Omega Owners Forum

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

News:

Please check the Forum Guidelines at the top of the Newbie section

Pages: 1 2 [All]   Go Down

Author Topic: suspension problem  (Read 2477 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

colv6

  • Junior Member
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • liverpool
  • Posts: 96
    • 2002 2.6 cd
    • View Profile
suspension problem
« on: 10 February 2019, 14:43:04 »

bit of history first
2002 2.6 cd bought after my mfl 3lt elite was rear ended and wrote off, noticed a bad clonk from front suspension and bad tyre wear after having a good look noticed it had new wish bones fitted so took it for a 4 wheel geometry in warrington.
 still not happy with it so i took it to nigel langs in bolton who found that every time he set it right and took it for a test drive some thing moved and changed the geometry settings, so back up in the air and reset while checking all the steering joints with a big bar and finding all ok even checked the brakes on the rolling brake tester just in case, brakes are not the cause, so after asking is it possible to fit wish bones wrong i was told no.

I have a mfl 3lt elite donor car so in desperation i have changed the complete shocks on both sides over yesterday hoping it was the source of the noise it did not solve the problem, After a lot of head scratching and research i found that if you fully tighten the front  wish bones up in the air its possible to knacker the front bushes.
so the next step bearing in mind i still do not no the source of the noise and clutching at straws do i.
 option A undo the front wish bones bolts and redo them properly with the weight on them and fingers crossed ?
 option B remove the wish bones from my donor car and have poly bushes fitted then fit to my car ?
 option C some thing i have not even thought of ?
Please bear in mind i am working alone, i am a complete amateur spanner twirler, i have not won the lottery, work comitments and family life getting in the way what is the next step?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/156262213@N05/with/32105703527/

 i have tried to put a short video in here not even sure if thats allowed or will work but if it does will you can see how badly it is pulling to the right and after i deliberatley ran over the three kerbs on the u turn some thing has moved and it now runs straight and true untill you hit a bump or the brakes then as you can see and hear some thing clonks and the steering is back pulling to the right.
Logged
1998 3ltr elite (RIP rearended)

Andy H

  • Omega Lord
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Auckland
  • Posts: 5498
    • Mazda MPV
    • View Profile
Re: suspension problem
« Reply #1 on: 10 February 2019, 14:53:12 »

Is the subframe moving?
Logged
"Deja Moo - The feeling that you've heard this bull somewhere before."

colv6

  • Junior Member
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • liverpool
  • Posts: 96
    • 2002 2.6 cd
    • View Profile
Re: suspension problem
« Reply #2 on: 10 February 2019, 15:19:40 »

its not some thing i had considered but after having it in for two geometry settings and considering how thorough the guy at nigel langs was gong out of his way to check all the bushes and mountings i would suspect not but the short answer is i don't no any thing for certain
 
Logged
1998 3ltr elite (RIP rearended)

iansoutham

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • SE London
  • Posts: 521
    • Omega 2.0 m/f/l est CDX
    • View Profile
Re: suspension problem
« Reply #3 on: 10 February 2019, 16:41:06 »

Sound like subframe or similar to me too.

Easy way to check is to mark the subframe mounting points and the chassis with a white pen to see if they move after repeating your drive.
Logged

Doctor Gollum

  • Get A Life!!
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • In a colds and darks puddleses
  • Posts: 28089
  • If you can't eat them, join them...
    • Feetses.
    • View Profile
Re: suspension problem
« Reply #4 on: 10 February 2019, 16:41:18 »

Wishbones are shot. Only solution is replace either the bushes or complete arms.

Clonking is probably droplinks, either not tight enough or shot...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUSPENSION-CONTROL-ARMS-WISHBONE-KIT-LOWER-FRONT-OPEL-VAUXHALL-OMEGA-B-/381141643466

Buy and fit these. Correctly, and fit a pair of tyres and re set geometry.

Nigel Langs should know the correct set up for these, so the issue is the parts.  :y

The above is from hard won personal experience. Ignore it  at your cost and I will say 'I told you so'.
« Last Edit: 10 February 2019, 16:43:25 by Doctor Gollum »
Logged
Onanists always think outside the box.

Doctor Gollum

  • Get A Life!!
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • In a colds and darks puddleses
  • Posts: 28089
  • If you can't eat them, join them...
    • Feetses.
    • View Profile
Re: suspension problem
« Reply #5 on: 10 February 2019, 16:41:44 »

Sound like subframe or similar to me too.

Easy way to check is to mark the subframe mounting points and the chassis with a white pen to see if they move after repeating your drive.
100% not the subframe  ;D

See above.
Logged
Onanists always think outside the box.

colv6

  • Junior Member
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • liverpool
  • Posts: 96
    • 2002 2.6 cd
    • View Profile
Re: suspension problem
« Reply #6 on: 10 February 2019, 20:27:45 »

I don't doubt your experience I am trying to gather as much information as possible to avoid an expensive mistake.
Can someone explain drop links are they the bar running from the wishbones to the back of the shock
Logged
1998 3ltr elite (RIP rearended)

Andy B

  • Get A Life!!
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Bury Lancs
  • Posts: 39446
    • ML350 TDM SmartRoadster
    • View Profile
Re: suspension problem
« Reply #7 on: 10 February 2019, 20:39:44 »

Logged

dave the builder

  • Omega Lord
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Derbyshire
  • Posts: 7760
    • omega b2 2.6 cdxi
    • View Profile
Re: suspension problem
« Reply #8 on: 10 February 2019, 20:41:49 »

I don't doubt your experience I am trying to gather as much information as possible to avoid an expensive mistake.
drop links are the bars with joints both ends, running from both ends of the wishbones anti roll bar to the back of the shock strut
clicky licky to view and buy link   cheaper  ;D 99p +P&P
Logged

Nick W

  • Omega Queen
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Chatham, Kent
  • Posts: 10836
  • Rover Metro 1.8VVC
    • 3.0l Elite estate
    • View Profile
Re: suspension problem
« Reply #9 on: 10 February 2019, 20:43:05 »

What you've experienced is one of the two real reasons for polyurethane wishbone front bushes: you can't wreck them by tightening their mounting bolts before you've lowered the car onto its wheels. The second is that they'll last the life of the car rather than a couple of years.


On a softly sprung road car, only the fantasy F1 test-drivers will actually notice a difference in the way the car drives......


It won't be the subframe moving unless the chassis rails have rusted away. And although they'll be a bit crusty(they all are now), you would have noticed if they were that bad.
Logged

Bigron

  • Omega Baron
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Witham, Essex
  • Posts: 4808
    • Omega 2.6 V6 Auto '51 Reg
    • View Profile
Re: suspension problem
« Reply #10 on: 10 February 2019, 20:46:53 »

The drop links and the track rod ends are included in the ATP wishbone kits that Doctor Gollum referred to - Serek fitted them to my Omega a year and a half ago and they are still fine - touch wood!

Ron.
Logged

colv6

  • Junior Member
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • liverpool
  • Posts: 96
    • 2002 2.6 cd
    • View Profile
Re: suspension problem
« Reply #11 on: 10 February 2019, 20:52:00 »

The thing nagging at my mind as I spent all day Saturday swapping over the complete suspension struts on both sides from the donor car I left the drop links on each unit I must be really unlucky for all four to be shot ?
Logged
1998 3ltr elite (RIP rearended)

Nick W

  • Omega Queen
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Chatham, Kent
  • Posts: 10836
  • Rover Metro 1.8VVC
    • 3.0l Elite estate
    • View Profile
Re: suspension problem
« Reply #12 on: 10 February 2019, 21:16:14 »

The thing nagging at my mind as I spent all day Saturday swapping over the complete suspension struts on both sides from the donor car I left the drop links on each unit I must be really unlucky for all four to be shot ?


Which means they're (almost certainly) not your problem. But if you're prepared to do move from swapnosis to diagnosis, undo one end of each droplink and move both joints manually. Knackered ones will be obvious; you can't do this with them fitted.



Logged

Enceladus

  • Omega Knight
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • London
  • Posts: 1057
    • View Profile
Re: suspension problem
« Reply #13 on: 10 February 2019, 21:20:20 »

Can someone explain drop links are they the bar running from the wishbones to the back of the shock
They don't run from the wishbones. The drop links connect the body of the shocks to either end of the anti-roll (aka sway) bar. The intent is to reduce the body roll / diving effect when cornering. Worn out, poorly manufactured or incorrectly tightened links can cause a clonking noise.

A worn-out or loose nearside steering idler can also clonk and cause abnormal tyre wear.
« Last Edit: 10 February 2019, 21:33:56 by Enceladus »
Logged

colv6

  • Junior Member
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • liverpool
  • Posts: 96
    • 2002 2.6 cd
    • View Profile
Re: suspension problem
« Reply #14 on: 10 February 2019, 21:34:16 »

Ok thanks for all the input, decision made going to buy the full set the doc suggests just got to wait till end of the month pay day
Logged
1998 3ltr elite (RIP rearended)

johnnydog

  • Omega Knight
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Lancashire
  • Posts: 1789
    • 2.6 & 3.2 sal, 3.2 est
    • View Profile
Re: suspension problem
« Reply #15 on: 10 February 2019, 23:31:49 »


 i have tried to put a short video in here not even sure if thats allowed or will work but if it does will you can see how badly it is pulling to the right and after i deliberatley ran over the three kerbs on the u turn some thing has moved and it now runs straight and true untill you hit a bump or the brakes then as you can see and hear some thing clonks and the steering is back pulling to the right.

A friend of mine had exactly the same symptoms on a 3.2 Elite - under normal braking the steering wheel would spin to the right, and the car would pull in the same direction.
It was the bushes on one wishbone - a new pair of wishbones cured it completely.
Logged
2002 3.2 Elite saloon, 2003 3.2 Elite estate, 2003 2.6 Elite saloon
Pages: 1 2 [All]   Go Up
 

Page created in 0.033 seconds with 21 queries.