What would concern me is that the idler arm bushings provide some of your return to center in the steering.  I think you're only looking at the bushing in compression.  Its mostly loaded in shear, and the rubber acts like a spring being coiled up and then uncoiling to return the steering to center. 

TKOPerformance wrote:

What would concern me is that the idler arm bushings provide some of your return to center in the steering.  I think you're only looking at the bushing in compression.  Its mostly loaded in shear, and the rubber acts like a spring being coiled up and then uncoiling to return the steering to center. 

 
True . . .  but I’m looking at an alternative for roller bearing idler arms that are a popular modification out there in the Mustang world.
I’ve seen idler arms with Delrin bushings on older Ford vans.
Like the lieutenant said my RTC is very good with EPAS and the present idler arm has double rod ends.

Bob , I’m thrifty as well, sometimes to the extreme.
As for Opentracker , I have spoken with John  and he will sell me the bearings only for the conversion, the rest I could  machine myself,  cheap on my side again.
I have all the materials on hand to do the mod my way but I wanted you expert  do it yourselfers opinions.

6sally6 wrote:

Rudi wrote:

Butt I wanted you expert  do it yourselfers opinions.

"Idle hands are the devil's workshop...."
 Some of our hands are.....wait-for-it....idler !
My expert yourselfer opinion.....
6sally6

 
Sal…you’re the “ ‘Merican Idler” 😁

That’s the specific idler arm I’m looking for to modify.not concerned about RTC.
But I don’t want to butcher a new one and none that I have are like that, all have a rod end at the frame bracket, none with a stud and nut.
Rock Auto has a picture but I can’t seem to post a link.
It’s a Mevotech G8161.

Thank you for the picture Bob, you young fellers sure can do some neat stuff!

Nos681 wrote:

I like the Mevotech design to use the UHMW bearing.

 
Yep . . . .  that looks like the one to use.
Now to find a used one to modify. I don’t want to cut up a new one.

Last edited by Rudi (10/24/2023 11:30 AM)

Perhaps this may help.
Take a look at its use.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-high-molecular-weight_polyethylene

Last edited by Nos681 (10/24/2023 1:16 PM)

FWIW I've been using Mevotech chassis parts exclusively on my big trucks and am VERY happy with them.  They are not cheap, but that goes for every sense of that word too.  They are well built, include all hardware, zerks, zerk caps, and ball joints even include an adapter to make pressing them in easier.  I had a set of MOOG lifetime tie rod ends that were shot in 20,000 miles.  No zerks in them, don't say MOOG on them anywhere.  Only the box says MOOG.  I was told they couldn't be replaced under the lifetime warranty because they didn't say MOOG on them.  I have the receipt, boxes, etc., and they still won't honor the warranty.  Fine, I'll just swear off MOOG and use Mevotech from now on. 

Rudi wrote:

The Chinese b*****ds are counterfeiting everything, most troubling are the going into commercial aviation.

My understanding is that at some point MOOG parts were being replaced by TRW parts in MOOG boxes.

Oh, commercial aviation is the least of it.  The new nuclear reactor that just went online in Tennessee is a design licensed to China.  If that doesn't turn your #$%^ white I don't know what will. 
 

From what I read it was a modular design, able to be built in several output sizes at lower cost.  There were engineers who reviewed it that though the shielding was inadequate in the event of an incident.  All of this to me SCREAMS stay away, but I don't have any faith our government is that smart. 

The RBMK reactor at Chernobyl was actually a pretty good design and put our a lot of power for its size.  There are still quite a few in operation, though they did make modifications to them post Chernobyl meltdown.  What led to the Chernobyl meltdown seems to have been a series of small things which taken individually wouldn't have necessarily been catastrophic, but in combination were.  That reactor was Soviet built, but in a system where those who see potential problems are sent to the gulag, well, we all know what happened.  Not a failure we can attribute to Chinese communism, but certainly to communism in general. 

Fukishima was a Japanese built reactor.  The issue there was the earthquake, but in fairness in the '90s we had warned them that an earthquake could cause a cooling system failure and lead to a radioactive release and they promptly did nothing to prepare for it.  I don't see the Japanese using anything made in China; they're smarter than that. 

What we should have learned is that nuclear power is perfectly safe if the proper controls and systems are in place.  Our Navy proved that.  I think we need to remember that all those US Navy nuke plants were built in the US, and initial cost is only one factor to consider.  Especially when nuclear is the cleanest energy we have at this time, and every incident, whether on our soil or not, sets the cause of adding more nuke plants back a decade or two. 
 

I have considered using UHMW for spring perches instead of rubber bronze ,ball bearings or polyurethane .
That project might happen before the idler arm, or not!🤪