Well I changed my Idler Arm bushes today - didn't take long (about 50 minutes) but was a bit of a pig. Couldn't get the ball joint off the tie rod so I had to leave it in situ - unbolted the shaft from the body and left the shaft and arm on the car while I changed the bushes. Once I had got the body off the car it was easy - about 5 minutes to remove the old bushes, clean the body, re-grease with LM grease, put in the new bushes and then it was ready for the car again.
One point is I think I will need to change the whole unit in another year or so as the shaft is quite worn.
It has made a big difference to the driving experience - no more pulling to the left and no more play in the wheel. Drives more like a car with a Rack and Pinion.
One other suggestion to anyone attempting this themselves. Get a decent STRAIGHT 17mm ring spanner. Don't get one with any crank in it. With the AC rad in place it is really quite difficult to get at the nuts on the end of the large bolts connecting the idler arm body to the chassis. You rally need to get at these nuts otherwise you won't be able to remove the bolts as they will just turn on the end of the bolts.
Also changed my Glowplugs today - Easy job, took 1/2 hour start to finish. Need a longish 14mm socket to get them out and in and need to remove the air tubes (both of them). The Turbo to inlet one is the worst job of the whole thing as the rubber hoses are very tight and stiff and don't allow you to move them very easy. Also the standard hose clips that Toyota uses are awful. I will be changing these for Jubilee clips after my next trip to Halfrauds.
Cheers
One point is I think I will need to change the whole unit in another year or so as the shaft is quite worn.
It has made a big difference to the driving experience - no more pulling to the left and no more play in the wheel. Drives more like a car with a Rack and Pinion.
One other suggestion to anyone attempting this themselves. Get a decent STRAIGHT 17mm ring spanner. Don't get one with any crank in it. With the AC rad in place it is really quite difficult to get at the nuts on the end of the large bolts connecting the idler arm body to the chassis. You rally need to get at these nuts otherwise you won't be able to remove the bolts as they will just turn on the end of the bolts.
Also changed my Glowplugs today - Easy job, took 1/2 hour start to finish. Need a longish 14mm socket to get them out and in and need to remove the air tubes (both of them). The Turbo to inlet one is the worst job of the whole thing as the rubber hoses are very tight and stiff and don't allow you to move them very easy. Also the standard hose clips that Toyota uses are awful. I will be changing these for Jubilee clips after my next trip to Halfrauds.
Cheers
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