anyone ever replace the center link?

[Projecttahoe]

have a wandering suspension issue, where while driving steering inputs have a delayed reaction along with a tendency to overcorrect enough to the point i wont take it over 50. I did inner and outer tie rods and ball joints and now am only left with pitman arm , idler arm and the center link. I jacked it up and have lots of side to side motion on passenger side front tire and about a **** hair of motion on the driver side. I can see the center link move when im positioned on the side of the tire i also set up a camera and see it move underneath the idler arm, im going to be replacing both idler and pitman arm but am wondering if i should replace center/drag link? i have looked for threads about the center link and have found nothing as far as it failing or if it even can fail unless there was undercarriage or wreck damage. any advice would be appreciated

 

[OR VietVet]

Lots of threads about reinstalling old or new center link backwards and causing all kinds of problems. Make sure either a new or old one is installed correctly. By the way, put a new center link in, you cheapskate....LOL! I did the whole shebang on my 05 and handles like a dream and when you get aligned, make sure to get a before and after printout and post results here.

 

[Projecttahoe]

Lots of threads about reinstalling old or new center link backwards and causing all kinds of problems. Make sure either a new or old one is installed correctly. By the way, put a new center link in, you cheapskate....LOL! I did the whole shebang on my 05 and handles like a dream and when you get aligned, make sure to get a before and after printout and post results here.

lol i did check to make sure it wasnt backwards i saw that thread while searching for answers. i just didnt want to throw unnecessary parts at it ill post the video from underneath the idler arm...and yes im a cheapskate so if i do end up buying a center link it will be quality pot metal from china.

 

[Projecttahoe]

 

[rockola1971]

Passenger side end of center link (Relay Rod) jumping up and down.......only one cause for that and that is a worn out Idler Arm. Unless your chassis is cracked all the way through somewhere. But your video is the stereotypical worn out idler arm and the test you did on the video is the exact way to verify the idler arm is trash. I would replace both idler and pitman arm as a set! With you having to replace idler arm and manufacturer tolerance differences and the odds of you getting the new idler arm in the same mounting position as the old one is zero, You will need an alignment check. A worn out idler arm causes the passenger front tire to go toe in and toe out while driving. Check the edges of your tires for feathering. Especially the inboard edges.

And your relay rod is installed correctly. The ends always sweep to the rear of the vehicle.

 

[Projecttahoe]

Passenger side end of center link (Relay Rod) jumping up and down.......only once cause for that and that is a worn out Idler Arm. Unless your chassis is cracked all the way through somewhere. But your video is the stereotypical worn out idler arm and the test you did on the video is the exact way to verify the idler arm is trash. I would replace both idler and pitman arm as a set! With you having to replace idler arm and manufacturer toelrance differences and the odds of you getting the new idler arm in the same mounting position as the old one is zero, You will need an alignment check. A worn out idler arm causes the passenger front tire to go toe in and toe out while driving. Check the edges of your tires for feathering. Especially the inboard edges.

And your relay rod is installed correctly. The ends always sweep to the rear of the vehicle.

Hey I appreciate the response yeah ordered pitman arm idler bracket and arm yesterday should be arriving today , lol should be interesting bought it in a kit and its made in Taiwan I will keep everyone updated on how it works and if anyone hears news about a flipped over hoe in Florida just assume its mine ,,,

 

[THarber]

As stated looks like idler arm to me. Refrain from over torqueing the idler arm to center link.