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Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: vauxsull on 29 September 2015, 14:35:01

Title: elite rear shock test
Post by: vauxsull on 29 September 2015, 14:35:01
Have a banging kinda noise from rear off side and thought I'd test to see if rear shocks are still good.. Followed the guide on testing the elite shock's and expected to see suspension " rise" then " fall" when removing the air connection pipe that's visible through wheel arch..  However all it did was " hiss" when pipe came off.. No change to height of car at all on rather side...?? Both shocks goosed? Or have I dome something wrong here?
Title: Re: elite rear shock test
Post by: vauxsull on 29 September 2015, 14:35:49
On either side
Title: Re: elite rear shock test
Post by: 05omegav6 on 29 September 2015, 14:43:46
Both shocks failed...

Does it clonk when you bounce on the boot sill :-\

That said the test is to pop the lever off the trailing arm... right hand side next to diff, then ignition on, push the lever up... pump should run, lifting the car about 5".

Then at full extension give the shocks a good shake... knocking at the top is mountings and knocking/play in the middle is the shock itself... :y
Title: Re: elite rear shock test
Post by: vauxsull on 29 September 2015, 14:44:45
No. All feel's fine.. Bounces just right to me..
Title: Re: elite rear shock test
Post by: 05omegav6 on 29 September 2015, 14:47:48
No. All feel's fine.. Bounces just right to me..
Edited, reread :y
Title: Re: elite rear shock test
Post by: vauxsull on 29 September 2015, 14:51:50
Bounces just right when pushing down on boot.. Normal driving feels ok too apart from when going over bumps as that's when I hear the " banging" noise.. Just rang local Vauxhall dealers and they have a pair in.. £168... Do I need them ?
Title: Re: elite rear shock test
Post by: vauxsull on 29 September 2015, 14:55:35
If I need to change them should I just opt for the standard shocks and unplug the self leveling pump? Advantages or disadvantage??
Title: Re: elite rear shock test
Post by: Entwood on 29 September 2015, 15:01:26
best way to check self leveling is the way the book says ... measure rear end height at a convenient point  ... wheel arch/bumper/towbar .... get fat bloater of a mate to sit in the boot (or otherwise load boot heavily) .. the measurement taken should now be a considerable amount smaller .. start engine a listen to the self levelling pump running (front right wing), when it stops re-measure, the dimension should be within a whisker of the first measurement. switch off. let fat bloater mate out, or unload boot which should now rise to increase the first measurement ... switch on and wait a short while .. rear should drop back down to, again, within a gnats of the first measurement.

If all that happens the shocks and pump are good.

HTH
Title: Re: elite rear shock test
Post by: vauxsull on 29 September 2015, 15:12:30
Right then... Ive just popped the lever off as previously mentioned.. The rear of the car went up and then noticed the rubbers at the top of the offside shock are loose... Near side ok.. Is it simply a case of tightening them up ir are they goosed?
Title: Re: elite rear shock test
Post by: zirk on 29 September 2015, 15:24:37
You've probably checked this, but its not always obvious by looking, have you checked for broken spring(s)
Title: Re: elite rear shock test
Post by: vauxsull on 29 September 2015, 15:25:11
Springs are 6 weeks old my friend
Title: Re: elite rear shock test
Post by: vauxsull on 29 September 2015, 15:27:23
But there's definitely a lot of play in top shock rubbers on off side that was only noticeable when I removed that lever and started car up
Title: Re: elite rear shock test
Post by: 05omegav6 on 29 September 2015, 17:02:40
Bounces just right when pushing down on boot.. Normal driving feels ok too apart from when going over bumps as that's when I hear the " banging" noise.. Just rang local Vauxhall dealers and they have a pair in.. £168... Do I need them ?
Upto you... How old/mileage?

Replacing with standard will require a spring change if it has Elite springs fitted.

IME the mounting kit will now be part of the strut if all original. But if shocks are newish you should be able to undo the top mount and compress it to investigate the state of it. If they come apart, including the metal bush and washer, then simply replace the mounting kit using the parts listed elsewhere.

If they don't, or the shocks are getting on a bit, then replace the lot for the sake of a job done right :y

Second hand self-levelling shocks have some value if they basically work and are leak free, so you could potentially recoup the cost of the fittings :-\
Title: Re: elite rear shock test
Post by: Nick W on 29 September 2015, 17:14:06
Bounce test basically confirms that the shock absorber is still fitted, not its condition.
Title: Re: elite rear shock test
Post by: tidla on 29 September 2015, 18:34:58
Top shock rubbers just need tightening.

Had the same when i fitted brand new self leveling shocks. The rubbers that came with kit seem to settle after a bit giving the same noise as you describe.
Title: Re: elite rear shock test
Post by: vauxsull on 29 September 2015, 18:58:44
Tried to tighten it up but wasn't budging... So sod it I thought and ordered replacement rubbers from Vauxhall... Take two weeks to get here though... Shocks are original self levellers so haven't completely ruled out changing them but vehicle only covered 57k.
Title: Re: elite rear shock test
Post by: 05omegav6 on 29 September 2015, 19:05:48
The lower rubber has a plastic component moulded into it... This is a load bearing wear item :y

As seen in my comparison picture between the Gm estate and Bilstein supplied ones... There's a browny white ring on the lower rubber... Should be flawless and white when new ;)
Title: Re: elite rear shock test
Post by: vauxsull on 29 September 2015, 19:11:46
I did pop off the lower shock rubber when changing the springs several weeks ago and nothing untoward came to view... Couldn't believe the play in top rubbers on that side though..
Title: Re: elite rear shock test
Post by: 05omegav6 on 29 September 2015, 19:24:11
When I say upper and lower I mean the two halves of the top.mount...

Lower bolt rubber is pretty much bombproof ;)
Title: Re: elite rear shock test
Post by: vauxsull on 29 September 2015, 19:27:33
Oh I see sorry... They look ok when compared to other side..  Don't appear to be more or less compressed..
Title: Re: elite rear shock test
Post by: 05omegav6 on 30 September 2015, 00:22:49
They won't look compressed ::) the wear is clear on the used one in my pic ;)