Symptoms
Wander on the highway, play at the wheel, a clunk over bumps, especially on bigger tyres.
The fix, step by step
- With the front supported, check for play at the idler arm, tie-rod ends and pitman arm.
- To replace the idler arm, separate the centre link from it with a puller, unbolt it from the frame and fit the new one, then re-torque and get an alignment.
- IH8MUD members recommend a stronger idler arm or brace on any IFS truck that sees off-road use.
Tools & part numbers
- Pitman/tie-rod puller
- torque wrench
- Total Chaos Caddy idler arm 95130 (1986–95 4Runner) or OEM-type arm
Where to buy the parts
OE idler arm, IFS 1986–1995 4WD pickup & 4RunnerLC Engineering ↗Amazon ↗
Caddy idler arm 95130 (1986–95 4Runner)Total Chaos Fabrication ↗Amazon ↗
Hunting a used or discontinued part? Search eBay Motors for Toyota 4Runner 1st Gen parts →
Rated for a competent home mechanic with a decent tool kit. Confirm torque figures, fluids and procedures against the factory service manual for your VIN, support the truck on stands rather than a jack, and work at your own risk (disclaimer). Some parts links are affiliate links, which pay us a small commission at no cost to you.