Idler arms....which is which?

Are there idler arms specific to a manual steering car and a P/S car? I'm rebuilding a 66 nova front end and I'm about the put the steering linkage back in. Noticed the new idler arm is different than the old one. New one has a stud on one end that would go thru a bushing on the centerlink, and the other end has a bushing in it with a hole for a a stud to go thru like on a pitman arm.

Now the idler arm off the car has a stud with a spacer that fits inside the centerlink that has no bushing in it, and the other end that is attached to the bracket that bolts to the frame is like a ball joint it has a stud that goes thru the bracket. So new one stud on one end and open on the other with a bushing. One off the car has studs on both ends with grease fittings. Which one is correct?

Mike, I hope this helps you out.The link explains different idler arms and bearing conversions


http://bthomas1967chevy2wagon.com/Home/Brent/1967ChevyII/1967ChevyIISuspIdler.aspx

well I have arm #1 on the car, thats what it came with. Actually looks like somebody did the bearing conversion but something doesn't look right. It looks like part of the bearing or a spacer is missing. If I get the idler arm back into the centerlink I can't see what's gonna hold the centerlink onto the idler... Pics tomorrow....

There should be two bushings similar to the ones in this picture

yea all there is , is a thick spacer that goes in the centerlink. Aside from that there is nothing else. I get pressing spacer to take place of the bushing but what holds it all together? put the castle nut on it and poof....nothing

I really need your guys' help on this. here are some pics:
http://i663.photobucket.com/albums/uu352/mikeramirezracing/IMG_0560.jpg
this is the idler arm off the nova. It has the studs on each end as you can see they greasable joints. On the end where it goes into the centerlink there is a steel spacer and it looks like when the centerlink is pressed back onto the idler there should be another spacer or something....how is the centerlink gonna stayed retained? even if you put a castle nut it still could come off? OR.....is the spacer supposed to be pressed into the centerlink and the idler come on and off???? did somebody try to do the bearing conversion???
http://i663.photobucket.com/albums/uu352/mikeramirezracing/IMG_0562.jpg

now this is the new idler arm:
http://i663.photobucket.com/albums/uu352/mikeramirezracing/IMG_0566.jpg
you see there is a bushing that can be pressed into the centerlink. Now is there some bolt or something I need to bolt this idler arm to the bracket????

A picture is worth a thousand words..First are you sure that the old one is worn out? Your old arm is one of the most sought after repalcement idler arms that claim the wear in not out.If if not worn out it is a way better piece that what you are trying to put on.That said,because you have that style arm it came with its own styel of frame mount and you need a stock style frame mount to install the factory style of idler arm.Try 1Badnov(Dave) or Novajoe(Jose) they have cut up some stockers recently and may have the piece you are missing.Sofar I have ot been able to find a picture of what you are missing.

Bryan you are the man!!!! I was thinking that once the centerlink is pressed onto the idler it would be flush and the castle nut goes on. But what bothers me is that I'm relying on the press fit for it to stay put. Its not being retained by the nut. Yes I would like to keep this idler arm on. Its not worn out. So then I need a different bracket and bolt then right? to use the other idler arm?

In the second pic I thought there was another spacer or something that would keep the centerlink from popping off the idler arm.

Here is the best picture of the your old style with all the pieces,the bushings are not a press fit they will fall out when the nut is off.

Here is the best picture of the your old style with all the pieces,the bushings are not a press fit they will fall out when the nut is off.

see there is a piece missing then!!!! the one part of the bushing is on the idler arm and is NOT coming off, then the other bushing or washer that would go on top then the castle nut. Now I would have not lost that piece when taking off the idler arm. So it wasn't there!!! Im thinking it was just pressed all together and thats it, minus that other bushing. I might be able to make something out of washers.

Here is another pic of the idler:

http://i663.photobucket.com/albums/uu352/mikeramirezracing/IMG_0570.jpg
http://i663.photobucket.com/albums/uu352/mikeramirezracing/IMG_0571.jpg
http://i663.photobucket.com/albums/uu352/mikeramirezracing/IMG_0572.jpg

Feel free to look through my front suspension rebuild pictures. http://goingright.smugmug.com/64-Nova-Wagon/Front-Suspension-Rebuild/6518152_ugz7g#460440430_9om2Z

Thanks surfdog. It appears the bracket that bolts to the frame is different. Yours has a bigger hole for the bushing to sit and a bigger bolt.

The reason the lower does not fall off is because ti pin that sticks out of the idler arm is tapered like a tie rod or ball joint and the upper is not.What ever goes on top should be real thick like a crank bolt washer,and it will need support underneath so the nut will tighten down properly.

I have a thick washer from a shock bolt that was used as a spacer. I can drill it out so it fits.