Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Vega on 20 July 2017, 13:06:57

Title: Modified the steering idle arm
Post by: Vega on 20 July 2017, 13:06:57
Don't want to buy every year a new steering idle arm.
So I modified the steering idle arm, no more play, no more rubber, no more MOT issues I hope.
Two needle bearings and two seal and a lot of grease.

(http://i65.tinypic.com/2a00y82.jpg)

(http://i66.tinypic.com/20gya0i.jpg)

(http://i65.tinypic.com/1zbbf35.jpg)

(http://i65.tinypic.com/jayxwy.jpg)

https://youtu.be/p_ruNi2ffwE

Do not know how long it holds, it is only a few weeks since it is on the Omega.
Title: Re: Modified the steering idle arm
Post by: terry paget on 20 July 2017, 13:30:02
Sounds like a brilliant idea. I can't think why Vx didn't do it that way from the outset.
Title: Re: Modified the steering idle arm
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 20 July 2017, 15:10:21
Sounds like a brilliant idea. I can't think why Vx didn't do it that way from the outset.

Price, next question.... :y
Title: Re: Modified the steering idle arm
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 20 July 2017, 15:15:09
What size bearings and seals did you use?
Title: Re: Modified the steering idle arm
Post by: TheBoy on 20 July 2017, 19:36:33
Watching, with interest :) :y
Title: Re: Modified the steering idle arm
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 20 July 2017, 19:50:30
Me too. Don't know why it hasn't been thought of before tbh, but that's often the way with clever but simple ideas.
Title: Re: Modified the steering idle arm
Post by: tunnie on 20 July 2017, 20:21:24
Not done before because it's not really needed? Changed 1 idler on one Omega out of 4 over the years. Never touched 3.2's either....

Across both of mine never had advisory for one either, combined miles from me of arouns 150k. That's before you factor in the other 2 we had for ages.
Title: Re: Modified the steering idle arm
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 20 July 2017, 20:25:27
They all wear out eventually. Ive had to change few. When they do wear out its always been either difficult or expensive to source a good quality replacement.
The needle roller alternative will also give the steering assembly a more positive direct feel  by eliminating the rubber bush.
Title: Re: Modified the steering idle arm
Post by: TheBoy on 20 July 2017, 20:57:20
Not done before because it's not really needed? Changed 1 idler on one Omega out of 4 over the years. Never touched 3.2's either....

Across both of mine never had advisory for one either, combined miles from me of arouns 150k. That's before you factor in the other 2 we had for ages.
I think some people only change them when they can't get an MOT.  The sort of driver who wants tyres that are cheap, round and black.  Having driven your old beloved 2.2, as well as been in the car with you a few times, your driving style most of the time fits into that.  TBH, with your 2.2 suspension/steering whenever I drove it, I think it would be hard to feel from the wheel that the lack of precision was the idler or not.

Some people like their cars far more precise and predictable - it was blatantly obvious om my beloved silver bullet when idler gained some play.

So, if you fall into the latter, this might be a viable alternative to GM :y


(no comments intended to be derogatory in any way, seems I am constantly disagreeing with you today Mr tunnie, not my intention)
Title: Re: Modified the steering idle arm
Post by: tunnie on 20 July 2017, 21:04:50
 ;D ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Modified the steering idle arm
Post by: tidla on 20 July 2017, 21:16:33
http://www.skf.com/binary/77-121486/SKF-rolling-bearings-catalogue.pdf

Yep. Probably a lot easier to get the bearing numbers from that sweet little job.
Title: Re: Modified the steering idle arm
Post by: aaronjb on 21 July 2017, 09:10:09
The idler is held on by a spacer tube, isn't it? My only thought is that if that spacer is bearing on the outer race, it'd make the bearing ineffective, and if it's bearing on the rubber seal then it might well prematurely wear the seal out by forcing it to rotate against the outer shell or transferring the clamping force to the needles rather than the inner shell?

Not that I've ever actually held one in my hands, so just working on the picture.


Some people like their cars far more precise and predictable

Probably wise to buy a car with a rack rather than a Defender-esque steering box, then  :P

Quote
(no comments intended to be derogatory in any way, seems I am constantly disagreeing with you today Mr tunnie, not my intention)

Where is TB and what have you done with him?
Title: Re: Modified the steering idle arm
Post by: Kevin Wood on 21 July 2017, 10:26:33
The idler is held on by a spacer tube, isn't it? My only thought is that if that spacer is bearing on the outer race, it'd make the bearing ineffective, and if it's bearing on the rubber seal then it might well prematurely wear the seal out by forcing it to rotate against the outer shell or transferring the clamping force to the needles rather than the inner shell?

Not that I've ever actually held one in my hands, so just working on the picture.

To make it work I think you'd have to trim / shim the spacer tube so there's a tiny amount of clearance once the bolt is tightened up, so the outer tube and bearings are floating on the mounting. You'd also want the bearings and seals to sit inside the tube so it's the tube that bears onto the clamping surfaces when there are side loads, not the side of the bearings or seals.

It's a nice idea, though. :y
Title: Re: Modified the steering idle arm
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 21 July 2017, 10:34:32
Anybody got an old one I can play with
Title: Re: Modified the steering idle arm
Post by: LC0112G on 21 July 2017, 14:12:14
Anybody got an old one I can play with

£20 will get you a new (cheap Chinese nock-off) one delivered to your door. If you're just going to butcher the rubber bush out the remaining metal should be Ok. It'll cost someone a fiver to post you a mankey old rogered one.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vauxhall-Omega-Carlton-Steering-Idler-Arm-110mm-9195731-/332155081336?epid=1227404799&hash=item4d55fc5278:m:ml28u3pNQMhZAJYvHU5_agw
Title: Re: Modified the steering idle arm
Post by: TheBoy on 21 July 2017, 19:12:37
Anybody got an old one I can play with
I think I still have the Lemforder I took off TBE last year - I'll root around in the garage tomorrow :y
Title: Re: Modified the steering idle arm
Post by: TheBoy on 21 July 2017, 19:16:19
tomorrow
Don't be daft TB, you know its Brakkers beer festival, so no chance of doing anything constructive.
Title: Re: Modified the steering idle arm
Post by: Stige on 22 July 2017, 06:47:22
Im also interested in the bearing sizes and everything else you made/modified.

Edit: i just checked and they sell premade kits for this swap for old chevys and even my 68 Satellite, probably a wortwhile conversion.
Title: Re: Modified the steering idle arm
Post by: TheBoy on 22 July 2017, 11:27:55
Anybody got an old one I can play with
Yes, confirmed, I have the one I took off TBE last year :)
Title: Re: Modified the steering idler arm
Post by: Vega on 17 August 2017, 20:23:10
Sorry for the delay in replying, I was on holiday with the Omega.

After driving about 5000 Km with this modified idler arm I am still very pleased with it.
Steering is very smooth.

The parts that you need are;
1x washer 36x20x3 mm (stainless steel)
2x SKF 18/20 needle bearing
2x seals 26x18x6 mm
One custom made washer (nut side)

The inside of the tube is about 25,5 mm and need to be 26 mm (outside size of the bearing).
So you need to go to a machinery workshop to fit the bearings and the custom made washer or do it at home or work if you have the proper equipment.

(https://www.mupload.nl/img/apz15ux0qevte.jpg)
Title: Re: Modified the steering idle arm
Post by: laney101 on 17 September 2017, 03:48:47
would replacing rubber bush with polyurethane not be a good option?
Title: Re: Modified the steering idle arm
Post by: serek on 17 September 2017, 12:00:52
Got Poly bush idler arm on mine all good atm :y
Title: Re: Modified the steering idle arm
Post by: Vega on 17 September 2017, 12:31:28
would replacing rubber bush with polyurethane not be a good option?

If there were any, probably.

Got Poly bush idler arm on mine all good atm :y

You bought the last ones. None available anymore.
Title: Re: Modified the steering idle arm
Post by: Shackeng on 17 September 2017, 12:47:25
This sounds like a good one for a guide. :y
Title: Re: Modified the steering idle arm
Post by: ajsphead on 22 September 2017, 20:36:16
Before I pay £20 for a next to scrap new arm, does anyone have the dimensions of the bush?

I need the length from the inner surface of each flange, total length, o/d and i/d of bush, Going to have a hunt around amongst the general non model specific poly bushes in various catalogues to see if one matches.
Title: Re: Modified the steering idle arm
Post by: mandula on 13 April 2018, 08:22:37
Got Poly bush idler arm on mine all good atm :y

Are these available somewhere?

I have brand new idler arm installed, and when I jack wheel up and push/pull it from 3 and 9 o'clock I can see idler arm head (point where it attaches to centre tie rod) move up/down about 0,5 cm.
Or should I just modify better bushings from some general PU bushing and fit them to idler arm  ::)
Title: Re: Modified the steering idle arm
Post by: Shackeng on 13 April 2018, 16:38:09
This bearing mod would allow me to fit a grease nipple, IMO the only thing missing on my Omega. ::)
Title: Re: Modified the steering idle arm
Post by: TheBoy on 13 April 2018, 18:26:55
This bearing mod would allow me to fit a grease nipple, IMO the only thing missing on my Omega. ::)
You miss playing with nipples?
Title: Re: Modified the steering idle arm
Post by: Shackeng on 13 April 2018, 21:59:29
Very much. ::)