Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: tigers_gonads on 04 September 2021, 11:57:21

Title: Heavy duty shocks
Post by: tigers_gonads on 04 September 2021, 11:57:21
Does anybody out there do a rear heavy duty shock absorber for the estate ?
Running B4’s on mine with Eibach springs and since I put a larger lpg tank in last year they are struggling to keep the back end planted when driving quick on rough A roads
Title: Re: Heavy duty shocks
Post by: Nick W on 04 September 2021, 12:15:10
Does anybody out there do a rear heavy duty shock absorber for the estate ?
Running B4’s on mine with Eibach springs and since I put a larger lpg tank in last year they are struggling to keep the back end planted when driving quick on rough A roads


That's why GM installed self levelling....


Although they did spoil it slightly by fitting softer coil springs.
Replacing those with the non S/L springs while retaining the rest of the system gives the best of everything
Title: Re: Heavy duty shocks
Post by: tigers_gonads on 04 September 2021, 13:00:40
I have a pair of standard heavy duty springs at home somewhere.
The cars a Mv6 so none of the plumbing for self levelling is there.
Sat in my caravan at the moment so not had a look underneath yet
Title: Re: Heavy duty shocks
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 04 September 2021, 14:01:21
Heavy duty and Sachs shocks is the way forward.  :y
Title: Re: Heavy duty shocks
Post by: tigers_gonads on 04 September 2021, 16:20:37
Heavy duty and Sachs shocks is the way forward.  :y

Do Sachs make a heavy duty shock or are we talking standard ?

Thinking ahead since the MOT is coming up and the car passed 171K yesterday, what bushes on the back end may need sorting ?
The rear donuts are poly’s.
Thinking if I’ve got to take the back end apart I may as well sort everything
Title: Re: Heavy duty shocks
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 04 September 2021, 17:03:43
The springs support the weight, the shocks smooth the bounce.

Sach are standard factory fit. Sports shocks like the B4s are designed to work with shorter sports springs, and, as you've found aren't a great combination with a load... Especially if you are using the tow bar as a bump stop ::)

You're already 100+ kgs heavier before allowing that you use it as a van ;)
Title: Re: Heavy duty shocks
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 04 September 2021, 17:27:41
Solid/poly diff mounts will help the subframe location and tighten the rear end, especially with the HD springs.

If you can't find your springs, the first link is exactly the HD springs I fitted to my last estate (no self levelling). Second link is correct, but for some inexplicable reason, two thirds the price of V6 ones ??? They're identical, so don't take any shit from the seller ;) Also, they'll include the correct fittings, which is more than the B4s get delivered with :-X

Springs (£69.99) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230221325046

Shocks (£114) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/293517494441

I can personally vouch for that combo on a fully loaded estate :y
Title: Re: Heavy duty shocks
Post by: tigers_gonads on 04 September 2021, 18:18:43
Solid/poly diff mounts will help the subframe location and tighten the rear end, especially with the HD springs.

If you can't find your springs, the first link is exactly the HD springs I fitted to my last estate (no self levelling). Second link is correct, but for some inexplicable reason, two thirds the price of V6 ones ??? They're identical, so don't take any shit from the seller ;) Also, they'll include the correct fittings, which is more than the B4s get delivered with :-X

Springs (£69.99) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230221325046

Shocks (£114) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/293517494441

I can personally vouch for that combo on a fully loaded estate :y



Fantastic Al
Thank you 😊

Do I remember reading on here that the rear diff mounts are hard to get or out of stock ?
Really need to get this sorted.
Front end just where it should go brilliantly but the back end with a full lpg tank plus some petrol is unerving as hell when loaded up on anything but smooth roads.
Even has the wife giving a little yelp yesterday as the back end started skipping around
Title: Re: Heavy duty shocks
Post by: Nick W on 04 September 2021, 18:50:15

Do I remember reading on here that the rear diff mounts are hard to get or out of stock ?
Really need to get this sorted.
Front end just where it should go brilliantly but the back end with a full lpg tank plus some petrol is unnerving as hell when loaded up on anything but smooth roads.
Even has the wife giving a little yelp yesterday as the back end started skipping around




Diff mounts have been unavailable for ages. Secondhand ones would have to be free to even consider them as they tend to look like this:


(https://www.dropbox.com/s/ec18sumf400xnd7/CrustyBrokenMount.jpg?raw=1)


Rebuilt is the way to go.




After cleaning up and clamped in my jig:




(https://www.dropbox.com/s/nyyo6guqdi89nyi/InJig.jpg?raw=1)




Mix some polyurethane and paint


(https://www.dropbox.com/s/u8qugvnakg1zs8k/RepairedDiffMounts.jpg?raw=1)

Title: Re: Heavy duty shocks
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 04 September 2021, 18:57:14
Diff mounts have been out of stock for about a decade :'(

Summat like this: https://www.mbfg.co.uk/pt-flex-85-rubber.html and diy the rear diff mounts ;)

If your mounts are still intact, degrease them and fill the voids.

If they're delaminating, then burn all the rubber off and ditch the slip plates and recast them using the outer carrier, centre block and a jig :y

Nick W made a very nice jig for re casting them, so be worth giving him a shout if you choose the re cast route ;)

See...^^^^ ;D
Title: Re: Heavy duty shocks
Post by: Nick W on 04 September 2021, 19:17:03
Burn them off ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D 


If you try that, do it outside. And nowhere near where you live. Make sure you have plenty of time, as rubber isn't easy to light.


Sandblasting doesn't work either; it just bounces off the rubber.


A sharp scraper to remove the majority of the rubber and then a cup wheel on an angle grinder to remove the rest. It wraps around the outside of the horseshoe. You'll need the grinder to clean up the metal surfaces anyway. There's probably 30minutes graft in each mount.
Title: Re: Heavy duty shocks
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 04 September 2021, 19:21:16
In my limited defence, most of the rubber was already missing ;D
Title: Re: Heavy duty shocks
Post by: tigers_gonads on 04 September 2021, 19:43:19
Looking on a small screen
Back home tomorrow
I’ll have a gander then 👌
Title: Re: Heavy duty shocks
Post by: tigers_gonads on 06 September 2021, 12:20:57
Near side rear shock is totally shagged.
Got to the point that if you turn hard right or hit a camber / pot hole, the back end corner loads up and collapses  :'( so standard HD springs / Sachs it is  :y

I'll have a look at the diff mounts when I get it up in the air and go from there  :y
Title: Re: Heavy duty shocks
Post by: tigers_gonads on 14 September 2021, 10:17:55
(https://i.postimg.cc/sD33sLR6/IMG-0282-5033.jpg)


Found the problem  ::)
Old HD springs on.
New Sachs shocks fitted.

The full weekend lying on my back  :D with wire brush, white and copper grease, tin / spray underseal and in for the MOT this morning ..........

The verdict is ........  Another 12 months ticket with NO ADVISORIES  ;D :y
Well happy  8)
Title: Re: Heavy duty shocks
Post by: dave the builder on 14 September 2021, 10:43:29
Congratulations on the MOT pass  :)
Title: Re: Heavy duty shocks
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 14 September 2021, 11:14:56
That would certainly do it :D
Title: Re: Heavy duty shocks
Post by: tigers_gonads on 15 September 2021, 09:57:54
Congratulations on the MOT pass  :)

Cheers Dave
Saves me flapping about a replacement for another 12 months 🤣
Title: Re: Heavy duty shocks
Post by: tigers_gonads on 15 September 2021, 10:00:30
That would certainly do it :D

That’s what I thought 🤣
Thanks for the pictures and links Al
Much appreciated 👍😁
Title: Re: Heavy duty shocks
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 15 September 2021, 14:54:39
You're welcome  :y