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[TheBoy]

Has anyone noticed that even with brand new bushing, before tightening it in place, there is some noticeable slack?

I have tried few years ago and couple of months ago again with two brand new bushings (Febi) and same thing both times. There is about 1-2 mm free movement between the shaft and bushing. Should it be like this or is my shaft worn down so much?

Not something you get on the genuine ones or the (real) Lemforders

I think even genuine (non ECP sourced) Lemforders are of shocking quality now. Good when fitted, but play within months - enough play to upset the handling.

Hence I do only ever fit ones provided by my friendly Vauxhall dealer.  Even if they are £50 .

[cam.in.head]

sorry if i read this wrong. did you say that there is some slack"before you tighten it up"? if so that is normal .it tightens up to a tapered end on the shaft. what you dont want is some slack AfTER its tightened up. once tightened it should stay tightened. doesnt need any more nipping up.as others have said its the rubber internal bushing that wears and as some people have found out some aftermarket ones are rubbish ,having looseness /movement in the rubber from day one. if you can find a genuine arm from a carlton ,senator,monza etc you can use the bushing from that and fit into your own correct length arm

[mandula]

sorry if i read this wrong. did you say that there is some slack"before you tighten it up"? if so that is normal .it tightens up to a tapered end on the shaft. what you dont want is some slack AfTER its tightened up. once tightened it should stay tightened. doesnt need any more nipping up.as others have said its the rubber internal bushing that wears and as some people have found out some aftermarket ones are rubbish ,having looseness /movement in the rubber from day one. if you can find a genuine arm from a carlton ,senator,monza etc you can use the bushing from that and fit into your own correct length arm

Yep, the play is most noticeable when arm is finger-tightened to place.
But there still is some play that can be noticed also when tightened fully (you can feel small clonking when you jiggle the arm up and down).

[LC0112G]

Three more dealers, and two online brokers all confirming no UK/EU stock and NLS. Looks like it's true.

[Doctor Gollum]

Three more dealers, and two online brokers all confirming no UK/EU stock and NLS. Looks like it's true.

Some imagination required, not but, but some...

http://m.ebay.com/itm/BRAND-NEW-GENUINE-GM-OEM-STEERING-IDLER-ARM-9195731-/281886440271?fits=Make%3ACadillac%7CModel%3ACatera&epid=657139558&hash=item41a1bdbb4f%3Ag%3AisMAAOSwvFZW7jAa&_trkparms=pageci%253A65acc410-6e36-11e7-8dc2-74dbd18078e8%257Cparentrq%253A6619dc1315d0ac896629df8afffd5874%257Ciid%253A21

[LC0112G]

Three more dealers, and two online brokers all confirming no UK/EU stock and NLS. Looks like it's true.

Some imagination required, not but, but some...

http://m.ebay.com/itm/BRAND-NEW-GENUINE-GM-OEM-STEERING-IDLER-ARM-9195731-/281886440271?fits=Make%3ACadillac%7CModel%3ACatera&epid=657139558&hash=item41a1bdbb4f%3Ag%3AisMAAOSwvFZW7jAa&_trkparms=pageci%253A65acc410-6e36-11e7-8dc2-74dbd18078e8%257Cparentrq%253A6619dc1315d0ac896629df8afffd5874%257Ciid%253A21

Yes, I know I can possibly get it from the USA, but I have the MOT re-fail booked for Monday and was hoping to sort it out this weekend. It's cheaper direct from GM USA though :

http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/oe-gm/9195731

That's always assuming they really do have them in stock in the USA. I've ordered from 3 different UK outlets all claiming to have them in stock, but you then get a call/email back after 24 hours saying 'sorry - out of stock and no more available".

[Doctor Gollum]

It says that they have one available... I wouldn't dither too long

[TheBoy]

I've ordered from 3 different UK outlets all claiming to have them in stock, but you then get a call/email back after 24 hours saying 'sorry - out of stock and no more available".

And why, as I was banging on on another thread, I prefer to ring up and check that they actually have one in their hand.  So many online places hold minimal stock and order on demand, but claim to hold it in stock.

[Sir Tigger KC]

I have the MOT re-fail booked for Monday and was hoping to sort it out this weekend.

Have you tried tightening it up to get it through your retest? 

I had a new idler fitted to mine by a garage for £50 in 2007, so at that price it would have been a cheap one.  Every now and again I used to nip it up a bit with a long breaker bar if it felt slack (1/4 to 1/2 a turn) and it seemed to work.  I assumed that I was crushing up the rubber bush a bit more. 

I never changed it and it always went through the MOT OK.    I know it's a bodge, but worth a go even if it's short term fix for the MOT. 

[biggriffin]

IIRC someone (serek, maybe?) had a source of a poly version..

Correct. Serek has the modified poly fitted, 5000m no issues, and also has them in stock. 

[LC0112G]

I have the MOT re-fail booked for Monday and was hoping to sort it out this weekend.

Have you tried tightening it up to get it through your retest? 

I had a new idler fitted to mine by a garage for £50 in 2007, so at that price it would have been a cheap one.  Every now and again I used to nip it up a bit with a long breaker bar if it felt slack (1/4 to 1/2 a turn) and it seemed to work.  I assumed that I was crushing up the rubber bush a bit more. 

I never changed it and it always went through the MOT OK.    I know it's a bodge, but worth a go even if it's short term fix for the MOT. 

It's only an advisory not a fail at the moment. The garage has got a "First Line" one in and are intending to fit that on Monday during the re-fail. If I could have located a genuine GM one by Monday then I'd have got them to fit that instead. I did warn them that there are quite a lot of poor quality aftermarket ones about and they've said if their one fails again they'll replace it for free. I'll keep the old one just incase.

The car actually failed on handbrake efficiency - but it always does till I've attacked that 'kin stupid knurled adjuster widget. Also had an advisory on both rear tyres, which was fair enough given that they are my racing slicks. Now replaced with a new pair.

Strange thing is I've had my Carlton for 22 years now and the idler is the only part of the suspension or steering that has never given me any grief. You lot start talking about Omega idlers and the thing immediately packs up.

[Doctor Gollum]

First line? Better of fitting the box it came in

[cam.in.head]

yes ive got a carlton too and the idler has been on it since new.got 150k on it now. maybee theyre a better rubber ,maybee cos theyre a different length who knows? .a fee years sgo we had one fail on a 86 senator. i dismantled it and shimmed the bore as a temporary measure .that was 2007 and as far as i know he hasnt touched it since !