Hey, Just wondering what kind of problems you would get from the following (faulty) parts.

1. Loose radius rod ( i think its called)
2. Loose or damaged idler arm

thats all i can think of atm, obviously neither is a good thing to have but i'm just trying to work something out as i dont quite trust what i've been told and thought you more experienced guys might be able to help out.

Brake shudder and loose steering.

Radius Rod = Steering geometry changing, but showing more under brakes. Also Tyre wear.

Idler arm - I take it this is an X Series?

That will lead to the LHS wheel changing steering direction randomly, and again under brakes.

Similar problems. Neither are expensive to replace

Cheers Nigel, Yes its a X series ute, and the problem i've been having is it would suddenly change steering direction randomly and the steering was pretty loose, but none of the guys i've asked have been able to give me a straight answer, But i know for a fact that these parts need replacing.

wide wheels will track a fair bit as well.

the parts your talking about are around $100 or so new I think, there is also the posibility of play in the steering box and steering coupling - especially as they are getting older

I have the radius rod bushes you can have for $notmuch - they are used, but nolothane and in one piece. I can throw in the steering coupling as well (nolothane) with its destractions if you like. Youd just need some urethane bush grease which most suspensions shops would give you.

I bought them a while back for the coupling but read later than V8's sometimes heat up the nolothane couplings too much. - and Id already done the entire front end in SuperPro

Id start with the idler and the radius rod bushes as they are easy to do.

My XF is here -> http://www.xfalcon.com/forum/showthread.php?32574-My-87-XF....

Nigel

Nice car, just reading through that now, well the the damage was caused more from impact (mate hit a kerb and popped the wheel off) so i was thinking its probably less to do with parts becoming worn, could the impact have damaged the steering box aswell?

ok. Id go visit the suspension shop. You said the radius rod bushes? - but what in an impact would damage them so much? - they normally fail due to lifetime wear.

On my XD (25 years ago) we needed to have the crossmember realigned a number of times due to impacts. That made a huge difference

Nigel