For 1990-2009 cars only
- Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
- Allow the front wheels to rotate freely and the steering mechanism freedom to turn.
- Position the wheels in the straight ahead position.
- Place a spring scale near the relay rod end of the idler arm (2).
- Exert 110 N (25 lb) force upward and then downward (2) while measuring the total distance the arm moves.
- Replace the idler arm if the measurements are not within the specified range.
Important:
• Do not jerk the right tire and wheel assembly back and forth,
causing an up-and-down movement of the idler arm. This is not an acceptable
testing procedure because there is no control on the amount of force being
applied to the idler arm. • Use care whenever loose idler arms are suspected of causing shimmy
complaints. Before suspecting suspension or steering components, consider
the following areas: - Dynamic imbalance - Runout - Force variation of tire and wheel assemblies
Refer to
Tire and Wheel Vibration
in Vibration
Diagnosis and Correction.
- Road surface irregularities
The allowable deflection is 3.18 mm (1/8 in) from the center for a total of 6.35 mm (¼ in) (1).
