I had to post this here because I apparently dont have sufficient priveleges to post in the steering and suspension forum. Ok so I recently began to change my idler arm and center link out (both were moving way too much in places they werent supposed to). Got em both out with a little blood, sweat, and tears, but now theyre kicking my butt going back in. This is my first time to ever work on anything on the steering/suspension. Are there any tricks? I'm about to go to work so unfortunaly, the Cabby is staying on jacks in the driveway until 10 pm tonight. Thanks

I just did this in my 49 Chevy pickup that has an '81 Malibu (same thing) front clip. Since that stupid lip is in the way, there is no way to get it back up! Bolt the tie rods to the center/drag link to the pitman arm (steering box), loosly hook it back up to the idler arm (that's not bolted to the frame) and THEN bolt the idler arm back to the frame. Then bolt the tie rods up to the spindles. Does that make any sense? It's stupid, but that's how I put mine back together!

just for the record, the only combination I got to fit right was a moog centerlink with a TRW idler arm. the moog idler arm has mounting holes too small for the bolts to go through, and the McQuay-Norris idler arm has the wrong geometry.

On the centerlink connect with the nuts in the front first, then the idler arm, then the pitman arm and then the outer tie rod ends:nanawrench:

Thanks for the help everybody its finally back together and in the garage, now I just ahve to gent an alignment, then I can get rid of that inspection sticker that expired in 2006 after 4 months of workign on it. I had to buy a moog idler arm because I discovered that Made in China means its made to "OEM-ish" specifications (which is no good when your dealing with something as close tolerance as steering), which is why I had so much trouble .

I'm doing this as we speak, and luckily have moog parts. Thanks for the thread!