Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Andy A on 10 April 2020, 20:08:01

Title: Idler Arm part question
Post by: Andy A on 10 April 2020, 20:08:01
The idler arm on my Desmond needs replacing. I purchased this one https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333400054548 Vauxhall part number 920367, Opel part number 90092492 for a Carlton & Senatorr. Will it fit my 2003 omega?
 

Thanks
Title: Re: Idler Arm part question
Post by: dave the builder on 10 April 2020, 20:25:53
there are 2 lengths of arm for carlton senny , 110mm and 121mm
your part numbers seem to relate to the rarer 121mm version (quick google)
are all Omega B the 110mm ?
Title: Re: Idler Arm part question
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 10 April 2020, 20:52:28
there are 2 lengths of arm for carlton senny , 110mm and 121mm
your part numbers seem to relate to the rarer 121mm version (quick google)
are all Omega B the 110mm ?
Yes, because they all have power steering  :y
Title: Re: Idler Arm part question
Post by: cam.in.head on 10 April 2020, 22:37:29
still a better bet if wrong length than a non gm aftermarket because the bush will be good quality and fit your old arm.i beleive the bush size / diameter etc is the same
Title: Re: Idler Arm part question
Post by: LC0112G on 10 April 2020, 23:01:25
still a better bet if wrong length than a non gm aftermarket because the bush will be good quality and fit your old arm.i beleive the bush size / diameter etc is the same

Err - if it's a different length to the arm on the steering box then you're going to get some queer tyre wear when cornering since the wheels won't turn in/out equally.
Title: Re: Idler Arm part question
Post by: cam.in.head on 11 April 2020, 09:01:39
yes but the bush will be a good quality one. the aftermarket ones appear to not last long
Title: Re: Idler Arm part question
Post by: Andy A on 11 April 2020, 09:12:39
still a better bet if wrong length than a non gm aftermarket because the bush will be good quality and fit your old arm.i beleive the bush size / diameter etc is the same

Thats a good idea. Anyone got the dimensions of the bush that fits in the 110mm Omega B one?
Title: Re: Idler Arm part question
Post by: GastronomicKleptomaniac on 11 April 2020, 09:25:50
still a better bet if wrong length than a non gm aftermarket because the bush will be good quality and fit your old arm.i beleive the bush size / diameter etc is the same

Err - if it's a different length to the arm on the steering box then you're going to get some queer tyre wear when cornering since the wheels won't turn in/out equally.

I think he meant to fit the new bush to the old arm. :y
Title: Re: Idler Arm part question
Post by: Enceladus on 11 April 2020, 13:02:47
As I understand it all Omega B/B2 use 110mm arms excepting the later BMW 2.5 diesels which were not sold in the UK.
The ZF catalogue says the 121mm parts you bought are for 'extended wheelbase' variants, so they're for Omega A/Carlton limousine models, not the standard models. Not many of those still around and nothing to do with the absence of power steering.

Some forum members have reported reasonable results by re-bushing the original idler arm.
According to the ZF catalogue the bush you need is available separately from the arm as LEMFÖRDER 11602 03 or Boge 87-020-A. However it's far from certain that these aftermarket bushes are as good as an original.

You won't find a new original arm (GM #9195731) in Europe or the USA. ZF stopped making them in the German factory years ago.
Title: Re: Idler Arm part question
Post by: dave the builder on 11 April 2020, 13:27:02
I remember my 1993 Carlton CDi had 121mm idler ,i brought a 110mm one and it did not match
so maybe at the end of production of carlton/senny ,Opel used whatever they had  :-\
the 121mm arm was very hard to get at the time compared to the 110mm omega item

i imagine you'd need a decent press to swap just the bush over between variants  :-\
Title: Re: Idler Arm part question
Post by: Andy A on 11 April 2020, 14:27:50
Can anyone confirm that the 121mm bush is the same dimensions asthe 110mm one?

I've also got one of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01B7QFQ0Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 hopefully it will be man enough for the job. What do you think?
Title: Re: Idler Arm part question
Post by: LC0112G on 11 April 2020, 16:09:59
As I understand it all Omega B/B2 use 110mm arms excepting the later BMW 2.5 diesels which were not sold in the UK.
The ZF catalogue says the 121mm parts you bought are for 'extended wheelbase' variants, so they're for Omega A/Carlton limousine models, not the standard models. Not many of those still around and nothing to do with the absence of power steering.

EPC 2001 says 90092492 is for Carltons with C20NE, C24NE, 18NV, 18SEH, 18SV, E18NVR, S18NV, 20SE, 30NE, C30NE, LOTUS, 23DTR, 23YD and 23YDT - All WITH Power steering. About the only Carlton it is NOT for is the C30SE/GSI3000.

So the part Andy A has bought fits/fitted the majority of cars. It probably fits the majority of Carltons still on the road (Lotus!). Famous last words though - never heard of one failing on a Carlton.
Title: Re: Idler Arm part question
Post by: Andy A on 19 April 2020, 09:44:14
Thanks for all the info. The 121mm Idler arm has arrived. I just need to remove the bush and put it into my 110mm Idler arm.

Has anyone successfully removed the Idler bush intact and is it correct I can only push the bush out on the outer metal part of the bush?

Never done one before and there doesn’t seem to be a lot of metal to press down on because the rubber part of the bush is in the way.

Any how to advice welcome.
Title: Re: Idler Arm part question
Post by: razzo on 19 April 2020, 10:41:49
I managed to press out the rubber bush which was bonded to the inner sleeve using a suitable size socket on the inner sleeve
Title: Re: Idler Arm part question
Post by: Andy A on 19 April 2020, 12:49:01
Will give it ago razzo.
Title: Re: Idler Arm part question
Post by: Andy A on 19 April 2020, 15:39:07
Got it out. Refitting into my Idler arm should be fine. The bloke on Ebay has out another one up for sale if anyone needs a replacement Bush.

Thanks all for youe help.  :y :y
Title: Re: Idler Arm part question
Post by: cam.in.head on 19 April 2020, 18:38:41
if it was tight i was going to suggest cutting a groove in the surrounding arm to releive the tension but you have beaten me to it and already got it out.at least the proper omega arm will now have good quality oem bush and should last a fair while. this is how i did mine 5 years ago and all is still well as i expected
Title: Re: Idler Arm part question
Post by: Andy A on 19 April 2020, 20:24:03
Just got to find the time to take the old arm out. Weather looks good this week as well.
Title: Re: Idler Arm part question
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 19 April 2020, 21:57:48
It's only two nuts, have you done it yet?
Title: Re: Idler Arm part question
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 19 May 2020, 21:30:54
Got it out. Refitting into my Idler arm should be fine. The bloke on Ebay has out another one up for sale if anyone needs a replacement Bush.

Thanks all for youe help.  :y :y

I bought the one he had left, so at some point need to go through the bush pressing out / in process. No great hurry as mine is in reasonable condition anyway.
Title: Re: Idler Arm part question
Post by: Andy A on 20 May 2020, 09:59:40
Got it out. Refitting into my Idler arm should be fine. The bloke on Ebay has out another one up for sale if anyone needs a replacement Bush.

Thanks all for youe help.  :y :y

I bought the one he had left, so at some point need to go through the bush pressing out / in process. No great hurry as mine is in reasonable condition anyway.

Nice one.  :y

Haven't fitted mine yet, still working on my son's car in-between other things.

I'm wondering whether to replace just the centre rubber and inner sleeve into the old outer sleeve or just change the bush complete with outer and inner sleeve. Anyone with any thoughts on that?

Between the rubber part and the outer metal sleeve it is lubricated. Should I re-lubricate this if I chose to use old outer sleeve and what lube should I use?