Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: danzigfan on 18 May 2022, 12:36:41

Title: Shocks and springs recomendations
Post by: danzigfan on 18 May 2022, 12:36:41
Hi guys, my omega is in for rust repair which will take a while. I went to see the work in progress today and found front right shock is leaking.
I would like to replace all four of them and while I'm there fit new springs too.

I would like to keep stock height and not to harsh ride. I like the comfy way omegas drive, so I don't need lowering springs and and some sporty shocks. I'm getting to old for that :P

Any recomedations for parts and manufacturer is appreciated.
Thanks in advance, Stan
Title: Re: Shocks and springs recomendations
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 18 May 2022, 12:53:27
Sachs/Boge are the factory shock and are available for reasonable money. Links to follow.  ;)

Springs I personally recommend Kilen, with HD ones for the rear.  :y
Title: Re: Shocks and springs recomendations
Post by: danzigfan on 18 May 2022, 13:15:33
Yes, HD for the rear ones, I agree. If both kids are on the back seat, Omega sits quite low.
I'll appreciate the links, thanks
Title: Re: Shocks and springs recomendations
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 18 May 2022, 21:18:54
Rear shocks (saloon) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/294963916470

Front shocks https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363825586268

Being in Euroland, and recalling the complications last time...

ATP for the shocks/associated parts:

https://www.atp-autoteile.de/de/product/210744-sachs-stossdaempfer-hinterachse

https://www.atp-autoteile.de/de/product/143621-sachs-stossdaempfer

https://www.atp-autoteile.de/de/product/152445-sachs-staubschutzsatz-stossdaempfer

https://www.atp-autoteile.de/de/product/295194-sachs-reparatursatz-federbeinstuetzlager

Springs... Kilen part numbers are correct as per the link to their site, the seller information might disagree (because they don't bother checking) ... A Lithuanian supplier, not necessarily the cheapest, but they are in Euroland...

Rear HD https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353987738652

Front right spring https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353987692255

Front left spring https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313940409415

And for reference, the Kilen catalogue https://web.tecalliance.net/kilen/en/parts/cars/assigned?assemblyGroupId=100113&targetId=3861&typeNumber=3861&targetCountry=AT&brands=176&page=0#@brc/brands:Car;targetType:cars/assem:OPEL%2520OMEGA%2520B%2520(V94)%25203.0%2520V6%2520(F69%252C%2520M69%252C%2520P69);targetType:cars;targetId:3861;typeNumber:3861;targetCountry:AT/lnkparts:Coil%2520Springs;targetType:cars;assemblyGroupId:100113;targetId:3861;typeNumber:3861;targetCountry:AT;brands:176;page:0
Title: Re: Shocks and springs recomendations
Post by: danzigfan on 18 May 2022, 22:00:41
This is very helpfull, thank you very much :y
Title: Re: Shocks and springs recomendations
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 18 May 2022, 23:12:15
No problem :y
Title: Re: Shocks and springs recomendations
Post by: olm on 29 May 2022, 02:48:15
And for the sports chassis is there something out of origin or do they all have the same setting?
Title: Re: Shocks and springs recomendations
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 29 May 2022, 11:22:39
Factory LSC was a 15mm drop, Irmscher a 30mm drop iirc.

Rules still apply re different front springs appropriate to the engine, rears only vary if saloon or estate as the rear end weights don't change with engine.  :y

Aftermarket options tend to be a 30/40 mm drop. 40mm can impact the adjustability of the front camber.
Title: Re: Shocks and springs recomendations
Post by: johnnydog on 29 May 2022, 13:36:27
This has been subject of discussion previously. It's all well and good having the 'one spring fits all 'approach for the rear springs, with only variations between saloon and estate, but GM saw a necessity to fit a number of different springs relative to different models, with differing ratings applicable to the various springs.
In my own experience, fitting aftermarket springs of the wrong wire diameter, or non progressively wound springs, or simply of the incorrect free length may give a incorrect ride height.
Some owners don't mind the back end of their Omegas sitting too high, or looking like a dragster, but in my view there needs more information on the aftermarket springs being fitted to ensure they are as near to the spec of the originals. One spring fits all approach doesn't take GM's thoughts into account for the differing rear springs across the model range into consideration.
GM identified the different springs with various letters, such as LA, LK etc etc etc
Only saying....
Title: Re: Shocks and springs recomendations
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 29 May 2022, 15:21:20
Irmscher's own paperwork confirms that for any given Omega the rear axles are the same weight rating regardless of engine. The fronts are widely varied.

Ergo, for any given application, the rear axle load weight is unaffected by engine choice.

I understand the point you are trying to make, but retail spring specs were limited to engine for the fronts, rears for saloon or estate with/without self levelling and LSC.

So that's three rear spring options for the saloon, three for the estate and two options for the front springs depending on engine... Standard or LSC.

Plod/Rough Road, Hearse and Ambulance are largely irrelevant for the purpose of this exercise.

The question asked was specifically about lowering heights. This has no bearing whatsoever on the axle weights.

From experience four pot Irmscher fronts will cause rubbing on a V6 and, it goes without saying that using lighter weight rated springs to lower a car will significantly increase the chances of spring failure.
Title: Re: Shocks and springs recomendations
Post by: johnnydog on 29 May 2022, 15:42:28
In the initial post on this topic, the OP wished to retain the standard ride height, the comfort of the original set up, without a harsh ride.
Post #6 referred to the sports chassis.
Both were available when manufacturered.
Hiwever, lowering the ride height as mentioned is a deviation from the initial suspension setup, and not what the OP asked, and will not retain the points he originally wanted.
Title: Re: Shocks and springs recomendations
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 29 May 2022, 15:48:32
My post re ride height was in response to the question from Olm.

My original response to Danzigfan answered his question exactly as he asked it.

Next time I will try to remember to quote the post to which I have replied in order to not confuse or mislead the pedants  ;)
Title: Re: Shocks and springs recomendations
Post by: johnnydog on 29 May 2022, 17:08:55
Whether you think I'm being pedantic or not, the OP has the options to make an informed choice with his suspension relative to his preferences.
Fitting after market suspension components without properly researching their suitability for any particular model, although sometimes a necessity as cars get older, can create issues the OP may not be aware of compared to the original suspension set up.
It doesn't really bother me what owners use, as I have nos original GM replacement suspension components for my cars if needed. But from own personal experiences, I would fit these parts without question over any aftermarket parts, but not everyone is in that position.
So, the choice for him is there.....
Title: Re: Shocks and springs recomendations
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 29 May 2022, 17:31:35
I recommended that which I have fitted to my own cars, and others so advised based on actual tried and tested experience.

If new GM springs were readily available at sensible prices, then they would be a viable alternative. Sachs/Boge shocks are still readily available at sensible prices and were the factory fit.

Equally I have fitted Bilstein shocks and Eibach springs as supplied by the car owners and have been underwhelmed by the fit/results, just to be balanced.
Title: Re: Shocks and springs recomendations
Post by: olm on 02 June 2022, 09:32:38
 :o
My post re ride height was in response to the question from Olm.

My original response to Danzigfan answered his question exactly as he asked it.

Next time I will try to remember to quote the post to which I have replied in order to not confuse or mislead the pedants  ;)

Oh, sorry, my question was about the shock absorbers for sport chassis, in GM do they have a different reference, does the setting change?
Title: Re: Shocks and springs recomendations
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 02 June 2022, 10:17:05
:o
My post re ride height was in response to the question from Olm.

My original response to Danzigfan answered his question exactly as he asked it.

Next time I will try to remember to quote the post to which I have replied in order to not confuse or mislead the pedants  ;)

Oh, sorry, my question was about the shock absorbers for sport chassis, in GM do they have a different reference, does the setting change?

On my cars, I have only replaced shocks like for like or deleted self levelling in order to fit Irmscher shocks. Not on LSC cars, unless they were someone else's and I was swapping out for Bilstein B4s.

The Irmscher shocks were also new Sachs/Boge, but I didn't compare them with the standard air shocks on that car. It is possible that they are slightly shorter due to the lower ride height, but the ride height is set by the springs not the shocks, so the standard shocks ought to be fine, even if they don't use their full travel.

We're talking 15-20mm, not 100+mm.

I will see if I still have the Irmscher part numbers as that may be useful as a reference  :y
Title: Re: Shocks and springs recomendations
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 05 June 2022, 20:45:19
i74000047 Estate Irmscher rear shocks.