Cop idler arms

[DumpsterFire]

My diplomat for whatever reason has the cop/taxi idler arm. Everyone who has it listed as what it is has not cop one for sale. All other ones don't say. The pictures of the two are being used interchangeably and lots of stuff listed not cop has pictures of the cop part. Anyone know where a cop idler arm is sold? I really don't wanna try to adapt this

 

[DumpsterFire]

This is on an 85 diplomat

 

[AMC Diplomat]

This same question was just asked a few days ago: Idler Arm Difference; Stock vs. Police / Taxi

 

[Fresh Air Inspector]

Hello DumpsterFire,
As you know from my thread (Idler Arm Difference; Stock vs. Police / Taxi), I had the same issue and p/n TRW 18795 was the recommended by M_Body_Coupe. I have one coming from eBay (USPS), but it is SLOW - 11 days to get from Sherwood, OR to Chicago, IL today 28/03. USPS claims it will arrive here between April 1 and 28th!!!!!

At any rate as soon as it arrives I will take comparison pictures between what is currently on my car and the TRW item and post these to both threads. From pictures the most noticeable difference is the pivot joint at the K frame. All the 'non-police' ones appear to have a grease nipple at the centre link ball joint AND at the K frame pivot joint. My AHB car is low mileage and my assumption is that the idler arm currently on the vehicle is the original factory item. The K frame pivot joint on my car does NOT have a grease fitting at either joint AND the K frame joint appears to use a self-lubricating Nylon sleeve bearing.

Below are 3 pictures of my existing (original?), idler arm. Picture 1 shows black paint swatches on the frame pivot - I'm painting the K frame with POR Chassis Black. Waiting for the TRW part to finish the K frame paint job.







As I said, I'll add pictures to this thread as soon as the TRW bit arrives here (bottom tip of Nova Scotia, a stones throw from the Atlantic Ocean .

Figures crossed it clears up the mystery. Hope it helps somewhat.

 

[DumpsterFire]

Hello DumpsterFire,
As you know from my thread (Idler Arm Difference; Stock vs. Police / Taxi), I had the same issue and p/n TRW 18795 was the recommended by M_Body_Coupe. I have one coming from eBay (USPS), but it is SLOW - 11 days to get from Sherwood, OR to Chicago, IL today 28/03. USPS claims it will arrive here between April 1 and 28th!!!!!

At any rate as soon as it arrives I will take comparison pictures between what is currently on my car and the TRW item and post these to both threads. From pictures the most noticeable difference is the pivot joint at the K frame. All the 'non-police' ones appear to have a grease nipple at the centre link ball joint AND at the K frame pivot joint. My AHB car is low mileage and my assumption is that the idler arm currently on the vehicle is the original factory item. The K frame pivot joint on my car does NOT have a grease fitting at either joint AND the K frame joint appears to use a self-lubricating Nylon sleeve bearing.

Below are 3 pictures of my existing (original?), idler arm. Picture 1 shows black paint swatches on the frame pivot - I'm painting the K frame with POR Chassis Black. Waiting for the TRW part to finish the K frame paint job.

View attachment 55414

View attachment 55415

View attachment 55416

As I said, I'll add pictures to this thread as soon as the TRW bit arrives here (bottom tip of Nova Scotia, a stones throw from the Atlantic Ocean .

Figures crossed it clears up the mystery. Hope it helps somewhat.

Mine came in today. I'll take some pictures

 

[DumpsterFire]

Yeah this is definitely the right way to go for cop idler arms. Worked just fine

 

[Fresh Air Inspector]

Hello DumpsterFire,

Like they say, a picture is worth a thousand words! Glad you got it sorted. What part number did you use as the TRW 18795 number is becoming a NLA item? Might help someone in the future.

 

[DumpsterFire]

TRW 18795 is what I used and I had to buy it second hand new old stock. So not a great answer but there do seem to be a good few out there like that

 

[DumpsterFire]

Given some spacers and figuring I think you could get the not cop arm to work if you had too

 

[Fresh Air Inspector]

Hello DumpsterFire,

It does confirm that TRW 18795 is a correct cross reference (thanks for the tip M_Body_Coupe), albeit a NOS item. For anyone else reading this thread, beware, trying to 'adapt' a part like this one. The shape and dimensions of the idler arm are critical and any deviation could cause the passenger front wheel to move in a different angle to the wheel on the drivers side. Under normal road conditions this may not create an issue, other than possibly tear wear. But if the road conditions are poor (rain, snow), it could result in a skid. So be careful.

 

[Mikes5thAve]

Hello DumpsterFire,

It does confirm that TRW 18795 is a correct cross reference (thanks for the tip M_Body_Coupe), albeit a NOS item. For anyone else reading this thread, beware, trying to 'adapt' a part like this one. The shape and dimensions of the idler arm are critical and any deviation could cause the passenger front wheel to move in a different angle to the wheel on the drivers side. Under normal road conditions this may not create an issue, other than possibly tear wear. But if the road conditions are poor (rain, snow), it could result in a skid. So be careful.

The only difference between the cop and non cop is the arm itself for slightly different steering feel. There is no problem using the non police one on its place altho you might also need to use the matching pitman arm and possibly get an alignment.

All the sites seem to say that TRW part is a cross-reference to the standard Moog one K7086.

 

[DumpsterFire]

The only difference between the cop and non cop is the arm itself for slightly different steering feel. There is no problem using the non police one on its place altho you might also need to use the matching pitman arm and possibly get an alignment.

All the sites seem to say that TRW part is a cross-reference to the standard Moog one K7086.

You sure? It looked like it would've flopped around in there if I used a non cop arm

 

[Mikes5thAve]

Yes. That might be why some of them come with extra washers.
Doing a Google search there doesn't seem to be any reference to the TRW one being a police part. It looks like at one point it was the standard idler arm for A bodies along with the other part numbers being sold.

Oddly enough in the Chrysler parts book they don't show any different part for police, only the steering box itself.

 

[DumpsterFire]

For $40 new old stock it's still feasible to get the correct part. Atleast for now...

 

[MARCH374]

Does anyone has a part # for this part outside of the TRW part # for other mfg's ?