blackdeth666 Posted January 6, 2015 Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 So I'm working on lifting my 510. I'm in the process of making 'drop steering' and it came to the idler arm. I got this guy pretty hot in the process of reshaping it. I did this by cutting and turning the left side 180 degrees(side that looks like a ball joint) and then flopping the bushing side backwards in the 'hinge' . After I welded it and it cooled it looks like melted plastic oozed out of the ball joint. It came off in a hard chunk. Is that just baked grease?? To my understanding a ball joint is all steel. There was a rubber bushing but I removed it before heating it up. Quote Link to comment
wayno Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 The 720 idler arms have a plastic sleeve inside of them, it's not very thick. Quote Link to comment
bananahamuck Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 I don't think there is perfect answer, some have plastic/rubber inside and some don't ,, depending on manufacturer. Try putting ( suspending in somehow) the end that has ball into pail of cold water with part to be welded out of water ,, sometimes that helps. 2 Quote Link to comment
HRH Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Lifting a 510? Baja? Why not just reinforce the rail and make a drop bracket for the whole unit? Or put on a different idler arm from a different vehicle. Might have to ream out the center link hole, but certainly doable. 1 Quote Link to comment
MicroMachinery Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 The idler bicep. 2 Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 On the 620 it's a bronze bushing. Looks like there are plastic parts (end caps?) in the picture. Best bet is to pull it apart. Quote Link to comment
blackdeth666 Posted January 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2015 I took the large side (right) all apart, the left side looks to be like a ball joint. I took the rubber dust seal off, the rest doesn't come apart at all... I'm thinking the molten lava plastic stuff that oozed out during the welding was just grease that boiled out and hardened as it cooled. the tapered end still spins smoothly in the ball socket. I might just install it and keep an eye on it. Or, take a walk around the wrecking yard and see if I cant adapt one from another car or truck. I've also pondered ditching the original setup and using a 280z rack and pinion (mounted behind the front cross member). HRH- I did think about dropping the steering box, but It is so close to the firewall that linking it to the steering column would be next to impossible without having some crazy u-joint angles I was trying to keep this build quiet and share it when its all done, but I guess since i've leaked a little info, I better share an oic or 2.... Quote Link to comment
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