Is This a Genuine OEM Mitsubishi Idler Arm?

[TheMole]

Ordered an OEM Mitsu idler arm from Mitsubishi Parts Warehouse's ebay store and it came sealed in plastic as usual with the OEM part # sticker. Reason I ask is because the black paint finish does not "look" like an OEM finish. It is flaky in some places and I had to clean out some paint from the mounting holes so that the bolts could fit through. Anyone experienced something similar?

 

[snare]

do you have a pic of it before you mounted it?

 

[TheMole]

Unfortunately no as I didn't really notice until I started installing it. I can probably take some closer pics of it as it sits.

 

[snare]

does the top cap look removable?

 

[TheMole]

Not really sure, but I'll be working on the car next weekend so I'll take a pic when I crawl under there.

 

[Toasty]

Pop the cap off of the top, if it has a snap ring it is a Mitsubishi part if not you've been had. I've taken apart every idler arm I could find recently and only the genuine ones are serviceable.

 

[snare]

I would really be interested to know, because that source is where i was planning to get an OEM idler if I needed to get a new one.