Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: alexandjen on 15 January 2008, 12:25:30

Title: Steering Idler and drop links
Post by: alexandjen on 15 January 2008, 12:25:30
Ordered and should get them by the weekend.
Weather permitting I will be changing them on Sat and wondered if anyone has any hints or tips they care to share. I have read/printed the guides from the Maint sect, just wondered if there's anything to add.
Thanks  :y
Title: Re: Steering Idler and drop links
Post by: Craig_R on 15 January 2008, 12:56:19
I need to do my steering idler also the new one is sitting in its box as the weather has been rubbish

From what i have read the quickest and best way to get it off is to shock it off with two hammers hitting it at the same time from either side

Craig
Title: Re: Steering Idler and drop links
Post by: Jay w on 15 January 2008, 12:56:35
get a lot of WD40 or plusgas on the nuts beforehand  :y
Title: Re: Steering Idler and drop links
Post by: VX1 on 15 January 2008, 13:35:33
Or if the idler arm is really stuck on you will need to apply heat to it to get it off, bearing in mind NOT to melt the rubber boot on the ball joints, like I did and had to replace the centre tie rod (steering rack).

Paul
Title: Re: Steering Idler and drop links
Post by: alexandjen on 15 January 2008, 17:59:22
Thanks for the tips guys  :y
Title: Re: Steering Idler and drop links
Post by: TheBoy on 15 January 2008, 18:47:12
Quote
Or if the idler arm is really stuck on you will need to apply heat to it to get it off, bearing in mind NOT to melt the rubber boot on the ball joints, like I did and had to replace the centre tie rod (steering rack).

Paul
I have never had to heat one off  :o
Title: Re: Steering Idler and drop links
Post by: alexandjen on 15 January 2008, 18:51:43
Quote
Quote
Or if the idler arm is really stuck on you will need to apply heat to it to get it off, bearing in mind NOT to melt the rubber boot on the ball joints, like I did and had to replace the centre tie rod (steering rack).

Paul
I have never had to heat one off  :o

Which technique do you use TB?
Title: Re: Steering Idler and drop links
Post by: Craig_R on 15 January 2008, 18:54:31
He wacks them with hammers  :) or is that Mark
Title: Re: Steering Idler and drop links
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 15 January 2008, 19:47:35
Thats me....

The idlers are generaly easy enough to get off the chassis mount but, can be hard to remove from the link rod ball joint.

To remove them off this I turn them so they are in line with the link rod, apply some (not massive/stoke!) pressure with a wedge of some sort and then using two hammers, simultaneously hit both sides of the idler where the ball jpoint passes through.

Works every time!
Title: Re: Steering Idler and drop links
Post by: VX1 on 15 January 2008, 20:04:47
Quote
Thats me....

The idlers are generaly easy enough to get off the chassis mount but, can be hard to remove from the link rod ball joint.

To remove them off this I turn them so they are in line with the link rod, apply some (not massive/stoke!) pressure with a wedge of some sort and then using two hammers, simultaneously hit both sides of the idler where the ball jpoint passes through.

Works every time!

Thats what I tried TB but it didn't work it was stuck on solid, thats why in the end had to heat it up (idler arm) just to get it to expand to be able to work it loose (with a few whacks with a 2lb club hammer) then it came off.
Title: Re: Steering Idler and drop links
Post by: alexandjen on 19 January 2008, 19:27:34
Quote
Thats me....

The idlers are generaly easy enough to get off the chassis mount but, can be hard to remove from the link rod ball joint.

To remove them off this I turn them so they are in line with the link rod, apply some (not massive/stoke!) pressure with a wedge of some sort and then using two hammers, simultaneously hit both sides of the idler where the ball jpoint passes through.
Works every time!




Well I tried this method today and no amount of simultaneous hammer whacking was gonna shift it, I ended up reverting to the method in the main guide and levered down on the link arm while hitting upwards, only took a few hits and it popped off. I noticed that there is a similar part on the drivers side with a 32mm bolt on the underside, does this need changing like the idler to stop tramlining/wandering?
Next cam the droplinks, well what a rather job that was. I thought it was gonna be easy ::)
Both nuts on the drivers side would not budge even with heat  :o I ended up grinding the nuts off after visiting my local VX dealer for 4 new ones.
The passenger side was a little easier with the top nut actually coming undone although very tight and the bottom one again had to be ground off. What didn't help is the lack of room between the top nut and the inner wing  >:( I could only get a spanner on it, no chance of getting a rachet and socket to it.
Well at least it is a good job done, wishbones next later in the year, oh and cambelt as well  :y

Title: Re: Steering Idler and drop links
Post by: TheBoy on 19 January 2008, 19:41:02
I use 2 screw type splitter for one of the balljoints, and a fork for other.  Fork types may damage ball joint though....
Title: Re: Steering Idler and drop links
Post by: Markjay on 19 January 2008, 20:00:04
Got two new wishbones waiting for nicer weather...  :-/