Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: GrahamK on 08 July 2021, 18:50:40

Title: Wheels in motion Full Geometry questions.
Post by: GrahamK on 08 July 2021, 18:50:40
Hi all,

I will shortly visit WIM to get the full Geo set-up that was originally planned last year but didn't happen, for obvious reasons.
I'm trying to anticipate any issues with regard to the adjusters coming undone. I've tried to loosen up the track control arms, but they are seized solid. I have bought a pair of genuine new arm assemblies for both sides, so i can swap them out before I go. The pinch bolts at the hub are recently new from when I changed the struts, so they should be OK. The Steering idler arm had no play at the last MOT, but might it be worth changing? Is it straightforward to DIY?
Finally, I understand there are also adjustments at the rear, but I can't think where they are. What do I need to look for?

Final question, should I just leave it to WIM and presume with hook or by crook they will be able to sort it. Big hammer, heat, whatever. The guy told me (Tony I think) they charge by adjustments required and (last Sept) the maximum it could be was £139. When he quoted me, I didn't know about the OOF discount, so hopefully that might come down a bit as it was a bit more than I was expecting.

Regards,

Graham.
Title: Re: Wheels in motion Full Geometry questions.
Post by: Nick W on 08 July 2021, 19:27:40
Why not ask them to fit the track rods? It will take them about ten minutes, plus the adjustment that will be necessary.
The hub pinch bolts are not touched during alignment.
Splitting the ball joints on the steering idler can be awkward if the car isn't on a lift, but isn't too bad a job. If you get that far into it, you might as well replace the centre track rod as well.


The rear adjustment is also track rods, which are behind the semi trailing arms. They are probably seized, and need heating to red hot a couple of times to free them off.


Personally I'd find somewhere close to home to do the work; it isn't rocket science.
Title: Re: Wheels in motion Full Geometry questions.
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 08 July 2021, 19:27:46
Rear track rods.

These will also be seized.

Personally, because it's what I have previously done, I would give them the new track rods front and rear and have them fit them. The minimal cost of this will be recouped by not destroying your tyres on the drive over :y
Title: Re: Wheels in motion Full Geometry questions.
Post by: GrahamK on 09 July 2021, 15:52:51
Thanks Nick & Doc,

Good idea to give them the rods, it will only take them minutes.

I would very much like to use somewhere nearer, but I'm not confident of finding someone local who will do a proper job. Having owned 3 Omega's I have first hand experience of what they can be like. The first one was perfect, the second a blancmange and my third, despite completely new suspension, somewhere between the two. My current tyres though still legal are feathering in nicely. I have a set of 17" elite wheels and new rubber to go on as soon as I have the geometry sorted.
I have asked at a few places and they all talk a good job but I'm not so sure. At one one of them I discretely watched a young kid doing a tracking adjustment. The kit look good enough to fly to the moon and the operator finished with the settings all in the green but a bit sloppy I thought. I actually heard him say near enough. I don't really want near enough.
The other positive thing about WIM is that there is a really nice pub hotel in the middle of Amersham old town. We stayed last year and I think I might give it another try.
Title: Re: Wheels in motion Full Geometry questions.
Post by: omegod on 09 July 2021, 20:51:46
I was surprised when I took my old 3.0 into Langs in Bolton, I hadn't counted on it needing wishbones so it took a while longer to get them delivered and fitted but it transformed the car
Title: Re: Wheels in motion Full Geometry questions.
Post by: johnnydog on 09 July 2021, 21:22:05
Langs are local to me  - so from what you have said you would recommend them for Omega geo set up then?
Title: Re: Wheels in motion Full Geometry questions.
Post by: Enceladus on 09 July 2021, 21:47:48
I suggest that you leave the idler arm alone unless it's actually causing an issue. A new genuine arm is scarcer than a Unicorn. Next best is an old stock Lemförder, they're only rocking horse s**t. Even from the USA for a Catera.

This is what to expect (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwD73-bQ4xM) from the available new aftermarket arms.

Best thing to do would be to buy a Lemförder 11602 03 bush and ask WIM to re-bush your existing arm if there's a problem.
Title: Re: Wheels in motion Full Geometry questions.
Post by: omegod on 10 July 2021, 21:31:53
Langs are local to me  - so from what you have said you would recommend them for Omega geo set up then?

I had no complaints at the time, this was probably 10 yrs ago   :-\
Title: Re: Wheels in motion Full Geometry questions.
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 11 July 2021, 11:17:45
I bought a genuine Senator / Carlton idler arm from ebay a while back.  Its 10mm longer than an Omega arm, but otherwise the same.
I removed the bush from the Senator arm and fitted it into an old Omega arm.
Havent fitted it yet, as my current one isnt too bad, and I forgot about it tbh until this thread reminded me.  ;D
Worth keeo]ping an eye out for them popping up on ebay or similar.
Title: Re: Wheels in motion Full Geometry questions.
Post by: dave the builder on 11 July 2021, 11:30:13
I bought a genuine Senator / Carlton idler arm from ebay a while back.  Its 10mm longer than an Omega arm, but otherwise the same.
I removed the bush from the Senator arm and fitted it into an old Omega arm.
Havent fitted it yet, as my current one isnt too bad, and I forgot about it tbh until this thread reminded me.  ;D
Worth keeo]ping an eye out for them popping up on ebay or similar.
Carlton, omega A, senny had 2 sizes of idler arm,pot luck as to what got fitted 110mm or 120mm
so some are a bolt on replacement complete  :)
but finding a genuine GM/Vauxhall/Opel new old stock carlton item is unlikely now  :(