Modified the steering idle arm

[Vega]

Don't want to buy every year a new steering idle arm.
So I modified the steering idle arm, no more play, no more rubber, no more MOT issues I hope.
Two needle bearings and two seal and a lot of grease.









https://youtu.be/p_ruNi2ffwE

Do not know how long it holds, it is only a few weeks since it is on the Omega.

[terry paget]

Sounds like a brilliant idea. I can't think why Vx didn't do it that way from the outset.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Sounds like a brilliant idea. I can't think why Vx didn't do it that way from the outset.

Price, next question....

[Marks DTM Calib]

What size bearings and seals did you use?

[TheBoy]

Watching, with interest

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Me too. Don't know why it hasn't been thought of before tbh, but that's often the way with clever but simple ideas.

[tunnie]

Not done before because it's not really needed? Changed 1 idler on one Omega out of 4 over the years. Never touched 3.2's either....

Across both of mine never had advisory for one either, combined miles from me of arouns 150k. That's before you factor in the other 2 we had for ages.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

They all wear out eventually. Ive had to change few. When they do wear out its always been either difficult or expensive to source a good quality replacement.
The needle roller alternative will also give the steering assembly a more positive direct feel  by eliminating the rubber bush.

[TheBoy]

Not done before because it's not really needed? Changed 1 idler on one Omega out of 4 over the years. Never touched 3.2's either....

Across both of mine never had advisory for one either, combined miles from me of arouns 150k. That's before you factor in the other 2 we had for ages.

I think some people only change them when they can't get an MOT.  The sort of driver who wants tyres that are cheap, round and black.  Having driven your old beloved 2.2, as well as been in the car with you a few times, your driving style most of the time fits into that.  TBH, with your 2.2 suspension/steering whenever I drove it, I think it would be hard to feel from the wheel that the lack of precision was the idler or not.

Some people like their cars far more precise and predictable - it was blatantly obvious om my beloved silver bullet when idler gained some play.

So, if you fall into the latter, this might be a viable alternative to GM


(no comments intended to be derogatory in any way, seems I am constantly disagreeing with you today Mr tunnie, not my intention)

[tunnie]

 

[tidla]

http://www.skf.com/binary/77-121486/SKF-rolling-bearings-catalogue.pdf

Yep. Probably a lot easier to get the bearing numbers from that sweet little job.

[aaronjb]

The idler is held on by a spacer tube, isn't it? My only thought is that if that spacer is bearing on the outer race, it'd make the bearing ineffective, and if it's bearing on the rubber seal then it might well prematurely wear the seal out by forcing it to rotate against the outer shell or transferring the clamping force to the needles rather than the inner shell?

Not that I've ever actually held one in my hands, so just working on the picture.

Some people like their cars far more precise and predictable

Probably wise to buy a car with a rack rather than a Defender-esque steering box, then 

(no comments intended to be derogatory in any way, seems I am constantly disagreeing with you today Mr tunnie, not my intention)

Where is TB and what have you done with him?

[Kevin Wood]

The idler is held on by a spacer tube, isn't it? My only thought is that if that spacer is bearing on the outer race, it'd make the bearing ineffective, and if it's bearing on the rubber seal then it might well prematurely wear the seal out by forcing it to rotate against the outer shell or transferring the clamping force to the needles rather than the inner shell?

Not that I've ever actually held one in my hands, so just working on the picture.

To make it work I think you'd have to trim / shim the spacer tube so there's a tiny amount of clearance once the bolt is tightened up, so the outer tube and bearings are floating on the mounting. You'd also want the bearings and seals to sit inside the tube so it's the tube that bears onto the clamping surfaces when there are side loads, not the side of the bearings or seals.

It's a nice idea, though.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Anybody got an old one I can play with

[LC0112G]

Anybody got an old one I can play with

£20 will get you a new (cheap Chinese nock-off) one delivered to your door. If you're just going to butcher the rubber bush out the remaining metal should be Ok. It'll cost someone a fiver to post you a mankey old rogered one.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vauxhall-Omega-Carlton-Steering-Idler-Arm-110mm-9195731-/332155081336?epid=1227404799&hash=item4d55fc5278:m:ml28u3pNQMhZAJYvHU5_agw