[whojohnjones]

OK on my 1983 Buick park avenue my car tires have been having excessive wear and goes from negative to positive chamber. OK one guy said it was control arm bushings. so he replaced those now i have to get a alignment but once i brought the car home and jacked it up i noticed if i shook the tires from left to right i could see the idler arm go up and down is this normal and what would cause this?

 

[whojohnjones]

 

[whojohnjones]

posted youtube video

 

[RWENUTS]

Idler arm is worn out. Easy fix. Replace it.

 

[69 widetrack]

How could you get a proper alignment with a worn out idler arm? Anytime I've done an alignment I've checked all front end parts for wear, ball joints, tie rods, bushings, bearings, spindle and the straightness of the frame all play into getting a proper alignment. I would take it back to the guy that did the alignment and ask questions, my first question would be how he could do an alignment with worn parts.

Ray

 

[vinniekq2]

what 69 said, also bearings are checked to make sure they are not loose,tires must be in good shape with matching sizes,air pressures must be set.Your caster and camber changes when the tires are turned but remain constant when driving on the highway. If you had worn parts,you didnt get a 3 axis wheel alighnment

 

[whojohnjones]

I haven't had a alignment yet...I was told by last mechanic that control arm bushings was all the problem was..when I shook the tire and didn't seem right I just wanted to make sure there was more to the problem

 

[vinniekq2]

take the tie rod ends and check them for movement,or squeeze them with your hand if you have a good grip.Jack tires about 2 inches off the ground and put a pry bar under each one and lift,see if ball joints have movement. Check your pitman arm similar to idler arm. and centre link.Fix all the problems