Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: aaronjb on 01 September 2013, 16:24:16

Title: Some things are much less fun alone..
Post by: aaronjb on 01 September 2013, 16:24:16
Car maintenance, for example.. Here I am, swearing at the lower rear shock mount on the Omega and there's nobody here to say "Here, I'll have a go".

So I've walked away for five minutes - partly to check the guide in case I was doing something wrong (I wasn't, it just clearly needs more brute force) and partly so I'm not within tool throwing distance of the car!

And the oil change on the M3 went so well .. apart from forgetting to plug the TPS back in before I started the car  ::)

Is everyone else having a fun Sunday?  ;D
Title: Re: Some things are much less fun alone..
Post by: MaxV6 on 01 September 2013, 16:28:07
in the midst of doing tax return ......    i rather hate accounts....   so no,  not a fun sunday at all.   
Title: Re: Some things are much less fun alone..
Post by: tunnie on 01 September 2013, 16:41:24
It's always nice just have second pair of hands too, also just to clarify what you have done is right, just for sanity purpose. In case I've done something stupid  ;D

When doing rear brake shoes, I had it all back together, but felt very uncertain it was right. Little fatty called by and instantly said yup it's all ok, made me feel lot better.

I'll hopefully not be far away soon Aaron, always willing to help out. Might ask for a spin in the M3 though  ::)  :D
Title: Re: Some things are much less fun alone..
Post by: tunnie on 01 September 2013, 16:43:02
Also why is lower part of shocks on Estate jam on? Had same issue with MotherT's shocks, lot of swearing to get those buggers off! Found lifting shock with mini-jack helped  :y
Title: Re: Some things are much less fun alone..
Post by: aaronjb on 01 September 2013, 16:45:54
I'll hopefully not be far away soon Aaron, always willing to help out. Might ask for a spin in the M3 though  ::)  :D

You'd be welcome over anytime  :y

I'll go and dig out the bottle jack and give the shock another kicking.. maybe the PlusGas will have loosened something. This is only the first side, too  ;D

On the other hand, a windy gun makes the top nut very easy to get off - you don't need to hold the shock top with the 6mm spanner, just stick the gun on it and pull the trigger ;)
Title: Re: Some things are much less fun alone..
Post by: tunnie on 01 September 2013, 16:52:10
I think I managed to pull the shock out of its lower rubber support thing, leaving the "bolt" still attached to the wheel hub.  ;D

But yeah, small jack to just compress shock, it puts some effort in besides a hammer. 

(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/803897/Omega/Suspension/CIMG1958.JPG)
Title: Re: Some things are much less fun alone..
Post by: albitz on 01 September 2013, 17:18:33
I wish I,d had a second pair of hands when removing the engine & box from a 3.2 recently.I ended up with so many cuts & grazes on my hands,it looked like someone had been murdered in the engine bay.Claret everywhere. Nearly bloody killed me it did. ;D
Title: Re: Some things are much less fun alone..
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 01 September 2013, 17:29:24
Yeah, I can think of something particular that is far less fun when alone, but that is for another thread! :o :o :o :o ;D ;D ;D ;) ;)
Title: Re: Some things are much less fun alone..
Post by: omega3000 on 01 September 2013, 17:31:40
Yeah, I can think of something particular that is far less fun when alone, but that is for another thread! :o :o :o :o ;D ;D ;D ;) ;)

 :o :o :-* :-* :o :o
Title: Re: Some things are much less fun alone..
Post by: chrisgixer on 01 September 2013, 18:01:01
Bottom mount is a press got type affar. Torqued to 110nm iirc. I big bat helps. Show it who's boss. ;D

Just spent most of the day and the last two hours in the bath trying to get my back to stop twinging, after the weekends cam belt. If that's any consolation...?

I love car work. No really, I do. :o ;D
Title: Re: Some things are much less fun alone..
Post by: TheBoy on 01 September 2013, 18:24:45
Yeah, I can think of something particular that is far less fun when alone, but that is for another thread! :o :o :o :o ;D ;D ;D ;) ;)
Miss Zoom, get you mind back on track, you filthy girl :o


Then give me you phone number ;D
Title: Re: Some things are much less fun alone..
Post by: TheBoy on 01 September 2013, 18:25:48
in the bath trying to get my back to stop twinging
I've not managed to get out yet.  But I've re-topped it up with hot water...
Title: Re: Some things are much less fun alone..
Post by: chrisgixer on 01 September 2013, 18:34:35
Bottom mount is a press got type affar. Torqued to 110nm iirc. I big bat helps. Show it who's boss. ;D

Just spent most of the day and the last two hours in the bath trying to get my back to stop twinging, after the weekends cam belt. If that's any consolation...?

I love car work. No really, I do. :o ;D

Fit. I meant fit.... >cart man voice on< GodDamnit >off<
Title: Re: Some things are much less fun alone..
Post by: Nick W on 01 September 2013, 18:35:50
I spent the afternoon repairing and reskinning one of the doors on my sister's 1300. Replaced the bottom 75mm of the frame, and then fitted the new skin. It fits the car fine, but shows up the awful fit of the front wing. I intend to muse on that whilst soaking my aching back in the bath, with a good stiff drink.
And my hands hurt from all the cutting and hammering.
Title: Re: Some things are much less fun alone..
Post by: cnj on 01 September 2013, 18:42:15
spent half the afternoon rebuilding a bissel carpet cleaner in order to get the pipe working properly. failed quite nicely on the pipe, but the front works ok now !!
Title: Re: Some things are much less fun alone..
Post by: aaronjb on 01 September 2013, 21:24:43
I think I managed to pull the shock out of its lower rubber support thing, leaving the "bolt" still attached to the wheel hub.  ;D

The first one came out once I went outside and wiggled it some more (no longer worried I'd broken something as the bottom metal part that I thought stayed in the hub was wobbling)..

Then moved on to the second one which did exactly what you showed in that picture - the shock came off the rubber bush affair. An hour or two of hammering, prying, torching, plusgassing, hammering, prying, jacking, levering, wobbling and it finally came out.. I think you may need to update the maintenance guide with some extra tools - here's all the tools I used just to get that bush out:
(http://i41.tinypic.com/tamryx.jpg)

From left to right: Very knackered shock, less knackered shock, MAPP gas, Rothenberger torch, mole grips (still attached to bush), bottle jack, wire brush(es), big clobbering screwdriver, small pick, pry bar, dead blow mallet and windy gun.. ;D
Title: Re: Some things are much less fun alone..
Post by: iansoutham on 01 September 2013, 21:25:25
Did mine today on my mfl estate.

As said, an airgun helps a lot on the bolts.

I found that simply undoing the top nut, compressing the shock absorber down and twisting it to the horizontal position worked. A bit on synthetic lube through the bolt hole and then wiggle the shock absorber sideways freed the joint nicely. Upon refitting, a good smear of copper grease around the outside of the insert before assembly should make any further dismantling easier.

I fitted a set of original GM shocks, but initially purchased a set of KYB ones. Went to fit them and found that the insert was thinner than the originals, so "rattled" in the knuckle without the bolt in, possibly causing damage later on when it damages the fixing bolt or knuckle. GM ones, perfect fit. The instructions on the KYB ones list for Carlton and Omega, though, so I suspect a problem there.

Silly thing is that the GM ones on Trade Club were only £1+vat each dearer than the trade price on the KYB ones.
Title: Re: Some things are much less fun alone..
Post by: Mr.OmegaMan on 01 September 2013, 21:30:47
Not a bad day here overall, Just been for a 200 mile cruise listening to the lovely sound of "rattling door pins"  and there's something else making a noise somewhere else like an air vent again or something, The joys of Omega ownership eh ::) ;D
Title: Re: Some things are much less fun alone..
Post by: Rods2 on 01 September 2013, 22:14:50
I think I managed to pull the shock out of its lower rubber support thing, leaving the "bolt" still attached to the wheel hub.  ;D

The first one came out once I went outside and wiggled it some more (no longer worried I'd broken something as the bottom metal part that I thought stayed in the hub was wobbling)..

Then moved on to the second one which did exactly what you showed in that picture - the shock came off the rubber bush affair. An hour or two of hammering, prying, torching, plusgassing, hammering, prying, jacking, levering, wobbling and it finally came out.. I think you may need to update the maintenance guide with some extra tools - here's all the tools I used just to get that bush out:
(http://i41.tinypic.com/tamryx.jpg)

From left to right: Very knackered shock, less knackered shock, MAPP gas, Rothenberger torch, mole grips (still attached to bush), bottle jack, wire brush(es), big clobbering screwdriver, small pick, pry bar, dead blow mallet and windy gun.. ;D

I can see immediately what your problem was Aaron. Your pry bar was too short and hammer too small. After soaking the joint with penetrating oil and getting nowhere treating it gently, I found using a pry bar about twice that length, and while the Mrs tensioned it, I used Sammy, to show it who was boss and it behaved according, by popping out of the suspension socket.  :y :y :y :y I did use some copper slip on assembly, so hopefully it will be easier next time.  ::) ::) ::)
Title: Re: Some things are much less fun alone..
Post by: aaronjb on 02 September 2013, 08:36:13
I dislike using the lump hammer on the car generally - in this case I was worried that I might end up cracking or somehow damaging the rear hub carrier.. the dangly bit that the shock attaches to looked awfully vulnerable.

Probably worrying without reason.. still, as soon as I was able to rotate the rubber bush in the hub carrier socket it started to come free :y

I do feel like I spent an hour at the gym now, though.. ;D
Title: Re: Some things are much less fun alone..
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 02 September 2013, 12:29:02
Yeah, I can think of something particular that is far less fun when alone, but that is for another thread! :o :o :o :o ;D ;D ;D ;) ;)
Miss Zoom, get you mind back on track, you filthy girl :o


Then give me you phone number ;D

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;) ;)
Title: Re: Some things are much less fun alone..
Post by: omega3000 on 02 September 2013, 12:41:02
Not a bad day here overall, Just been for a 200 mile cruise listening to the lovely sound of "rattling door pins"  and there's something else making a noise somewhere else like an air vent again or something, The joys of Omega ownership eh ::) ;D

Your hearing things  ::)  ;D
Title: Re: Some things are much less fun alone..
Post by: Rods2 on 02 September 2013, 18:16:50
I dislike using the lump hammer on the car generally - in this case I was worried that I might end up cracking or somehow damaging the rear hub carrier.. the dangly bit that the shock attaches to looked awfully vulnerable.

Probably worrying without reason.. still, as soon as I was able to rotate the rubber bush in the hub carrier socket it started to come free :y

I do feel like I spent an hour at the gym now, though.. ;D

I started off thinking like that and made no progress and came to the conclusion that with the pry bar contact areas on the hub and shock absorber that in reality you are infact getting very little leverage and hence the problem of trying to remove the shock absorber. When going over rough surfaces and potholes to forces on the suspension must be considerable.

I know somebody that bent bolt that was about 18mm diameter on a Rover 800's front suspension on a pothole at speed, but that was the only damage to the suspension.  :o :o :o :o
Title: Re: Some things are much less fun alone..
Post by: Mr.OmegaMan on 02 September 2013, 18:41:47
Not a bad day here overall, Just been for a 200 mile cruise listening to the lovely sound of "rattling door pins"  and there's something else making a noise somewhere else like an air vent again or something, The joys of Omega ownership eh ::) ;D

Your hearing things  ::)  ;D

If so, Isn't that the fist sign of madness  ;D

Sure I've come across a guide on how to fix rattling door pins on the FL somewhere. ?