The other side of the deal is that I suspect that Chrysler would not have the resources to tool up and warehouse two complete steering linkages for the same body series of vehicle (as the fuselage C-body and Imperials were of the same suspension architecture, typically).
Careful on speculation, a strength of many on this list. Many other points in the email that generated the above quote were good ones, but I must take issue with this one and any claims that idler arms interchange for 1972-73.
Wheelbase on the 1972 New Yorker is: 124 inches.
Wheelbase on the 1972 Imperial is: 127 inches!!!
All of this difference is in the subframe and sheetmetal forward of the firewall. This means that the pittman arm and idler arm are longer, as well as the cast arm that comes out of the hub that the brake caliper is attached to that receives the steering linkage. The firewall and steering gear in the passenger cabin are unchanged in location, and so the steering box should be landing on the frame the same distance from the firewall. Something has to be taking up the difference in length, and it isn't the tie-rods. This results in a longer radius on both pittman/idler and the cast up pickup arm that the tie-rod attaches to.
Sorry to be cantankerous about this thing, but all speculation aside, I tried this myself and the New Yorker arm available via Kragen/Checker/Whatever is 1.5 inches shorter in length and the end that goes into the chassis is 3/4 inch shorter, requiring giant washers to make it fit snugly in the receptacle. I know because I spent an hour on a bench grinder feverishly making it fit. The Kragen computer shows Imperial and carries a different part number that is "Not Available"
If the people that have a bad arm would do the list a favor and take their bad part to the store after ordering a New Yorker arm from NAPA (maybe they have something special that no other company knows about that would save the club all sorts of money) and compare and then report back I think that we can put the issue to bed. Be aware of refund policies on special ordered items.
I want a $34 idler arm to be available as much as the next guy.
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