Part Identification

[Spawn]

I'm needing some help to determine what a part is.  It's related to the suspension/steering, and it's got some play in it forward and back which I think is causing a bad vibration while I'm driving.  Does anyone happen to know what the part is called so I can try hunting for a replacement? It is the L-shaped piece that bolts to the frame rail and then goes back toward the rear of the truck and has two bushings connected at the end. The piece of the part that goes up into the part that's mounted on the frame is the part the has some play back and forth along the same plane as the frame rail.

 

[wayno]

That is an idler arm. :)

[G-Duax]

I bought a new one off eBay.

[Rick-rat]

Got mine from Rockauto

[G-Duax]

Those tie rod ends don't look so healthy either, and they are available on eBay & rockauto.

[Draker]

You'll end up loving rock auto... that is until they don't have what you're looking for. Then you know your fucked and you'll have to dig deep into your wallet.

[sebpv]

then there's parstrain and amazon

[red13]

If you are going to replace that i recommend all steering bits

[Spawn]

Thanks guys!  I'm looking for the idler arm now on RockAuto and Parts Train.  To me it looked like the idler arm on the passenger side of the truck was different from the driver's side.  Does that seem right?  From what I recall the driver side unit looked like it also was part of the steering box where the steering wheel shaft comes down into.  I should have grabbed a photo of that side as well.

[datzenmike]

Yes the steering arm is called the pitman arm and it is turned by the steering box through the use of the steering wheel. The idler arm simply supports and transmits the turning motion from the pitman arm to the right side wheel.

[Spawn]

Thanks datzenmike!  So the driver's side is called the pitman arm, and the passenger side is the idler arm?  I guess it makes sense why they called it an idler arm as it's simply an idle component that assists the steering from the pitman arm.

[Spawn]

Ok, back at it again finally.  I am hoping that someone out there knows where I can find replacement upper link spindle kits?  According to this page: http://www.carpartsmanual.com/datsun/pickup-1972-1979/axle/front-suspension/to-jul-77/links-shock-absorber  it's item #9, which is made up of all of items #10, 11, 12, 13, 14 & 15.  I was pulling my whole upper control arm assemblies off of the 620 because the one side of the upper link spindle was moving smoothly, but the other side was extremely stiff.  I'll try and post up some pictures if needed.

[Spawn]

Allright, now for the OIC's:

 

The upper control arm assembly:

 

The nut & dust cover on the end of each of the arms:

 

The nut on the end of the arm:

 

And the dust cover/boot on the nut/arm:

 

I'm trying to find replacements for either the whole upper link spindle kit with the nuts and dust covers and such, or at a minimum get replacements for the nuts and dust covers.  I'm hoping that someone may happen to know where I might be able to find replacements, as I'm not sure how well the nuts and dust covers are going to come off of the separate arms due to the rust and such.

[red13]

Thwres replacements on eBay seller from,Mexico, the dust boots are NLA

[datzenmike]

 

Remove that plug on the end and install grease fitting and grease it.

 

 Can you post a picture the spindle? The two end 'nuts' thread onto the spindle ends don't they?

[Spawn]

Sorry for the delay guys.  Haven't been over to the shop due to work.  We did remove the plugs, and were planning on installing zerk fittings if we weren't able to find kits.  red13, my buddy searched all over the internet, including eBay, but wasn't able to find the parts.  He did find the lower spindle bolts and nuts, which I ordered from Mexico (should be here around March 6th!).  I do know that the lower spindle nuts were badly worn on the exterior threads, to the point where you could barely make out that it was threaded.  I will try and remember to get some photos when I'm back at the shop.  As for the upper, we're hoping that we can remove the nuts from each of the arms to clean things up and re-use them if needed.  datzenmike, you are correct that the spindle with the two mounting holes in it is indeed threaded at each end and those threaded ends go into the inside of the 'nuts' which I believe are also threaded on the outside of the nut to thread into the arm.  We just haven't built up enough courage to try and separate them from the arms, for fear of wrecking either part and then being completely SOL!!  I'll grab a picture of the spindle by itself, as I did manage to clean it up after I got it removed from each of the nuts at each end.  The spindle does have a hole on each end and a hole on one side in the middle of the threads where I'm sure grease from a zerk fitting would flow very nicely.  I'm not sure why Datsun decided to install plugs where there should have been zerk fittings, but I'm sure they had their reasons.

[red13]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Spindle-Lower-Arm-Bush-Assy-RH-LH-Pair-for-Datsun-520-521-620-1965-1977-/371843560186?hash=item56939a72fa:g:PKIAAMXQ855RwMAt&vxp=mtr

 

not to sure these are right, http://www.ebay.com/itm/Spindle-Upper-Arm-for-Datsun-Truck-520-521-620-720-1965-1986-/371819946633?hash=item5692322289:g:uOEAAOxyp-BSIqqu

 

http://www.moog-suspension-parts.com/products/datsun_truck_620_pickup_1974

 

but again the dust boots NLA, i actually ordered the last from the dealer

[Spawn]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Spindle-Lower-Arm-Bush-Assy-RH-LH-Pair-for-Datsun-520-521-620-1965-1977-/371843560186?hash=item56939a72fa:g:PKIAAMXQ855RwMAt&vxp=mtr

 

not to sure these are right, http://www.ebay.com/itm/Spindle-Upper-Arm-for-Datsun-Truck-520-521-620-720-1965-1986-/371819946633?hash=item5692322289:g:uOEAAOxyp-BSIqqu

 

http://www.moog-suspension-parts.com/products/datsun_truck_620_pickup_1974

 

but again the dust boots NLA, i actually ordered the last from the dealer

 

red13, the first link was for the lower spindle bushing assembly, which I already bought from that seller.  As for the upper spindle, unfortunately that's for the late 1977 and on 620's, as my upper spindle does not taper down like the one in that link. As for the Moog link, that's a bit of a help, but I've already gotten most of the stuff I need. Pretty much the last thing I'm looking for is this upper spindle assembly with the spindle, nuts, dust covers, etc.

I do appreciate the response with the links though!  Maybe it will help some other people searching for front end components.

[red13]

I rebuilt my whole front end changed all those, kingpins where a pain