What does an idle-arm do on the steering column of a Lincoln Town Car?

In a Lincoln Town Car (and many other cars), the idle arm is part of the steering linkage. It's not directly *on* the steering column itself, but rather connected to it. Its job is to translate the rotational movement of the steering column (from the steering wheel) into the linear movement needed to steer the wheels. Essentially, it's a lever that helps convert the turning motion into the side-to-side motion required for the tie rods and ultimately the wheels to turn.