truck, trying to think of what to try next and then BANG!!! It popped out finally. Wow, what a PITA for what should have been a 30 minute repair!

No worries, I'll be giving my local shop a lot more work once I sell that other truck!

[Jeremy airjer W]

Quote:

couldn't pry the idler arm out of the control arm

I hope you meant the center link and not the lower control arm

[SkunkedAgain]

Yup, center link. Control arm does sound a little dumb!