Steering Idler - completly siezed to arm?

[DeltaV]

So, I recently acquired an '82 Spider (intro here: http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... 13&t=28491), and one of the first things I need to fix is replace the steering idler. The two flanges which attach the arm to the wheel well wall were snapped, so I've been trying to remove the idler to replace it with the autoricambi idler. It is an 82, so it 'should' be the smooth shaft, not splined.

I got the nut off the bottom of the idler, but the idler won't come off the arm...at all. I've hit it with penetrating oil (and not just WD-40), whacked two different ball joint spitter fingers into it, even got it nice and hot with a blowtorch, and all I've gotten is a deformed bottom of the housing and a pronounced ringing in my ears. It doesn't seem to be moving at all.

I've tried to remove the nuts which attach the two tie rod ends to the idler arm, but they're seized as well and soaking in penetrating oil. My leverage to loosen them is rather poor, due to the angle and the fact that I can't restrain the idler arm.

Anyone have it this bad? Or am I somehow doing something monumentally stupid? Thanks in advance.

[TX82FIAT]

Sounds like you are doing the right things. The idler arm shaft may be splined adding to the frustration if it is bound. See if you can get an assistant to turn the wheel slightly while you wack at it with the fork.

[spider2081]

I would try attacking the tie rod nuts from the engine compartment. Use an impact 6 point socket and extension and a decent impact gun. To separate the tie rode from the idler arm I like the tool sold by Harbor freight item # 99849.

[DeltaV]

I would try attacking the tie rod nuts from the engine compartment. Use an impact 6 point socket and extension and a decent impact gun. To separate the tie rode from the idler arm I like the tool sold by Harbor freight item # 99849.

Hahaha...success! Thanks for the impact idea...that after a nice dose of blow torch got them off. Got the new idler on as well today, and got it out for its first drive. Steering was surprisingly heavy still...tire pressures were good, but I didn't have time to check anything else before dark.

[AndyS]

"Steering was surprisingly heavy still...tire pressures were good, but I didn't have time to check anything else before dark"

what size tires and wheels are on the car? Have you serviced the steering box itself yet? Mine was nearly out of gear oil when I checked it when I first got my car.

[divace73]

What caster have you got? Too much will make the steering heavy (and will stay straight easier). I've got 195 tyres on mine the the steering is fine, a bit of a pain to park but nothing like my older holden torana I had. Is it easy to turn with the wheels off the ground?

[DeltaV]

"Steering was surprisingly heavy still...tire pressures were good, but I didn't have time to check anything else before dark"

what size tires and wheels are on the car? Have you serviced the steering box itself yet? Mine was nearly out of gear oil when I checked it when I first got my car.

Its running on stock 14's (I forget the exact size, but I think its stock). It did feel like my Saab does when the power steering reservoir runs low (it has a slow leak), so I'll check the steering box next.