73 Steering Linkage

["Brian Collinsworth" <67imperial@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I may be wrong here, but I beleive the imperials used a different idler arm
than the chryslers. The arms off of the chryslers will fit, but are shorter
and will hold the linkage higher. I remember changing the idler on my 67
with one from a 70 Chrysler(a parts car for my 69 300). It did fit, and did
not pose any problems, but I did notice that it was different than the
Chrysler part. You might want to check the part # on the idler(if there is
one). Might be the problem.
Brian

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tony Wright" <tew@xxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2002 8:27 PM
Subject: IML: 73 Steering Linkage


> I recently posted a problem regarding the steering linkage on my 73 and
got
> a couple of responses but have still got some concerns.  Thought I would
> ask again and see if I could stir some additional possibilities.  What
I've
> got is the inside joint on the inner tie rod rubs on the torsion bar.  It
> doesn't seem to affect the steering though.  I thought maybe the torsion
> bar isn't adjusted correctly (it had new lower control arms installed
> recently) and was too low.  Now I'm wondering whether instead of the
> torsion bar being too low, if the idler arm is holding the linkage too
high.
>
> Someone had suggested before that the idler arm bushing may be the problem
> but this looks to be something more than just worn bushings.  Although all
> the linkage looks tight enough, most of the crown nuts don't have cotter
> keys through them (which makes me a little nervous) and probably indicates
> that someone in the past has had it all apart.  Could a wrong idler arm
> have been installed - one that would have a wrong angle for an Imperial
but
> would still fit?  I guess it could even have been bent but don't really
> think so.  Does anyone have a good picture or diagram of what the idler
arm
> on a 73 should look like that I can compare?  The one in the FSM is kind
of
> small but it does look somewhat different than what I think I have.  Any
> thoughts?
>
> Tony Wright
> 58 Crown (not running)
> 73 LeBaron (barely running)
> 61 Wife (still fuming bout the 73)
>
>
>
>