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[raymie440]

Hope someone can enlighten me regards the idler. I have replaced the wishbones, steering arms and drop links but I am still getting a little wobble between 50-70mph with a slightly vague feel. I'm now looking to change the steering idler and have seen the posts regarding the cheap ones that are best avoided. I have found that you can purchase the lemforder idler arm insert, just the silver bush part. My question is has anyone done this before, i.e changed just the bush out of the arm? I believe it is the original arm that is on the car and it seems like a more affordable way to change for a good bushing in the idler.

[TheBoy]

The Lemforder ones are now shockingly shite as well.  Lucky to get 2yrs from one.

GM only I'm afraid, £72+VAT trade 

[raymie440]

Cheers TheBoy, the missus isn't going to like that, that's just shy of a fifth of what I paid for the car!

[Toledodude1973]

I know its a lot but when i replaced mine it made so much difference....the misses will understand

[Andy H]

Hope someone can enlighten me regards the idler. I have replaced the wishbones, steering arms and drop links but I am still getting a little wobble between 50-70mph with a slightly vague feel. I'm now looking to change the steering idler and have seen the posts regarding the cheap ones that are best avoided. I have found that you can purchase the lemforder idler arm insert, just the silver bush part. My question is has anyone done this before, i.e changed just the bush out of the arm? I believe it is the original arm that is on the car and it seems like a more affordable way to change for a good bushing in the idler.

/innocent mode on/ Where did you go to get the alignment done after changing the wishbones? /innocent mode off/

[raymie440]

Hi Andy, I followed the guide on here regarding alignment and camber. Used a spirit level with an 8.5mm spacer at 450mm to check the camber and it was spot on at 1 degree. Done the toe in by eye and the car seems to be running great and the steering wheel is straight, car doesn't pull to either side and tracks straight.

[Andy H]

OK - just checking that you were alert to the possibilities.

I set my camber by much the same method as you did after I fitted polybushes in the front of my wishbones.

I intended to get a full alignment done but was happy with the results so haven't bothered.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Also, small point if it helps the OP - how much is a steering idler on a new car? I'd imagine that any idler, or similar chunk of metal will be the same sort of money, or more. All in all, if you keep your eye out on the heebay etc you'll find lots of nice cheap parts, and very good quality/original GM and cheaper to maintain than a new car. (because every few years the newer car will have some mysterious black box break, and be a main-dealer only thing which will cost four figures, instead of 'one off a breaker here for beer tokens'

Once you've bought that idler it'll see you out, for approx 100k. Pissys might be her original, but if it is it's done 186k...let's say it's her second, so that's two idlers in 20 years, and a theoretical couple of year-ish left in the one currently fitted.

If you really want to watch the wallet, see if anyone on here has recently fitted one and is now breaking their Omega? Beware as, anything other than Lemforder are known for more play than a knackered MoT-failing GM one!


Once you've got the 'big' jobs done you're on a bit of an even keel, cost-wise. I've put every penny I need in my old girl in the last year, 'thrown money at her' so to speak, anything she needs, she gets. £140 in 12 months, just over a tenner a month. Versus £200 finance per month on a Hyundai with all the passion and soul of Jeffery Archer in a potato sack I'll stick to my Omega 

[Doctor Gollum]

Cheers TheBoy, the missus isn't going to like that, that's just shy of a fifth of what I paid for the car!

That's what happens when you buy a cheap Omega thinking that will mean it's a years free motoring...

Unless it's a dti of course... then you get to spend a couple of grand only to find that the engine needs rebuilding...  all the other standard issue Omega problems notwithstanding