I'm in the middle of changing my steering idler as it failed its mot yesterday. I got it off the centre tie bar with a ball joint splitter quite easily. I didnt realise the idler is on a bracket. There is two bolts holding this bracket on, I can feel the top bolt thread sticking out of the other side of the bracket, but the lower bolt cannot be felt sticking out. Is this normal? And does this bracket ever fail?

yes, normal and no, it never fails.

The reported problem will be with the bearings that the arm pivots on I expect

2woody wrote on 10. Feb 2011 at 15:32:

yes, normal and no, it never fails. The reported problem will be with the bearings that the arm pivots on I expect

Thanks, it only seemed to have play in it when the steering is moved to a certain point. If its dead ahead there was no play. Anyway I'll go and bung it all back together. Thanks again :y

Right all done. I followed the guide and found it very useful. The only thing I couldnt work out was the 'hitting it with two hammers' part, I just used a ball joint splitter. Thanks for all the help so far. Great forum :y

Xenon wrote on 10. Feb 2011 at 17:37:

Right all done. I followed the guide and found it very useful. The only thing I couldnt work out was the 'hitting it with two hammers' part, I just used a ball joint splitter. Thanks for all the help so far. Great forum :y

The trouble with ball joint splitters is that you may split the rubber boot. I've never had that problem mind ;)

Lazydocker wrote on 10. Feb 2011 at 17:45:

Xenon wrote on 10. Feb 2011 at 17:37: Right all done. I followed the guide and found it very useful. The only thing I couldnt work out was the 'hitting it with two hammers' part, I just used a ball joint splitter. Thanks for all the help so far. Great forum :y The trouble with ball joint splitters is that you may split the rubber boot. I've never had that problem mind ;)

The type I use does not put pressure on the rubber boot. But I know what you mean, some splitters do. :y

Its not possible to get most non-impact splitters in on that joint, hence the hammer trick :)

TheBoy wrote on 11. Feb 2011 at 11:02:

Its not possible to get most non-impact splitters in on that joint, hence the hammer trick :)

Fair enough, I must be lucky with the type of splitter I have :)

Xenon wrote on 11. Feb 2011 at 11:05:

TheBoy wrote on 11. Feb 2011 at 11:02: Its not possible to get most non-impact splitters in on that joint, hence the hammer trick :) Fair enough, I must be lucky with the type of splitter I have :)

Yup, easier with non impact splitter if you can get one on it.