A compact power running board assembly (10; 100; 300) for a motor vehicle, comprising: an actuator assembly (20; 126) operably coupled to a swing arm (16, 18; 108, 110; 308); a running board (12; 106) operably connected to the swing arm (16, 18; 108, 110; 308); a housing assembly (14; 124; 194) including an opening (128; 196); a pivot shaft (130; 198) located within the housing assembly (14; 124; 194), the swing arm (16, 18; 108, 110; 308) extending through the opening (128; 196) of the housing assembly (14; 124; 194) and operably connected to the pivot shaft (130; 198); a pair of bushing bearings (132, 134; 200, 202) coupled to the pivot shaft (130; 198) within the housing assembly (14; 124; 194); a motor assembly (22; 150; 350) operably coupled to the actuator assembly (20; 126) for driving the actuator assembly (20; 126) to move the running board (12; 106) between at least one stowed position and at least one deployed position. an idler swing arm mechanism including a second swing arm (16, 18; 108, 110; 308) connected to the running board (12; 106) and connected inside of an idler housing assembly (14; 124; 194), wherein the swing arm (16, 18; 108, 110; 308) and the second swing arm (16, 18; 108, 110; 308) form a parallel linkage to move the running board (12; 106) between the at least one stowed position and the at least one deployed position when the swing arm (16, 18; 108, 110; 308) is driven to rotate by the actuator assembly (20; 126); characterized in that wherein the idler swing arm mechanism further includes at least two thrust bearings (204, 206) mounted to the pivot shaft (130; 198), one on each side of the second swing arm, to transfer force to the first and second bushing bearings (200, 202). an actuator assembly (20; 126) operably coupled to a swing arm (16, 18; 108, 110; 308); a running board (12; 106) operably connected to the swing arm (16, 18; 108, 110; 308); a housing assembly (14; 124; 194) including an opening (128; 196); a pivot shaft (130; 198) located within the housing assembly (14; 124; 194), the swing arm (16, 18; 108, 110; 308) extending through the opening (128; 196) of the housing assembly (14; 124; 194) and operably connected to the pivot shaft (130; 198); a pair of bushing bearings (132, 134; 200, 202) coupled to the pivot shaft (130; 198) within the housing assembly (14; 124; 194); a motor assembly (22; 150; 350) operably coupled to the actuator assembly (20; 126) for driving the actuator assembly (20; 126) to move the running board (12; 106) between at least one stowed position and at least one deployed position. an idler swing arm mechanism including a second swing arm (16, 18; 108, 110; 308) connected to the running board (12; 106) and connected inside of an idler housing assembly (14; 124; 194), wherein the swing arm (16, 18; 108, 110; 308) and the second swing arm (16, 18; 108, 110; 308) form a parallel linkage to move the running board (12; 106) between the at least one stowed position and the at least one deployed position when the swing arm (16, 18; 108, 110; 308) is driven to rotate by the actuator assembly (20; 126); characterized in that wherein the idler swing arm mechanism further includes at least two thrust bearings (204, 206) mounted to the pivot shaft (130; 198), one on each side of the second swing arm, to transfer force to the first and second bushing bearings (200, 202).