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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