Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Rock]

Well i've had my Omega for just over a week now and i really like the car but i'm in for a costly time over the next month or so...

The Cambelt and tensioners need changing. (87k on the clock now, and they were last done at 47k) Not sure i'm brave enough to do it on my own and Vauxhall want about £300 ish to do it.

I'm getting quite a bad wheel vibration under braking so looks like i need new front discs.  Vauxhall quoted me £204 to replace the front brake discs. ATS quoted me £130 to do the discs but suggested i do the pads as well for another £40.

I was also getting a bit of vibration when doing between 85 and 100 but not really below 85 or above 100 so i figured the wheels needed balancing. Just had that done and all 4 were a long way out, but having had the rears off I realise i need 2 new tyres. ATS quoted me £280 for 2 michelins but i'm guessing I can do better elsewhere.

Does anyone have any advice as to the best places to go??

[Elite Pete]

Hi Rock
The best place for tyres is mytyres.com, they do loads of different brands and are very cheap  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

[Elite Pete]

Hi Rock
The best place for tyres is mytyres.com, they do loads of different brands and are very cheap  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Sorry should be mytyres.co.uk

[Admin]

I think we can save you some money!  

Cambelt. Get the DVD and do it yourself. Or bring it up to Nottingham sometime and I am sure someone here can fit it for a heck of a lot less than £300!!

Vibration could be wishbones also. How is the car going over potholes. Does the front end "crash" throught them with sharp vibration through the steering?

If it is discs, then Vauxhall are having a laugh!
Set of genuine discs and pads is just over £70 on trade club and they are a doddle to fit.

Finally tyres...and NO this is not an invitation for a tyre thread!!  

Michelins will not get recommended here...

I have used Goodyear Eagle F1's and Continental Premicontacts. Both are fantastic tyres and are around £90 each fitted and balanced.

Mark has tried some Uniroyals recently and is very impressed with them (he can tell you the type).

Mytyres or black circles are both good places to look for tyres and a pair will cost considerably less than £280!

[Rock]

There is no noticible crash or general noise and it generally feels pretty smooth going over any bumps or potholes.

Who's arm do i twist (or who's palm do i line with silver) in Nottingham about getting my Cambelt / Tensioners / Water Pump done? It would be good to meet some of you guys from here and maybe learn something in the process?

Thanks again for the help. As always its greatly appreciated!

[Andy B]

ATS was cheaper than both blackcircle & mytyres for 4 Michelins especially as you then have to get them fitted after you've bought them on-line.

[TheBoy]

ATS have special offer on Mich at moment. Trouble is, the tyre is too hard...


Rock, my camlock kit is currently on loan so cannot assist with cambelt at present

[Gwilym]

ATS did me a very good deal on a pair of tyres.

Now what were they? Hang on, I will go outside and look!

[Gwilym]

Looked now! Had to take a torch though

Avon ZV3's

Only had them on for 1000 miles so can't really comment on durability but handling is fine and I will put the same ones on the back in the next month or so.

From the Avon site
http://www.avon-tyres.co.uk/?page=tyres&method=detail1&tid=3

Tyre for performance saloons.
Special 'tri-sector' tread pattern makes this a very quiet tyre
Confidence-inspiring on-the-limit handling
Strong roadholding in all conditions
Good steering response
Wide range of sizes to fit your car

Cost was £160 for the pair with all the balancing, valves etc

[Tony H]

If you decide to get a garage to fit new discs make sure the y use GM ones some pattern discs can (as some people on here will tell you) warp within a few thousand miles. However as L.B stated to fit them yourself is a piece of cake.

[Timbuk]

However as L.B stated to fit them yourself is a piece of cake.

Unless its my car of course, where the last garage or person who replaced the discs decided to do up the retaining screw with a 20 ft power bar and remove all signs of a pozi screw head just for good measure

[Elite Pete]

ATS was cheaper than both blackcircle & mytyres for 4 Michelins especially as you then have to get them fitted after you've bought them on-line.

Mytyres will tell you the address of a fitter if you put in you post code and it only costs between £7.50 and £10 a tyre

[Kev]

However as L.B stated to fit them yourself is a piece of cake.

Unless its my car of course, where the last garage or person who replaced the discs decided to do up the retaining screw with a 20 ft power bar and remove all signs of a pozi screw head just for good measure

[TheBoy]

ATS was cheaper than both blackcircle & mytyres for 4 Michelins especially as you then have to get them fitted after you've bought them on-line.

Mytyres will tell you the address of a fitter if you put in you post code and it only costs between £7.50 and £10 a tyre

Mytyres come and fit them, Black Circles send tyre to a local centre who fit them. This is inc in price (unless you pick tyre only option)

[tunnie]

Brake Discs are a doddle to change... I will be making a How2 when i get around to it.

I changed mine about 3 weeks ago with the help of TheBoy.. got Geniune GM Disc's & Pads put on, cost me £66 in total (you get pads when you buy the dics)

Mine brakes sooo much better now, no wobble. Used to get it at the higher speeds, used to be very strong when braking heavily at 70.... much much better now.


My advice is get your hands on a Vauxhall Trade Club card, either apply for one or borrow one from here. Get Geniune GM parts as they are much much better than pattern parts, then either fit them yourself or if you can't get a local mechanic to do it for you.

I did the above for my exhaust, paid £40 cash to a local guy to fit my new GM zorst.... well worth the money!! - I got a GM zorst fitted cheaper than what ATS or Kwikfit would quote me!  

[The Barge Captain]

Looked now! Had to take a torch though

Avon ZV3's

Only had them on for 1000 miles so can't really comment on durability but handling is fine and I will put the same ones on the back in the next month or so.

From the Avon site
http://www.avon-tyres.co.uk/?page=tyres&method=detail1&tid=3

Tyre for performance saloons.
Special 'tri-sector' tread pattern makes this a very quiet tyre
Confidence-inspiring on-the-limit handling
Strong roadholding in all conditions
Good steering response
Wide range of sizes to fit your car

Cost was £160 for the pair with all the balancing, valves etc

Just put a pair of those on the front of mine.  Seem to go round ok and hold air in.

[Andy B]

ATS was cheaper than both blackcircle & mytyres for 4 Michelins especially as you then have to get them fitted after you've bought them on-line.

Mytyres will tell you the address of a fitter if you put in you post code and it only costs between £7.50 and £10 a tyre

Mytyres come and fit them, Black Circles send tyre to a local centre who fit them. This is inc in price (unless you pick tyre only option)

The fully fitted price from ATS was £440 (ouch!!) which was virtually the same price quoted by the online sites for tyres only.

[Andy B]

If you decide to get a garage to fit new discs make sure the y use GM ones some pattern discs can (as some people on here will tell you) warp within a few thousand miles. However as L.B stated to fit them yourself is a piece of cake.

I went along the cheap brake discs route a few years back with my Senator. Within 3/4000 they were running out of true again. According to Brakes International I'd fitted them incorrectly and were no longer interested. A set from Vauxhall sorted it all out though.