When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Decided to try out the Mevotech supreme line and ordered their whole front end kit which includes new tie rods ends and adjusting sleeves, center link, and ball joints. I ordered the idler arm too, also supreme. The ball joints will go on some other time, everything else went on today. It all installed and bolted up like the parts I removed, except for the outer tie rod ends which do not have a castle nut and no holes for the cotter pin. Strange because the pictures on rock auto show it with them. To my untrained eye, the parts seem to be good quality.
I’m getting the car aligned tomorrow and I’ll update this post after some driving but here’s some comparison photos between the mevotech supreme and the suspension parts I pulled off of the car in the meantime:
The steering link looks a lot beefier than the OE and the idler arm looks almost identical. I had their supreme ball joints on my S10, good stuff.
Dead on about the idler arm, it’s nearly the exact same. The boxes claim the parts are “overbuilt for durability” and they look it. Seems like a nice budget alternative to moog. The only part I don’t like is the stop nuts instead of castle nuts + cotter pins on the outer tie rod ends.
A lot of tie rods are like that now, even seen it on the steering linkage too from various store brands. The GM professional line of ball joints look a lot like mevotech.
A lot of tie rods are like that now, even seen it on the steering linkage too from various store brands. The GM professional line of ball joints look a lot like mevotech.
Yeah, I read about that after I put them on. As long as it works…… You’re right about the GM professional line now that I look at them again, look pretty close to each other.
Figure I’ll update this thread and say no problems after 2 days of pretty consistent driving. No bump steer, nothing broke and no new weird noises. I know it’s a bit early to call it but I’m very pleased with the parts so far.
Thanks for posting this. its helpful for all of us that are eventually going to need to tackle this job. that looks like original tie rod clamp, the factory tie rods on mine have GM stamped on them. I don't know about an 87, but for a 90 that does not look like factory idler arm in the compare photo.
Thanks for posting this. its helpful for all of us that are eventually going to need to tackle this job. that looks like original tie rod clamp, the factory tie rods on mine have GM stamped on them. I don't know about an 87, but for a 90 that does not look like factory idler arm in the compare photo.
The idler arm could definitely be a replacement wasn’t told about and that I don’t have the documentation for. There’s a fair bit of factory stuff still on this car so I assumed the idler was too.
I forget if my tie rods had the stamp, but if they weren’t factory they were replaced a long time ago. I get why everyone hates the original style of adjusting sleeves now, they are a pita
The factory idler arms are a multi-piece design - it looks like you could unscrew it. The design may have been over-complicated, not necessary The factory tie-rods didnt have cotter pin, they used some sort of special nut.
The factory idler arms are a multi-piece design - it looks like you could unscrew it. The design may have been over-complicated, not necessary The factory tie-rods didnt have cotter pin, they used some sort of special nut.
Thanks for the info! I didn’t realize most of that so I’ll edit the original post to reflect this. Do you have any pictures of the factory style idler arm? I guess I’ve only ever seen the replacement ones.
Today the shop put the mevotech ball joints on my car. I’ve only been on one drive with them so far (though it was a long and curvy one) and they feel great. The steering feels even more tight and responsive than before. I’ll post an update if anything changes.
Everything else in the kit has held up very well. Some of the best money I’ve spent on the car. It’s amazing how fun even the v6 cars drive once you go through the brakes and steering
Decided to try out the Mevotech supreme line and ordered their whole front end kit which includes new tie rods ends and adjusting sleeves, center link, and ball joints. I ordered the idler arm too, also supreme. The ball joints will go on some other time, everything else went on today. It all installed and bolted up like the parts I removed, except for the outer tie rod ends which do not have a castle nut and no holes for the cotter pin. Strange because the pictures on rock auto show it with them. To my untrained eye, the parts seem to be good quality.
I’m getting the car aligned tomorrow and I’ll update this post after some driving but here’s some comparison photos between the mevotech supreme and the suspension parts I pulled off of the car in the meantime:
my car is an 87 iroc as far as I no factory suspension why does my idler look different than yours everyone is telling me the new idler is wrong which it obviously isn’t the same as mine but I’m having a hard time finding one that looks like mine
The top piece looks very much like the OE part and what you have below is whats offered now. Just because it looks a little different doesnt mean its wrong. The route from point A, to point B may differ, but the end result is the same....mostly! Some may will disagree, but there's more than one way to skin a cat.
Designs are gonna change over time. So no replacement part is gonna look 100% like the OE. Cost go up and what was economical to produce in 198x, is maybe too costly now. Some pieces may no longer be used, more parts= more money/time to make. Improvements might also be involved. Every tom/dick/harry has their own ideas on how to improve/reduce cost with production.
yes, that photo with the house behind it is a factory idler arm. those are all but long gone. Just like factory replacement shocks, and many other parts.
Last edited by LiquidBlue; 03-03-2024 at 11:30 AM.
my car is an 87 iroc as far as I no factory suspension why does my idler look different than yours everyone is telling me the new idler is wrong which it obviously isn’t the same as mine but I’m having a hard time finding one that looks like mine
It seems like the idler arm I took off my car was replaced before I owned the car. I have not had any steering geometry issues with the old or new idler arm.
The top piece looks very much like the OE part and what you have below is whats offered now. Just because it looks a little different doesnt mean its wrong. The route from point A, to point B may differ, but the end result is the same....mostly! Some may will disagree, but there's more than one way to skin a cat.
Designs are gonna change over time. So no replacement part is gonna look 100% like the OE. Cost go up and what was economical to produce in 198x, is maybe too costly now. Some pieces may no longer be used, more parts= more money/time to make. Improvements might also be involved. Every tom/dick/harry has their own ideas on how to improve/reduce cost with production.
End/rant
wow so I’m on a bunch of third gen groups on Facebook and litterly everyone told me the new one I have will not work and to order a proforged one so I did it was 102 dollars
yes, that photo with the house behind it is a factory idler arm. those are all but long gone. Just like factory replacement shocks, and many other parts.
so the one I have pictured below the factory one will work just fine?
wow so I’m on a bunch of third gen groups on Facebook and litterly everyone told me the new one I have will not work and to order a proforged one so I did it was 102 dollars
Well FWIW, i have proforged and really like them, but i wouldn't sweat it with either one. Over the years I've had TRW and various store brands. Plus a couple others i cant recall the name. None gave me issues or put me in danger.
"Wrong" is a relative term. If it was for a totally different car then it be wrong, but a variation in the design doesn't make it wrong. The biggest difference is probably more along the lines of longevity and proforge parts look pretty sturdy.
Some people think they're better off with AC delco, but it exist in name only for the most part. Half the time the so called acdelco part has the same part# as the so called generic part, minus a letter or two added to the prefix, or suffix.
Just my 2 pennies. You'll like the proforged part though.
Other/rant
05-18-2023, 05:58 PM
