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[nilocp]

Any thoughts on this? Last year replaced the steering idler, for an aftermarket one.

This years MOT, failed on idler! And yes it is knackered. 10,000 miles and only fit for the bin.

But my problem is actually releasing the taper from the idler on to the tie bar. My  joint splitter will not go in. Last year it just all fell apart easy.

Any suggestions, apart from the BFH

Colin

[chrisgixer]

Air hammer?

[X30XE]

The guide doesn't explain it very well imo....


You need to rotate the steering so that the idler lies UNDER the Tie bar as best possible. Then drive a wedge/cold chisel inbetween the tie bar and the idler as tight as possible then **** the side of the idler with a hammer as hard as you dare, occasionally giving the wedge a **** too. Do this all BEFORE you release the pivot point or it will all just flap about in the breeze. 

[chrisgixer]

Be very careful not to damage the rubber boot on the centre toe rod that the idler bolts to. It's na from Vx, or indeed from anywhere. Only option is from a breaker, which means risking damaging that as well to dismantle it.

[X30XE]

Different size to the TRE ball joint then I presume?

[nilocp]

Air chisel might be the answer, instead of using a standard chisel. I'll try that on the morrow.

[nilocp]

Air chisel did the job.

Thanks for all  the help

[nilocp]

Oh, but has anyone else had a problem with after market idlers? This is 12 months old, 10,000 miles and the bush is moving in the housing. Not what it is supposed to do

Colin

[Terbs]

I think you will find that the general consensus is that only genuine steering idler should be fitted. Its well documented on here about non genuine idlers failing, very quickly in most cases
For your info, the genuine part is about £100 or so inc vat

[nilocp]

I guess you get what you pay for!

We will see if this replacement lasts longer than 12 months

[Lazydocker]

Lemforder used to be good but that is now under debate.

[Terbs]

I guess you get what you pay for!

We will see if this replacement lasts longer than 12 months

I assume this is another after market jobby. Keep us posted
I had a GM one fitted 18 months ago, going fine at the moment

[chrisgixer]

Long standing advice used to be GM or the cheaper lemforder. However the lemforder also fail in short order including mine and many others here lately... This only leaves GM.

The clue to early failure is how it tightens up. GM just do up to 60nm as spec, but the copy/cheap shite/early failure ones don't ever seem to be tight at 60nm. You can go on tightening and it never nips up tight like the GM ones which leave you in no doubt they are properly tight once the correct torque is reached. They real well solid with no flex, where as the cheap ones still have flex and feel wobbly.

Any play in the idler, even slight vertical flex can cause inaccurate steering needing constant adjustment and correction by the driver.