Steering Idler Bushing

[SoFlaFiat]

Having disassembled my steering idler and found the bushings completely disintegrated (no wonder she was sloppy) I looked around and can not find anyone selling just the bushings. I am machining new ones from acetal tube stock. The metal parts of mine are in great shape (caught in time) so I couldn't justify buying the whole idler assembly. My time is still not worth 150 an hour. If anyone has found new bushings available, I would love to know. Or, if anyone needs a set machined, let me know.

[vandor]

Here's the bushing:

http://www.autoricambi.us/cgi/commerce. ... ey=SU0-456

It only works for idlers that originally came with rubber bushings.

[SoFlaFiat]

"General Info- Steering idler bushing - FIAT 124 and Pininfarina 1983-84 (except 1985 1/2) - also fits 124 Sedan"

"It only works for idlers that originally came with rubber bushings."

Mine is a 77 and from what was left of the bushings I thought they were hard plastic. What other types of material did Fiat use for these bushings? Seem like rubber bushings would make for sloppy stearing. Can you post a picture of the ones you have Csaba?

[manoa matt]

Due to a glitch when ordering parts online I accidently orderd an extra set of idler bushings. I have a spare set of the hard grey plastic idler bushings if you are interested.

matt.scarton@gmail.com

[vandor]

Mine is a 77 and from what was left of the bushings I thought they were hard plastic.

That's what is a bit confusing, as '77s came with the hydraulic idlers that had no bushings. So likely your idler was replaced at one point. I'll be able to send you a picture on Monday.

[wachuko]

Has anyone documented the rebuild? I need to do this to Frank's car. I have a spare Steering Damper/Idler that needs to be rebuild.

I figure I can rebuild that one, remove and replace, and then rebuild the one in Frank's car as a spare for when the one in my car goes bad.

How many bushings do I need to order?? At 5.00 for the bushing surely beats the 130.00 cost of a complete unit...

[manoa matt]

The rebuild should be pretty straight forward. Just remove the top and bottom nuts and pull it apart. You need two bushings, one for the top and one for the bottom.

[SoFlaFiat]

I think Csaba will be able to say which years had bushings and which idlers were oil filled. I believe the oil filled ones have an inspection cover and the bushing style do not. If it is a bushing style like mine, it is very simple to overhaul. Like Matt says take it apart, replace the bushings...
I lightly greased the inside and the bushings. Finding bushings will be the hard part but I think Matt said he has some.

[wachuko]

Thank you guys. Ordered 4 bushings. This is the spare part I have:







The one in Frank's car looks to be the same style. Reason for the extra set of bushings to fix it and store it for anyone that needs it or if mine goes bad, whatever happens first

[vandor]

>I think Csaba will be able to say which years had bushings and which idlers were oil filled.

Only the late Spiders had the bushings style idlers (1983-85), probably as Fiat was running out of 124 parts (sedan production ceased in 1974). The 124 Sedans also had idlers with bushings, and possibly very early Spiders, but all the ones I've seen had the hydraulic idler.

> I believe the oil filled ones have an inspection cover

Yes, secured with 3 allen bolts.

[wachuko]

What this thing looks like apart:



New bushings arrived... 2 different sets...







I tried these first...



and they broke as soon as I tried inserting the shaft.





So plan B, used the other set and got it repaired:

[SoFlaFiat]

It looks like the nut (and cotter pin) are not tightened down enough. I don't believe there should be a space between the rubber ring and the flat washer.
At least mine, I know, is snug against the rubber ring at top and bottom.
Seams like dirt will get in there and have you doing it all over again...

[SoFlaFiat]

And now that I look again, I think the stepped washer might be upside down...

[wachuko]

And now that I look again, I think the stepped washer might be upside down...

Not sure what to say... everything is installed correctly. The problem seems to be that the thickness of the bushings is creating that gap... only solution I see is installing a washer in there to fill the gap.

[SoFlaFiat]

I know what you mean Jaime. And if it is working, great!!