New Idler Arm Mount & Bushing Product

[neogenesi]

Well new is relative, I just needed one and found this today. But has anyone purchased one of these? I find that cip1.com and topline both have ones with slight differences.

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VWC%2D113%2D415%2D395%2DB

http://www.toplineparts.com/products/idlerbushing.htm

Topline's has a zerk fitting to grease the bolt inside the bushing which I totally dig, but NOT for my '74. It says "an internal grease distribution groove" so I wonder if the bushing has grooves around it for grease to flow, and if that's needed, or think this is just a hole drilled in the center of both the bracket and bushing, so grease can be pressed into the area where the bolt is, and pressure would deliver it around the bolt, no grooves needed.

I like the one on cip1 better, so if neither has a zerk fitting for greasing for my '74, I could go with the one on cip1 and drill and tap a hole for a zerk, and I have my own servicable idler arm.

[Cusser]

My '71 Super has the metal/rubber/metal bushing installed (for about 20 years now), and has worked fine. I removed the idler and had a shop press it in. Bronze bushings were not available then, and idlers with the bushing already installed were not available then, or I'm sure I would've gone that route.

To me, it seems that one needs to drill and tap for the grease fitting afterwards, maybe not so easy as it sounds. I would think one should drill before hand..... Others???
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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[neogenesi]

Drilling a hole through the bracket and bushing wouldn't be a problem, especially if I used a drill press. Though I've been thinking about a grove that goes vertical the entire length of the bushing, to allow grease to be pressed the full length of the bolt. The only other thing I can think of is the head of the bolt will still be turning, while rubbing on the bushing. That wouldn't be able to get any grease. Though I thought of a small round bearing to slide around the bolt that would fit between the head of the bolt and the bushing. But without a boot of some type, it would get clogged and rusted anyway.

Dunno why vw designed the idler arm that way. The idler arms I'm used to are a single unit with all of this in mind already. Mebe I'll design a fully working unit with everything I have in mind and start selling them ) Unfortuantly, the bushing's themselves are really expensive, then buying brackets and the larbor.. hmm..

[raygreenwood]

The bronze bushing has been available from VW dealers since 1977.

They created it as a replacement part for a reason. The stock VW idler arm bushing was a defective design. Notice it has a 411 part # prefix?
This is because this part first came in the 411 in 1968. It was miserable...and destructive to the centerlink then....and did the same on the super beetle. The rubber was weak and too hard to QC for either durometer or voids in its construction.

You can drill a hole for a zerk in either one in a minute, but if they are selling these for cheap ....casting and all...go for it. The casting from CIP one is actually identical to the 411/412 casting. The topline model is the superbeetle make of the casting. Either are perfect.

Don't get hung up on trying to redesign this. Since bronze is self lubricating (it has sintered in oil)....just a dab of grease will insure that the top of the bolt will never wear out the flange. There is just not any friction here. How fast to you think you will ever be able to turn the steering wheel from side to side. I have run one of these for about 15 years....no wearing out. Its still pristine and is a LARGE difference in handling. Also, a groove for grease in unnecessary. Just pump it full , spin the bolt...done. Again...you will never turn the bolt all the way around by turning the steering wheel....and you will never exceed 1 rpm. There just is no wear. Ray

[neogenesi]

Ya I knew the brass bushing itself has been around, just never saw it sold together with the mount, already pressed in. Then again I've only been in the VW scene for a short period. Never thought about how it'll only turn about 1/4-1/2 per extreme left or right, you're right that's pretty much nothing at all. Only reason I thougt of doing the zerk fitting myself is because topline's model says for '73 and earlier for the zerk already installed.

Edit: Looked up sintering and it's effect on our brass bushing. Learned something new for the day, I can go home now.