I have 105500 miles on my 2003 Chevy Blazer and got the tires replaced today. The tire place said my right lower ball joint and idler arm is worn. I know what a ball joint is, bit trying to figure out the idler arm. Is this guy trying to make money or is this really a concern on either? Any diagrams of the front suspension?

 

 

The idler arm connects to your center link which also supports the inner tie rods and the pitman arm. It is on the passenger side bolted to your frame and, again, connected to your center/drag link.


If it completely fails your will noticed a difference in your steering or worst case your left tire will turn but the right will do whatever.

 

It's a pretty common wear item on these trucks so it wouldn't be unlikely that i needs to be replaced.

 

Thanks for your comment. I pretty sure no ones pulling my leg. The ball joints seem to get replaced at a point after 100000 miles. Would there be any suggestions of things that could be replaced while its being worked on?

 

Lower ball joints take the load from the front springs or torsion rods so they do wear out and 100,000 miles has been a good life span for them.

I would not change just the one side, do them both.

I think the outer tie rods ends get worn-out before the idler arm, so I would suggest replacing the outer tie rod ends and if funds available, do the idler arm and the inner tie rod ends as well. Should not be much in the way of labor for tie rod ends...they just unscrew, however a front end alignment will be required.

 

Thanks, LannyL81 I had my left side upper and lower ball joints replaced at around 80000 miles. I also have to check, but around 75000 miles, my right side inner tie rod end were replaced due to steering wheel slippage. So the question is should I also replace my right side upper ball joint as well?
Basically, I like to try to replace the stuff that are close by and already apart that would wear out in the next 20000-30000 miles or a couple of years. I just don't want to throw parts at it. Don't off road with it.

 

Anybody else with advice? Everyone agree about the tie rod ends? What about replacing the upper ball joints?

 

If you are going to go through and replace the lower ball joints, it would be foolish not to replace the upper ones while you are in there.

 

Thanks swartlkk, that makes sense. If the tire dealer says I have a worn idler arm, but not mention the tie rod ends which LannyL81 thinks they would wear out before, could the tire dealer misdiagnosed a worn tie rod end as a worn idler pulley?