Steering Idler, and The Heartbreak of SFD (Spontaneous Fluid Discharge)

[KevAndAndi]

We're now into about 18 months of Spider ownership, and it was at around the one year mark that I had become rather cocky about our car's lack of leaks - the garage floor stayed fairly pristine. Then came the first incident of SFD - the Spider's "water broke". For some reason, the gasket on the bottom pan of the transmission decided to let loose. There was a nice pool of GL-1 under the car. It was odd because the car was not being actively driven at the time. I got a new gasket, and while the pan was removed, I cleaned it up and painted it with POR-15 Top Coat. Buttoned everything up, and it's been fine since then.

Then, yesterday, while checking the Spider in anticipation of an early start to the driving season, I found a new instance of SFD: a little pool under the engine bay on the passenger side. It appears to be gear oil; I'm 90% sure it is the steering idler. Again, very odd. No one has touched the steering wheel in months.

Should I simply top up the oil in the idler and keep an eye on it, or is it (a) just going to get worse and/or (b) present a potential hazard? From the site I have learned that the idler can be converted to grease lubrication. I also understand that the new idlers available from vendors are greased and not oil filled. Should I go ahead and replace the idler altogether and be done with it (notwithstanding the spontaneous cash discharge that it would entail)?

[Odoyle]

My 83 did the same thing about a month ago after I refilled it with gear oil. After doing some research it looks like the best solution would be to replace the current idler arm with a ball-bearing type idler that Autoricambri sells http://www.autoricambi.us/product/SU0-4 ... --1982-85/ . As far as the actual swap goes, you may need a gear puller, and some large metric sockets. Not sure if an air ratchet is necessary, but I'm fairly sure that the nut securing the arm is on pretty tight.

[KevAndAndi]

Thanks, Odoyle.

I don't understand how the gear puller would be used, though.

I have searched the forums and can't find any descriptions of how to replace the steering idler with the new ball bearing type. I did see one reference to it being an "easy job". It seems like it would be, but there might be some tricks or pitfalls. One issue is that the mounting bolts cannot be reused because they are too short for the new idler design--yet the vendors do not include the mounting bolts with the idler.

[Edit: I'm told by Autoricambi that they do include mounting bolts. I have ordered the idler from them.]

Another thing to be careful about is ordering the right version: splined shaft for 1981 and earlier, and smooth shaft for 1982 and later.

This article is somewhat helpful:

http://www.dcfiats.org/tech/fiat_steeri ... rticle.pdf

It's confusing, though, because it refers to the ball bearing idler as "dry". I thought the ball bearings were greased, which doesn't seem dry to me. Maybe dry means lubricated but not with oil? The idler with bushings is definitely dry by any definition.