Hi Robin
Forgive me for including a bit of an update on descriptions of the various parts as well as their availability!
First off the steering idler is the dummy steering box bolted to the nearside of the front bulkhead as mirror image of the real thing that is connected to the steering column. This can be refurbished by fitting (and reaming to size) a new bronze bush. There is a firm in Derby that seems to be good at this - a lot of the P6 specialists have had bad press with dodgy results over the years. Rather a tall order for a DIY change, and you'd have the car off the road and unmoveable while the idler was refurbished.
But I don't think that's what you mean, is it?
Next in the chain is the side rod which takes the steering movement from the steering boxes to the stub axle. This rod has a track rod end type ball joint at each end. These are pretty readily available from seller mint863 on e bay, who manufactures them. Check, I think V8 are different from 4 cyl. Not difficult for a DIY change.
At top and bottom of the stub axle are ball joints. Again available readily from the same e bay seller. Rather a tough job for a DIY change, but possible (lots of heat required).
The bottom wishbone running directly across the car fom the bottom of the stub axle to the body shell makes do solely with a rubber (or nylon) bush at the chassis end. Bushes readily available from lots of sources both rubber and nylon. The bushes are fairly ambitious to change - see the recent item in this section.
Lastly there is a rod running from the lower wishbone diagonally backwards to body shell. This rod has a rubber bush at the body shell end and a track rod end type swivel joint at the wishbone. This rod is a problem, at least for V8 cars (they are different lengths for V8 and 4 cyl). I've not heard of anyone able to change the "track rod end" and new rods are like hens teeth. Wadhams have a small number of V8 one's chopped down and rewelded from the longer 4 cyl. Oh and they are "handed" nearside and offside. Perhaps the best solution would be to source a good one from a breakers? Once you've got a replacement rod, changing it should be pretty easy.
Of course I've missed out the transverse rod which runs between the steering boxes which acts as the only adjustable part of the suspension to allow setting of tracking. This has a track rod end type joint at each end and an adjusting knuckle in the middle. No problem for supply but an awful lot of junk in the way for a DIY change!
Note that early 4 cyl cars have a different set up with tracking adjustment at the stub axle - I'm afraid I'm not familiar with this set up.
PS I've learnt all I know from reading the parts and overhaul manuals and talking to Ian Wilson at Joseph's P6 spares - also a regular contributor here.
Hope that helps a bit!
Regards
Chris York
