Tim R
Silver Level Sponsor
This video details how to undertake a Sunbeam Alpine Steering Idler Overhaul. The principles are the same for numerous Rootes cars. We make no claim to be professional mechanics, this video is just the record of how we did this job, there are numerous other ways to do it, this is our way.
If the idler mechanism gets worn and rough or is unlubricated it spoils the steering, handling and overall enjoyment of owning a Sunbeam Alpine sports car. The change that overhauling the idler on this car made was amazing, it transformed the drive completely.
NOTE: In the video we show how, on one idler assembly we re-furbished, we cut down the long steering box bushes to be the same size as the original idler bushes. There is actually no need to do this. There is enough space inside the idler tube to use the longer (later version) bushes if you machine out the internal step in the idler tube. (This would actually be a better option as it would provide more support along the length of the pin than the origial bushes did).
If the idler mechanism gets worn and rough or is unlubricated it spoils the steering, handling and overall enjoyment of owning a Sunbeam Alpine sports car. The change that overhauling the idler on this car made was amazing, it transformed the drive completely.
NOTE: In the video we show how, on one idler assembly we re-furbished, we cut down the long steering box bushes to be the same size as the original idler bushes. There is actually no need to do this. There is enough space inside the idler tube to use the longer (later version) bushes if you machine out the internal step in the idler tube. (This would actually be a better option as it would provide more support along the length of the pin than the origial bushes did).