An update if anyone cares
Replaced the idler arm & pitman arm. Runs and drives nice and tight, like a good car should, with a little rattle that is (groan) lower control arm bushings, so soon when I get the money and inclination new lower and upper poly bushings, lower and upper ball joints, and new front springs.
That should sure feel good ride wise. I changed the control arm bushings on the PC Cruiser and man, those Energy bushings make a world of difference. Hopefully I don't kill myself changing the springs, it's a lot different than the rears. Years ago a buddy made a spring compressor out of a bumper jack - the spring went through the garage wall.
I didn't say a
smart buddy.
I've also changed the sway bar links, cap/rotor/wires/plugs (gap .050, the old ones were worn to 060+ and it still ran good!), a rotor (repacked the bearings too), cleaned/lubed/bled both front brakes, fixed a door handle, and have managed to clean and condition the 2 front seats and a bit more of the interior. Very nice interior, when it gets a good complete cleaning I'll post some pics.
I've only got to change those &*$%# bushings/springs etc, belts, hoses, finish cleaning inside and out, replace 2 window motors, install the aftermarket stereo properly (only 1 speaker is playing and no radio), get the locks working (a central relay is fried), redye the dash, change the headliner, change the outside mirrors (one broke, and the thermometer on the drivers side is nonfunctional), change the electric trunk pulldown, fix the glovebox (nonopening), look at the A/C (134 converted and new compressor, here's hoping it holds a charge), change a couple of various outside trim pieces, and install a nice patch on the drivers' door arm pad...
I think that's it. The somewhat laughable thing is, I'm trying to get this done by the beginning of June
The good news is, most of the parts come off the 89.
And again, I'm under there changing the front end bits looking around, I'm really beginning to believe it's 35k. We'll know in 5 years
Pete