Nissan Repair: How to replace the idler arm, metric wrenches, pickle fork

Question
QUESTION: I was told mine was wearing out, I bought it used last year with 134,000 miles on it.  Is this a simple repair at home with a jack or ramps?  If so, can you give me some advice?

Thanks

ANSWER: Ryland,

If you have an idler arm I will assume you have a truck since most Nissan cars, of late, have rack and pinion.  So, to just replace the idler arm should only require normal metric wrenches and sockets along wiht a pickle fork to get the pivot points loose.  If you purchase one it is pretty easy to look and see what has to come loose on the old one to do the replacement.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Ok, what is a pickle fork?  Yes, I have a 1993 D21 with a 2.4L 5sp, 4 x 4.

Also my gas milage is just under 20 mpg, The air filter is ok, do I need some new plugs? or what can you suggest to increase the MPG.

Thanks

Answer
Ryland,

A full tuneup including sparkplugs, cap, wires and rotor, with a fuel filter should bring the truck back to normal.  Also, inflate the tires to maximum and bump the timing to make sure it is where it should be per the sticker under the hood.