Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Tony H]

Evenin' all, I've just been searching the net for a steering idler arm. Came across a company called Algermanparts and they had two arms listed one made by Febi Bilstein at a cost of £22.54 and another made by Lemforder at a price of £42.52 quite a price difference  any opinions as to which one to go for my local factors want £84.00 for one    and I don't even know what make it is.

TIA
Tony

[X30XE]

Not long fitted a cheap one to mine (think it might be the FB one you're referring to). Not as stiff as I would have expected (ooh err mrs) or hoped 

But then GM price is a blatant proverbial take and it's a stupid design in terms of the forces acting on the bush, so can't win really. 

[ted_one]

Got Febi idlers on two of mine and have one to go on too car three....not had any problems so far

[Nick W]

Not long fitted a cheap one to mine (think it might be the FB one you're referring to). Not as stiff as I would have expected (ooh err mrs) or hoped 

But then GM price is a blatant proverbial take and it's a stupid design in terms of the forces acting on the bush, so can't win really. 

Omegas have a number of suspect design ideas, but the idler isn't one of them. BMWs have the same sort of thing. In fact, it's hard to think of any other way of doing it.

[X30XE]

I disagree, anything that has that much leverage on a rubber bush is doomed to fail. 

Wheel hits bump - track rod is compressed - idler arm deflects upwards - wheel changes direction - steering input required to avoid hedge. 

Prevailing methodology on OOF for obtaining reasonable handling/tyre wear on a ten + year old omega : replace everything and send to wheels in motion.   

[Nick W]

There isn't a rubber bush in the steering idler.

[chrisgixer]

I disagree, anything that has that much leverage on a rubber bush is doomed to fail. 

Wheel hits bump - track rod is compressed - idler arm deflects upwards - wheel changes direction - steering input required to avoid hedge. 

Prevailing methodology on OOF for obtaining reasonable handling/tyre wear on a ten + year old omega : replace everything and send to wheels in motion.   

If the idler has any flex in it, its shite. So that answers that one re Febi idlers.

Prevailing methodology on oof, don't by pattern parts. Or pay two or three times over, plus tyre wear.

There is Zero flex in a gm idler arm. While I agree the price is expensive, it's the only reliable part for idler arms. The Allgerman ones have flex from new. There should be none. None at all. If it has flex, return it.

[chrisgixer]

There isn't a rubber bush in the steering idler.

*cough*yes there is*coughcough*


....er, well, a rubber sleeve type thing anyway.

[drinksoptional]

Think that's issue with mine can feel movement when going over bumps the ball joints n wishbone fine can feel movment when jack it up. Just bought two part worns as both front insides were showing the white stripes they That bald and didn't want three points or spin off the road so changed pronto. Will be ordering one myself then get tracking done as it pulls to left. Then get new fronts for winter I i don't get welding on Isuzu finished

[X30XE]

There is Zero flex in a gm idler arm....

...when it's in the packet / just fitted to the car.    The one I took off the other week had plenty 

Although I do accept your point re: pattern.

[chrisgixer]

Think that's issue with mine can feel movement when going over bumps the ball joints n wishbone fine can feel movment when jack it up. Just bought two part worns as both front insides were showing the white stripes they That bald and didn't want three points or spin off the road so changed pronto. Will be ordering one myself then get tracking done as it pulls to left. Then get new fronts for winter I i don't get welding on Isuzu finished

Of course you mean full geometric set up, rather than tracking. Tracking/toe setting can be spot on, yet it can still pull due to camber or castor errors.

[X30XE]

There isn't a rubber bush in the steering idler.

Then call me David Blunkett. 

[chrisgixer]

There is Zero flex in a gm idler arm....

...when it's in the packet / just fitted to the car.    The one I took off the other week had plenty 

Although I do accept your point re: pattern.

If you grab the road wheel at 3/9oclock and rock it in and outboard, while watching the idler through the wheel arch, and the idler moves up and down, its fubar. You should get over 100k from a gm idler.

Buy cheap, buy twice. Then moan about it.

[drinksoptional]

Yeah see a few post that you need to get a full set up done on these . Yeah will need to find somewhere up here that can do the full set up think someone said ATS. I have decided will keep the car a few years so with investing in. Plus save on mpg n tyres getting it done right

[X30XE]

If you grab the road wheel at 3/9oclock and rock it in and outboard, while watching the idler through the wheel arch, and the idler moves up and down, its fubar. You should get over 100k from a gm idler.

Buy cheap, buy twice. Then moan about it.

I quite agree; with should being the operative word! This GM one was Donald Ducked at 71k mind, although I've no idea if it's spent it's life going over pincushion speed bumps