After I installed my ARb today I installed my 4X4Parts.com Idler Arm brace.

Now saw this huge, useless chunk off before you tag a rock and pull the whole arm off the frame...

http://www.xterrain.com/images/idlerarmbrace.jpg

Ummm....okay? Didn't realize it hung down so far? Where do I get and ARB skid plate Ian?

It's an odd design, structurally it does nothing extending down that far.

I forget who makes the ARB skid plate, Carlton knows. It's more of a show piece than functional, since it leaves a big gap between the back edge and the front frame cross member, a really bad place to get hung up on a rock. Some claim it protects the radiator, but only if you often find yourself impaling your Xterra on 3 foot long pointy objects.

Something that runs from the ARB all the way back to the front cross member would make a lot more sense, but no one has bothered to build one.

XOC,

Can we really classify the ARB attachment as a skid plate? I figured it was more of a splash shield/air foil than a skid plate. It's kind of like the front splash shield on the Xterra from the factory. The metal is thin and weak and it doesn't protect a whole lot. The first time you seriously hit it on a rock it looks like it will put a healthy dent in it.

You'd like to see something like this, eh?

http://home.us.net/~stimpy/xterra/Sandbox/3-03-01/jeep_skid.jpg

Brent

Originally posted by xoc
It's an odd design, structurally it does nothing extending down that far.

I forget who makes the ARB skid plate, Carlton knows. It's more of a show piece than functional, since it leaves a big gap between the back edge and the front frame cross member, a really bad place to get hung up on a rock. Some claim it protects the radiator, but only if you often find yourself impaling your Xterra on 3 foot long pointy objects.

Something that runs from the ARB all the way back to the front cross member would make a lot more sense, but no one has bothered to build one.

it protects the radiator mount cross member.

Rick, just get a piece of 3/16" steel and bolt it to the ARB. a few of the folks here have a home made plate for that. yes, it does have a gap to get hung up on. but it is a cheap and easy fix as compared to making a plate that goes all the way back or having what happened to Pikachu happen to you. his repairs were $1700 and it wasnt as if he did anything wrong to have that chunk of ice come up there. just an accident that a $30 piece of sheet steel would have prevented I agree with warmonger on this one.

Thanks everyone for all your insight and comments!

This is a great baord for sharing info! Thanks to Ian too from XOC beer mod is on the bumper!

Sorry for the newbie question here but is the Idler Arm the same thing as the Steering Arm in this picture (courtesy of www.howstuffworks.com)?

http://www.howstuffworks.com/gif/steering-rack.jpg

Thanks,
-Harbones
(Xodus)

Originally posted by Harbones
Sorry for the newbie question here but is the Idler Arm the same thing as the Steering Arm in this picture (courtesy of www.howstuffworks.com)?
http://www.howstuffworks.com/gif/steering-rack.jpg


Nope. That's a rack and pinion layout, great for street cars, useless off-road.

The idler arm does just what its name implies, it idles, while the pitman arm does the work converting motion from the steering box into horizontal motion. The idler arm supports the other end of the relay (or track) rod. From there, steering forces are transmitted to the wheel via the tie-rods.

Another image from How Stuff Works...

http://www.howstuffworks.com/gif/steering-ball-linkage.jpg

Based on your description, is the red part correct?

http://userfs.cec.wustl.edu/~amt1/images/idler.JPG

If so, why does the idler arm need bracing and not the pitman arm?

Thanks,
-Harbones
(Xodus)

Originally posted by Harbones
Based on your description, is the red part correct?

If so, why does the idler arm need bracing and not the pitman arm?



Yes, that's the pitman arm, which is usually much smaller than the idler arm, so it's not as well supported.

Both are somewhat wimpy on the Xterra, and could be stronger.
"Stronger" then leads to other problems. Hit a big rock, with big tires, with a very strong pitman arm, and you can pull the whole steering box off the frame.

Something in the design has to have some "give".

None of these problems exhibit themselves if the tie-rods are in line with the relay rod. Only when angles increase (due to a lift) do the problems really show up.

Someone, somewhere needs to redesign the Xterra steering components, and soon, I can't afford $145 every month for a new relay rod.

The idler arm doesn't move. It is just a pivot point for the steering linkage. It bears a lot of sideway thrust so you should support the bottom of it like the bracket does.

Originally posted by xoc

I can't afford $145 every month for a new relay rod.

Okay, now I'm getting confused. What is the relay rod?:confused:

Originally posted by ned946
Okay, now I'm getting confused. What is the relay rod?:confused:

Relay rod, track rod, same thing (see the picture).

Due to the steeper tie rod angle after a lift, extra force is applied to the rod, both on and off road. The pitman arm side of the relay rod uses a ball joint to absorb and transfer force, but the idler side simply uses a plastic bushing, which wears very fast.

to 4wheelparts idler arm brace.