Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: rustym95 on 20 November 2009, 23:04:08

Title: MOT again.
Post by: rustym95 on 20 November 2009, 23:04:08
well she failed to day anti-roll bar link ball joint, and steering idler has movment at fixings, not had chance to look yet as been raining so on of chance got some anti-roll bar lincs for both side may as well do them at same time £17.09, then have a look tomorrow at the steering fixings. what is best way to change them, are the called drop downs aswell?
any help thanks
Title: Re: MOT again.
Post by: RobG on 20 November 2009, 23:27:19
Called drop-links. IIRC 17 or 18mm spanner, undo both nuts, whack the link out and renew. Don`t use a pattern idler arm!!!!!!
Title: Re: MOT again.
Post by: davethediver on 20 November 2009, 23:30:55
Quote
Called drop-links. IIRC 17 or 18mm spanner, undo both nuts, whack the link out and renew. Don`t use a pattern idler arm!!!!!!

I'll vouch for that rob i used a pattern idler lasted about 3000 miles not even a month for me :(
Title: Re: MOT again.
Post by: RobG on 20 November 2009, 23:32:13
Quote
Quote
Called drop-links. IIRC 17 or 18mm spanner, undo both nuts, whack the link out and renew. Don`t use a pattern idler arm!!!!!!

I'll vouch for that rob i used a pattern idler lasted about 3000 miles not even a month for me :(
Not bad mileage for a pattern ;)
Title: Re: MOT again.
Post by: rustym95 on 20 November 2009, 23:35:42
Quote
Called drop-links. IIRC 17 or 18mm spanner, undo both nuts, whack the link out and renew. Don`t use a pattern idler arm!!!!!!
thanks, says it is the fixing no need to replace on idler on the note, near side, will have a look tomorrow, so the one i have payed for are the right one then, as offside is gone, but best to do both side at same time.£17.09 for both.
Title: Re: MOT again.
Post by: RobG on 20 November 2009, 23:41:46
Drop-link in this pic. Black arm showing bottom joint :y
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1219190177
Title: Re: MOT again.
Post by: rustym95 on 20 November 2009, 23:45:04
cool do them then when they come. :) :) :y
Title: Re: MOT again.
Post by: RobG on 20 November 2009, 23:50:28
Be advisable to spray the nuts with "Plusgas" or similar periodically until you get the new links :y (Had to use a blowtorch on mine)
Title: Re: MOT again.
Post by: rustym95 on 20 November 2009, 23:53:54
ok thanks mate :y :y :) :)
Title: Re: MOT again.
Post by: holtender on 21 November 2009, 00:05:48
Yes I had similar problems, but no heat, so an angle grinder took the bolt off!
Title: Re: MOT again.
Post by: rustym95 on 21 November 2009, 01:06:03
just found my ball spliter fits in nice, had look at idler, nut undun and rubber taking the steering think i will put a split pin in to stop it coming undun again or another nut :y :y
Title: Re: MOT again.
Post by: rustym95 on 22 November 2009, 05:08:32
well no look its still wet so cannot get under to do the idler arm, is there a bolt as can see nut, is it put in at top, as to wet at mo cannot get under but just wont to know as cannot see, or is it a locking bolt with no head, hope fully get under to fix it soon with help from the weather, fingers cross't.
Title: Re: MOT again.
Post by: tunnie on 22 November 2009, 08:42:34
when you replace the drop links, you will need to get the toe alignment checked again
Title: Re: MOT again.
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 22 November 2009, 08:53:04
Quote
when you replace the drop links, you will need to get the toe alignment checked again

No you wont....
Title: Re: MOT again.
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 22 November 2009, 08:56:24
Change idler as per the maintenance guide.....this is a recognised source of good idlers:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vauxhall-Steering-Idler-Arm-110mm-9195731-Omega-Carlton_W0QQitemZ190343599547QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item2c515cd5bb

As for the drop links, the only pattern Items that I have found to be any good are FAI ones, all the other cheap ones have not lasted.

The idler uses lock nuts so should not come loose
Title: Re: MOT again.
Post by: rustym95 on 22 November 2009, 09:05:33
as its not raining ive taken the idler off and the rubbers gone, oh and its only got a nut on it not a lock nut, looks like it has been undone for a wile but not been under since last mot so ??? found some other nut lose as well on other things that i know were tight as i put them on last year, strange. i will see about getting that one on be bay. :y
Title: Re: MOT again.
Post by: tunnie on 22 November 2009, 09:08:55
Quote
Quote
when you replace the drop links, you will need to get the toe alignment checked again

No you wont....

Oops no your right, i was thinking of track rods
Title: Re: MOT again.
Post by: rustym95 on 23 November 2009, 01:23:09
well had ago at getting the idler off, no joy, rock solid tryed for 3hrs, the arms will not come off it,, have to try again if the rain stops again. :-[