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[Bigron]

My Omega failed on HSF tyre, Advisory on OSF and front brake pads.
Kwik-Fit honoured my lifetime warranty on the pads, but claimed that the discs were scored and needed to be replaced. They felt ok to me, so I said just replace the pads, to which they replied that if we only do that, it will invalidate all future claims on the warranty.
Off to a specialist tyre and tracking centre (Tyre-Smart) to have four budget tyres and the tracking/camber adjusted. I asked for their opinion on the discs; perfectly serviceable, they said - so Kwik-Fit were trying to up-sell me!
When they went to adjust the tracking, they said the ball joints in the wishbones were shot. I saw the play for myself and the dramatic way in which the settings changed on the computer screen, so no bullshit from them! They don’t do wishbones anyway, so no incentive to lie.
Actually, if anyone in or around Witham  needs tyres or tracking, I would recommend Tyre-Smart; a thoroughly professional, family-run business.
When I said that it had only just had an MOT and no mention of the ball joint problem, they said how the hell didn’t it fail on them?
It had been my regular garage for many years, so how long had I been driving on dodgy steering?

Please can anyone advise on the best place to obtain Wishbones – and do I need link arms too?
Also required will be a radiator and top hose, together with someone I trust (James?) to do the work, as with my coolant leak I cannot get to Serek’s place without several stops to top up the coolant!

Ron.

[BazaJT]

Mine failed once on a ball joint I just simply bought just that-a balljoint.Rivets holding the failed joint to the wishbone were drilled out old joint removed and new one fitted using good old nuts and bolts.Just an alternative to consider?

[Doctor Gollum]

Worthwhile option if bushes are good

[Lizzie Zoom]

My Omega failed on HSF tyre, Advisory on OSF and front brake pads.
Kwik-Fit honoured my lifetime warranty on the pads, but claimed that the discs were scored and needed to be replaced. They felt ok to me, so I said just replace the pads, to which they replied that if we only do that, it will invalidate all future claims on the warranty.
Off to a specialist tyre and tracking centre (Tyre-Smart) to have four budget tyres and the tracking/camber adjusted. I asked for their opinion on the discs; perfectly serviceable, they said - so Kwik-Fit were tryring to up-sell me!
When they went to adjust the tracking, they said the ball joints in the wishbones were shot. I saw the play for myself and the dramatic way in which the settings changed on the computer screen, so no bullshit from them! They don’t do wishbones anyway, so no incentive to lie.
Actually, if anyone in or around Witham  needs tyres or tracking, I would recommend Tyre-Smart; a thoroughly professional, family-run business.
When I said that it had only just had an MOT and no mention of the ball joint problem, they said how the hell didn’t it fail on them?
It had been my regular garage for many years, so how long had I been driving on dodgy steering?

Please can anyone advise on the best place to obtain Wishbones – and do I need link arms too?
Also required will be a radiator and top hose, together with someone I trust (James?) to do the work, as with my coolant leak I cannot get to Serek’s place without several stops to top up the coolant!

Ron.

Oh dear Ron, you must learn that Kwik Fitup do that all the time, but thank goodness you said "no" to those robbing bastards.  My advise is to keep well clear of them and use reputable garages!

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

I will pay Tyre Smart a visit soon on your recommendation Ron. I have been looking for someone to do 4 wheel alignment on my car for a while, but didn't know about them.
Thanks. 

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Omega wishbones are something of a subject for debate. New VX ones cost hundreds of pounds. Cheap aftermarket ones don't seem to last.
I went with refurbing a pair of genuine items, with VX rear bushes, bolt on track rod ends, and front polybushes. Cant remember the total ( but could find out) but I would guess £150. That's without any labour costs and then wheel alignment needs doing afterwards.
If you just want to change the track rod ends, a pair should be around £30. You might be able to have them changed them without removing wishbones from the car ? 

[Bigron]

Many thanks for all your input, gents, much appreciated.

Lizzie, that was the first time my local Kwik-Fit have tried to con me, they are usually very good.
That's a lesson learned.
My erstwhile reputable garage failed to notice the state of the ball joints!

Albs, Tyre-Smart have this Hunter alignment rig - very impressive - and were happy to use my camber settings, as found on here.
When I asked them about just replacing the ball joints, they said there wasn't a lot in it, pricewise, compared to complete wishbones.

Ron.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Did they mention the price for 4 wheel alignment with the Hunter machine Ron ?

[TheBoy]

Your experience at ShitFit was always going to happen.

They conned you on the overpriced "lifetime replacement" in the first place (you could have 10 sets of pads for the price you paid), and now don't want to honour that, so will overcharge you for discs, to recover the cost of new pads.

Take it as a lesson learnt

[Bigron]

Agreed, TB: I had my leg lifted good and proper!

Albs, I checked prices with Tyre-Smart and they will offer Trade prices to Forum members:-
Checking is free.
£49 for tracking.
One camber adjustment £22 but will do two for the same price.
Four camber adjustments for the price of two - that's £44, not £22!

Ron.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Cheers Ron. Will call in next week. I almost drive past the door on the way to work, but didn't know they were there. 

[Bigron]

Tell me what you think of them; I was immediately impressed by their caring and professional attitude.
Also mention the Omega Owners' Forum for your Trade discount! 

Ron.

[Bigron]

Oh, and they may well still have the reprint of the OOF camber guide, by Tony of WIM, but just in case, here is a summary:-

"Topic: Omegas and Camber
Camber is the vertical position of the wheel; its duty is to maintain the position of the cars weight at about mid-point of the tyre footprint.
The force generated by the camber is conically compressive... This is achieved by deforming the circumference of the tyre sidewall, forcing both front tyres to roll into the cars centre line.

But there is a problem?
The suggested position for the front camber is 1 degree 40' negative (top of wheel leaning toward the car)
Over time the front coil springs will weaken lowering the cars sprung area... This not only changes the camber position it also changes the dynamic camber gains... So a calculated gain from -1 degree 40' on the bump to 2 degrees 10' is exceeded.... maybe to 2 degrees 50'.

A dynamic average per mile maybe 2 degrees 30'.

So what?
Most Japanese manufacturers offer a progressive calibration table that allows the operator to measure the actual body height and categorize the changes required to compensate for the new dynamic positions, historically this means less static camber.

Unfortunately this table is not available for the Omega... So if you have worn coils and tyre wear the shop will set the camber to the OEM 1 degree 40' negative.... Thus the problem returns and the forum chatter will offer other criminals like wishbones and alike.

Whats the difference?
Camber tyre wear involves about 10% of the total tyre width.... It's very violent wear and can reduce a new tyre to the wire in 5k.

Wishbone wear allows tyre contact rolling resistance to change the toe position... The tyre wear is lateral and involves the entire tread...Additionally on the bump and under braking the car usually pulls.

What to do?
Geometry positions are not absolute law... In fact it borders the theoretical on most cars even with progressive tables. wheels-inmotion (wim) wrote new calibration positions for the Omega some years ago.... I think you would understand it's commercial suicide to display the actual settings but if you are having problems we are willing to help with data out of sight (email-pm)

Further reading
www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk
www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk/forum

I hope this topic is of value to some members
Tony@ wim"

Hope it helps,

Ron.

[powerslinky]

Ron , ATP (Germany)   do the wishbones , drop links & track rods as a kit for  . . .

wait for it  . . .   £69.99  at the moment   with . . .

free postage from Germany   

2 x wishbones    2x drop links   2x  track rods   

Always use these  . . . usually good for at least 20,000 miles .

No doubt the purists on here will "slag 'em off " . . .

but Nitro & myself have used them plenty of times with no issues.

Good heads up on the tracking & geometry place

[Bigron]

Al, I've just ordered the Ebay ball joints!
I do thank you for the information, though - 20,000 miles would easily see my Omega out, but then, so would those ball joints?
Is it easier to replace the wishbones than the ball joints; i.e. would it still need all that angle grinding?

Drop links and track rods? Do I need them? Tyre-Smart never mentioned them, whatever they do.....

Ron.