Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Liam on 29 March 2011, 10:52:58

Title: Steering idler arm or kit??
Post by: Liam on 29 March 2011, 10:52:58

Hi there,

Failed MOT on vertical play in the steering idler arm. Looked at the guide here and all seems very straight forward. Unfortunately I'm working away from home and for the first time will have to get a garage to do the work (also including sorting an exhaust leak). Anyway - I know I could get the arm for £42 from Vauxhall at TC prices, or a Lemforder one from my decent local motor factor for the same price. Garage is quoting a silly price of over £100 for the part - but I think that must be for the whole idler kit - the arm and the part that bolts to the car with the pivot on it.

Question is is it always just the arm that needs replacing or can the other part wear too? Seems the people on here only change the arm, but I'd be a bit embarassed if I instruct the garage to get only the arm, or supply it myself, and the other part needs changing too.

Any advice appreciated. Cheers,

Liam

Title: Re: Steering idler arm or kit??
Post by: feeutfo on 29 March 2011, 12:35:59

Not had a steering idler fail personally, but from what I see on here, only the arm itself fails.

Title: Re: Steering idler arm or kit??
Post by: TheBoy on 29 March 2011, 13:06:24

Just the arm itself (this is where the bush is), no need to replace pivot bit that bolts to chassis.

Title: Re: Steering idler arm or kit??
Post by: 2woody on 29 March 2011, 13:08:00

the part that tends to fail is the bearing pack that allows the "arm" to rotate on the "pivot".

There are two completely different designs of bearing pack, either of which can come from GM under tha same number.

you have two options :-

bearing pack on its own, or

complete arm/pivot/bearing pack assy.

Title: Re: Steering idler arm or kit??
Post by: TheBoy on 29 March 2011, 13:11:00

Quote

the part that tends to fail is the bearing pack that allows the "arm" to rotate on the "pivot".

There are two completely different designs of bearing pack, either of which can come from GM under tha same number.

you have two options :-

bearing pack on its own, or

complete arm/pivot/bearing pack assy.

I have only ever replaced the arm, not the pivot pin, and used GM parts and Lemforder parts.

That said, I've only done it around 4 times ;D

Title: Re: Steering idler arm or kit??
Post by: Liam on 29 March 2011, 13:18:28

Thanks guys - I figured the pivot would likely be some hardened shaft, and the arm would likely contain some sort of bearing or bush made of something much squishier, and be the bit that wears. The garage have let me supply the lemforder arm myself and my friendly factor is even going to deliver it to them.

I could get used to this remote vehicle maintenance :)

Although I haven't seen the labour bill yet :(