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[Doctor Gollum]

Yeah, worth keeping the GM wishbones for that very reason.

Unfortunately, you're stuck with whatever is currently fitted to the car, and 21 years after the last one was built they're highly unlikely to be the genuine ones.

[TheBoy]

Hence I always suggest people with GM ones refurb them, rather than replace with crap.  Its a bit extra work, but cheaper and will last longer.

[Jim82]

Hence I always suggest people with GM ones refurb them, rather than replace with crap.  Its a bit extra work, but cheaper and will last longer.

Is there any easy to spot tell tale that they are original GM? GM logo somewhere?

[Nick W]

Hence I always suggest people with GM ones refurb them, rather than replace with crap.  Its a bit extra work, but cheaper and will last longer.

Is there any easy to spot tell tale that they are original GM? GM logo somewhere?

They'll look like they were rescued from the Titanic; rusty and covered in crap off the road. You're getting bogged down in details that are unimportant.


You've got new wishbones, so fit the front poly bushes and get them on the car. They'll be an improvement. If the removed ones look vaguely saveable, keep them. If they don't, bin them. To me, the only thing the originals do better than refurbished ones is that the ball joints are rivetted on, not bolted.

[Doctor Gollum]

Hence I always suggest people with GM ones refurb them, rather than replace with crap.  Its a bit extra work, but cheaper and will last longer.

Is there any easy to spot tell tale that they are original GM? GM logo somewhere?

They'll look like they were rescued from the Titanic; rusty and covered in crap off the road. You're getting bogged down in details that are unimportant.


You've got new wishbones, so fit the front poly bushes and get them on the car. They'll be an improvement. If the removed ones look vaguely saveable, keep them. If they don't, bin them. To me, the only thing the originals do better than refurbished ones is that the ball joints are rivetted on, not bolted.

Also a moot point once they've been replaced as there isn't a single supplier of ball joints that supplies them with rivets.

And being bolted on actually makes them MORE serviceable, not less

[TheBoy]

To me, the only thing the originals do better than refurbished ones is that the ball joints are rivetted on, not bolted.

The balljoints usually last nearly forever, and the rear bushes are dirt cheap and readily available.  Once you fit the other shite, you lose these benefits.

Obviously, if you only plan on keeping it another 18 months, it's a moot point. As if somebody has already put pattern ones on.

[johnnydog]

Hence I always suggest people with GM ones refurb them, rather than replace with crap.  Its a bit extra work, but cheaper and will last longer.

Is there any easy to spot tell tale that they are original GM? GM logo somewhere?

To specifically answer your question Jim, the three rivits for the ball joint on original GM wishbones is a flat profile both sides, with a dimple in the centre on the upper side as a guide for drilling it out should the ball joint ever require replacing - all pattern / aftermarket wishbones seem to have domed rivets.

[Doctor Gollum]

To me, the only thing the originals do better than refurbished ones is that the ball joints are rivetted on, not bolted.

The balljoints usually last nearly forever, and the rear bushes are dirt cheap and readily available.  Once you fit the other shite, you lose these benefits.

Obviously, if you only plan on keeping it another 18 months, it's a moot point. As if somebody has already put pattern ones on.

Every Omega I have ever owned has required ball joints, so not sure where you get that idea from.

[TheBoy]

I’ve only ever had one genuine ballpoint fail. And I ran all mine on genuine wishbones, which just kept getting refurbed apart from the first time when I bought a pair (back when they were dirt cheap).

That’s where I get that idea from.

Virtually all of the shagged ball joints I’ve seen have been on pattern arms. Most of them the shit provided (when they can be arsed to post) by ATP

[Andy B]

I thought that wishbones that had the harder polly bushes fitted had a tendency to crack 

[biggriffin]

I thought that wishbones that had the harder polly bushes fitted had a tendency to crack 

Only if you fit them to the back,

[TheBoy]

Yeah, never found a workable solution to the rearward bush, other than replace with another rubber one.

Poly’d fronts are fine

[Doctor Gollum]

I’ve only ever had one genuine ballpoint fail. And I ran all mine on genuine wishbones, which just kept getting refurbed apart from the first time when I bought a pair (back when they were dirt cheap).

That’s where I get that idea from.

Virtually all of the shagged ball joints I’ve seen have been on pattern arms. Most of them the shit provided (when they can be arsed to post) by ATP

Had no issues with Febi or Delphi ball joints fitted to aftermarket arms.

I didn't have the budget to spend £500 on wishbones so was quite happy to accept the life expectancy of cheaper arms and refurbish them as required.

I thought that wishbones that had the harder polly bushes fitted had a tendency to crack 

Only if you fit them to the back,

This.

A vast improvement at the time, but only lasted about 7k miles. I don't recall the make of the wishbone that failed, but it could have been anything from GM to ATP special.

However, when fitted, those  rear polys made one hell of a difference to the way the car drove.

[Andy B]

I thought that wishbones that had the harder polly bushes fitted had a tendency to crack 

Only if you fit them to the back,

I knew there was something about polly bushes ..... it's been a while since my Omega days 

[Jim82]

Hence I always suggest people with GM ones refurb them, rather than replace with crap.  Its a bit extra work, but cheaper and will last longer.

Is there any easy to spot tell tale that they are original GM? GM logo somewhere?

They'll look like they were rescued from the Titanic; rusty and covered in crap off the road. You're getting bogged down in details that are unimportant.


You've got new wishbones, so fit the front poly bushes and get them on the car. They'll be an improvement. If the removed ones look vaguely saveable, keep them. If they don't, bin them. To me, the only thing the originals do better than refurbished ones is that the ball joints are rivetted on, not bolted.

I was just curious really, if mine turns out to have GM ones on it currently I'll save them and refurb for next time.  If not, they can indeed go in the bin.