Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Andy A on 05 March 2017, 18:00:44

Title: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: Andy A on 05 March 2017, 18:00:44
What is the best make of idler arm to buy at the moment for an Omega 2.2 2003?

Thanks
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: X30XE on 05 March 2017, 18:04:57
Genuine GM. Anything else is pissing money into the wind.
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: Andy A on 05 March 2017, 18:07:24
Do you know how much VX are charging and do you have a part number?

Thanks
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: RobG on 05 March 2017, 19:23:04
9195731.
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: Andy A on 05 March 2017, 19:48:11
9195731.

Cheers Rob.  :y Hope your keeping well.

Andy
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: TheBoy on 05 March 2017, 20:01:54
Without any shadow of a doubt, GM. About £45 IIRC on trade.

Even the once decent Lemforder are now utter shite (unless everywhere is providing fake stuff), lucky to get it to outlive the warranty.
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: Lazydocker on 05 March 2017, 21:39:33
Must admit, I had no option but to throw a cheap one on a couple of weeks back and it has a little play but not too bad. It will, however, be changed for a GM one in the summer.
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 05 March 2017, 21:40:51
If it lasts that long.  ;) :D

I had a cheap one fail the MOT an hour after it was fitted a few years ago.  :o
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: serek on 05 March 2017, 22:09:50
have on mine poly idler fitter for test see how long will last  :y
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: Shackeng on 05 March 2017, 22:26:25
 :-X :-X :-X :-X :-X I've a Lem waiting to be fitted. :-X :-X :-X
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: allgermanparts on 06 March 2017, 08:54:26
I've yet to see one of our Lemfoerder idler arms returned for premature failure. Two year warranty on them too.
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: TheBoy on 06 March 2017, 09:39:53
I've yet to see one of our Lemfoerder idler arms returned for premature failure. Two year warranty on them too.
Thats because I just bin them Jason.  As can't be without for a few days sending old one back and waiting for replacement etc.

Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: Nick W on 06 March 2017, 09:56:24
I've yet to see one of our Lemfoerder idler arms returned for premature failure. Two year warranty on them too.


Lemforder on mine for about the last 4years.


I do wonder if TB should consider a change in career, and become a durability tester as he seems VERY hard on mechanical things 8)
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: Bojan on 06 March 2017, 12:53:48
Has anybody used this?

https://www.buycarparts.co.uk/lemforder/1243643

As this bushing is actually a part that fails, other parts of the idler arm are quite durable.
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 06 March 2017, 14:34:01
No but could be worth a try.

I always used to have a lot of success with Lemforder ones and do wonder if they either had a bad batch or where sourcing from 'elsewhere'.



Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 06 March 2017, 15:31:15
Eurocrapparts seem to be supplying everyone else... And would explain why nothing is ever in stock...
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: X30XE on 06 March 2017, 17:09:05
have on mine poly idler fitter for test see how long will last  :y

Did you invent/make this yourself or did you buy it off the shelf somewhere?  Seems a sensible route to go.


From memory the genuine ones are exorbitantly expensive, wrong side of £100 retail, not cheap trade. £70 to £90.   
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: TheBoy on 06 March 2017, 18:24:57
No but could be worth a try.

I always used to have a lot of success with Lemforder ones and do wonder if they either had a bad batch or where sourcing from 'elsewhere'.
Up to 4 or 5 years ago, you could guarantee 3 or 4 or more years from them. Now, lucky to get 18 months. Had mine come from the likes of ECP, I'd be thinking they were fake, but last one came from AGP, and I trust them.

I think the quality has dropped badly :(
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: TheBoy on 06 March 2017, 18:25:48
Eurocrapparts seem to be supplying everyone else... And would explain why nothing is ever in stock...
Ah, well, if they supply AGP, that might explain the poor product life of my last one :(
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: TheBoy on 06 March 2017, 18:27:36
I've yet to see one of our Lemfoerder idler arms returned for premature failure. Two year warranty on them too.


Lemforder on mine for about the last 4years.


I do wonder if TB should consider a change in career, and become a durability tester as he seems VERY hard on mechanical things 8)
I'm sure you've stated in the past that yours has some vertical movement in? Therefore its Donald Ducked.
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: TheBoy on 06 March 2017, 18:30:40
From memory the genuine ones are exorbitantly expensive, wrong side of £100 retail, not cheap trade. £70 to £90.
Sure I paid £forty something for mine last September (when the last Lemforder one failed prematurely, so badly, it failed MOT). Might not have inc VAT though, would have to check when I get out of the bath.
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: X30XE on 06 March 2017, 20:19:36
From memory the genuine ones are exorbitantly expensive, wrong side of £100 retail, not cheap trade. £70 to £90.
Sure I paid £forty something for mine last September (when the last Lemforder one failed prematurely, so badly, it failed MOT). Might not have inc VAT though, would have to check when I get out of the bath.

Possible you did get a bargain, however I wouldn't have remembered it quite so bitterly had it only been £45 when I got one on TC (having already wasted £30 on a shit one). Found a post from grischixer suggesting same price too.
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: serek on 06 March 2017, 20:27:46
have on mine poly idler fitter for test see how long will last  :y

Did you invent/make this yourself or did you buy it off the shelf somewhere?  Seems a sensible route to go.


From memory the genuine ones are exorbitantly expensive, wrong side of £100 retail, not cheap trade. £70 to £90.
off shelf they are about £15 inc postage , but its just insert so need pressing in and out
http://modernparts.pl/omega-b-1994-2003/906-omega-b-tuleja-wspornika-drazka.html
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: X30XE on 06 March 2017, 20:34:57
have on mine poly idler fitter for test see how long will last  :y

Did you invent/make this yourself or did you buy it off the shelf somewhere?  Seems a sensible route to go.


From memory the genuine ones are exorbitantly expensive, wrong side of £100 retail, not cheap trade. £70 to £90.
off shelf they are about £15 inc postage , but its just insert so need pressing in and out
http://modernparts.pl/omega-b-1994-2003/906-omega-b-tuleja-wspornika-drazka.html

Happy days! (other than the fact I imagine it's a right pain to press... but then we have you with your press for that)  :D
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: Andy A on 06 March 2017, 20:52:34
have on mine poly idler fitter for test see how long will last  :y

Did you invent/make this yourself or did you buy it off the shelf somewhere?  Seems a sensible route to go.


From memory the genuine ones are exorbitantly expensive, wrong side of £100 retail, not cheap trade. £70 to £90.
off shelf they are about £15 inc postage , but its just insert so need pressing in and out
http://modernparts.pl/omega-b-1994-2003/906-omega-b-tuleja-wspornika-drazka.html

I went to the site and it's all in polish. How did you manage to buy it from them?
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: Lazydocker on 06 March 2017, 21:10:16
have on mine poly idler fitter for test see how long will last  :y

Did you invent/make this yourself or did you buy it off the shelf somewhere?  Seems a sensible route to go.


From memory the genuine ones are exorbitantly expensive, wrong side of £100 retail, not cheap trade. £70 to £90.
off shelf they are about £15 inc postage , but its just insert so need pressing in and out
http://modernparts.pl/omega-b-1994-2003/906-omega-b-tuleja-wspornika-drazka.html

I went to the site and it's all in polish. How did you manage to buy it from them?

Because he speaks Polish ;)
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: serek on 06 March 2017, 22:09:34
have on mine poly idler fitter for test see how long will last  :y

Did you invent/make this yourself or did you buy it off the shelf somewhere?  Seems a sensible route to go.


From memory the genuine ones are exorbitantly expensive, wrong side of £100 retail, not cheap trade. £70 to £90.
off shelf they are about £15 inc postage , but its just insert so need pressing in and out
http://modernparts.pl/omega-b-1994-2003/906-omega-b-tuleja-wspornika-drazka.html

I went to the site and it's all in polish. How did you manage to buy it from them?

google translate  :P
Im Polish  ;)
if they work will have them in large quantity for OOF members
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: Andy A on 07 March 2017, 08:39:38
have on mine poly idler fitter for test see how long will last  :y

Did you invent/make this yourself or did you buy it off the shelf somewhere?  Seems a sensible route to go.


From memory the genuine ones are exorbitantly expensive, wrong side of £100 retail, not cheap trade. £70 to £90.
off shelf they are about £15 inc postage , but its just insert so need pressing in and out
http://modernparts.pl/omega-b-1994-2003/906-omega-b-tuleja-wspornika-drazka.html

I went to the site and it's all in polish. How did you manage to buy it from them?

google translate  :P
Im Polish  ;)
if they work will have them in large quantity for OOF members

Serek, that would be fantastic if you would do that if they work.  :y Did you go for the 90 or the 80 hardness and what difference have you found so far in the feel of the steering if any?

Only trouble is my car goes in for its MOT on Friday and they picked on the idler arm last year as an advisory. Lowest quote so far for a genuine  VX idler arm is £75 delivered.
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: Lazydocker on 07 March 2017, 09:34:54
have on mine poly idler fitter for test see how long will last  :y

Did you invent/make this yourself or did you buy it off the shelf somewhere?  Seems a sensible route to go.


From memory the genuine ones are exorbitantly expensive, wrong side of £100 retail, not cheap trade. £70 to £90.
off shelf they are about £15 inc postage , but its just insert so need pressing in and out
http://modernparts.pl/omega-b-1994-2003/906-omega-b-tuleja-wspornika-drazka.html

I went to the site and it's all in polish. How did you manage to buy it from them?

google translate  :P
Im Polish  ;)
if they work will have them in large quantity for OOF members

Interesting that they seem to list a set (front and rear) of wishbone polybusges too  :-\
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: allgermanparts on 07 March 2017, 11:42:02
Eurocrapparts seem to be supplying everyone else... And would explain why nothing is ever in stock...
Ah, well, if they supply AGP, that might explain the poor product life of my last one :(

They don't supply AGP.. ;D ;D ;D Lemfoerder do. We can also supply this bush. If you can wait a couple of weeks- they are out of stock in the UK presently. You'll need to find the item as follows:

www.allgermanparts.co.uk >
Choose make (presently need to choose ) Opel >
Choose model = Omega B >
Choose sub model eg. 2.2 DTI 16V >
Choose category = Axle mounting, steering and wheels >
Choose sub category = Steering >
Choose 'control arm' (?) and this will show the idler bush in Lemforder.

As I mention these are a couple of weeks delivery from order.

Have a look on the site. It's been relaunched and only Lemfoerder and Meyle on at the moment but with many more coming over the next few days. Price match on genuine UK sites if they're cheaper.
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: TheBoy on 07 March 2017, 13:28:29
They don't supply AGP.. ;D ;D ;D Lemfoerder do.
Thanks for that, as that clearly rules out the fake Lemforder theory then :y

But does mean Lemforder quality has dropped over the past 3 or 4 years :(
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: VXL V6 on 07 March 2017, 18:38:16
It's a pity there isn't a Meyle HD version as the Meyle HD droplinks are far superior (in quality and longetivity) to any other droplinks I've fitted, GM included.
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: allgermanparts on 08 March 2017, 09:27:37
They don't supply AGP.. ;D ;D ;D Lemfoerder do.
Thanks for that, as that clearly rules out the fake Lemforder theory then :y

But does mean Lemforder quality has dropped over the past 3 or 4 years :(

Interesting for sure. We do occasionally see some early VW ball joints made in China and had a Touareg control arm come Made in Taiwan but still saw no failures. Good to get some feedback though.
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: Lazydocker on 08 March 2017, 09:43:47
They don't supply AGP.. ;D ;D ;D Lemfoerder do.
Thanks for that, as that clearly rules out the fake Lemforder theory then :y

But does mean Lemforder quality has dropped over the past 3 or 4 years :(

Which is exactly why I just bunged a cheap one on when I needed one in a hurry... With the MOT approaching rapidly I needed it to pass. I can change it again in the warmer weather.  :y
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: steve6367 on 08 March 2017, 10:15:22
Eurocrapparts seem to be supplying everyone else... And would explain why nothing is ever in stock...
Ah, well, if they supply AGP, that might explain the poor product life of my last one :(

They don't supply AGP.. ;D ;D ;D Lemfoerder do. We can also supply this bush. If you can wait a couple of weeks- they are out of stock in the UK presently. You'll need to find the item as follows:

www.allgermanparts.co.uk >
Choose make (presently need to choose ) Opel >
Choose model = Omega B >
Choose sub model eg. 2.2 DTI 16V >
Choose category = Axle mounting, steering and wheels >
Choose sub category = Steering >
Choose 'control arm' (?) and this will show the idler bush in Lemforder.

As I mention these are a couple of weeks delivery from order.

Have a look on the site. It's been relaunched and only Lemfoerder and Meyle on at the moment but with many more coming over the next few days. Price match on genuine UK sites if they're cheaper.

Site looks good, but can't see the part referenced following the above flow.
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: Vega on 13 March 2017, 20:02:38
off shelf they are about £15 inc postage , but its just insert so need pressing in and out
http://modernparts.pl/omega-b-1994-2003/906-omega-b-tuleja-wspornika-drazka.html

I tried to order them but this was there answer;
Quote
Unfortunately, this part is under reconstruction.
The metal sleeve inside was glued to polyurethane mass of the outer ring and
does not rotate as it should.
Now we are doing different, new, improved design.


Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 13 March 2017, 20:10:02
Wonder whast they say if you order their front wishbone vertical bush... :-\
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: serek on 13 March 2017, 21:26:47
off shelf they are about £15 inc postage , but its just insert so need pressing in and out
http://modernparts.pl/omega-b-1994-2003/906-omega-b-tuleja-wspornika-drazka.html

I tried to order them but this was there answer;
Quote
Unfortunately, this part is under reconstruction.
The metal sleeve inside was glued to polyurethane mass of the outer ring and
does not rotate as it should.
Now we are doing different, new, improved design.
When did you speak to them? Got mine some time ago maybe it's old batch? Not had any problems yet, think they just sale product not manufacturing tho
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: serek on 13 March 2017, 21:28:26
Wonder whast they say if you order their front wishbone vertical bush... :-\
Will be ordering some other parts if you want can get set of those for you
Edit: dont think they are as good as genuine , few members on OKP are not like them
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 13 March 2017, 22:16:57
I currently have no need for Omega bits... that said, I was more than happy with my adapted Sierra bushes right up to the point when the wishbone snapped ::)
Title: Re: Omega 2003 Idler Arm needed. Need advice
Post by: Vega on 13 March 2017, 23:15:38
When did you speak to them? Got mine some time ago maybe it's old batch? Not had any problems yet, think they just sale product not manufacturing tho

Today