Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: grifter on 01 December 2016, 22:08:01

Title: Front crossmember replacement does it require jig/alignment?
Post by: grifter on 01 December 2016, 22:08:01
This is to do with my senator that I am replacing front crossmember. Just wondering if you need a jig or some sort of body alignment tool when replacing it? Have cut off anyway as is my way with things! Vehicle is sitting on level ground although certainly not perfect, wheels are pinched in a little from when I dropped the jack a few weeks ago, thinking I should at least let it square off by pushing it back and forth. Thinking more that the crossmember keeps it all square only when it's been in a smash likely need body alignment checks. Any thoughts?

Piccys

(http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q11/Pichost28/Cars/Senator/senator-crossmember-removed-area-2_zpsdg3t5ibv.jpg) (http://s132.photobucket.com/user/Pichost28/media/Cars/Senator/senator-crossmember-removed-area-2_zpsdg3t5ibv.jpg.html)

(http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q11/Pichost28/Cars/Senator/senator-crossmember-removed-1_zpsf0rdj5ue.jpg) (http://s132.photobucket.com/user/Pichost28/media/Cars/Senator/senator-crossmember-removed-1_zpsf0rdj5ue.jpg.html)

(http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q11/Pichost28/Cars/Senator/senator-crossmember-removed-2_zpsgp04x7fl.jpg) (http://s132.photobucket.com/user/Pichost28/media/Cars/Senator/senator-crossmember-removed-2_zpsgp04x7fl.jpg.html)

(http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q11/Pichost28/Cars/Senator/senator-crossmember-removed-area-1_zpsvkw23hr7.jpg) (http://s132.photobucket.com/user/Pichost28/media/Cars/Senator/senator-crossmember-removed-area-1_zpsvkw23hr7.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Front crossmember replacement does it require jig/alignment?
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 01 December 2016, 22:36:06
If you drilled all the spot welds out to remove it then happy days, simply plug weld the replacement in.

However...

If you have randomly cut it out, then I would say yes, re jig it.
Title: Re: Front crossmember replacement does it require jig/alignment?
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 01 December 2016, 22:37:35
That said I can give you the diagonals and measurements when I get home ;)
Title: Re: Front crossmember replacement does it require jig/alignment?
Post by: grifter on 01 December 2016, 22:42:57
That said I can give you the diagonals and measurements when I get home ;)

Just cut it out, the area around the spots were the rotten bits, just hanging by a thread so that's where I cut. Effectively the spot weld bits are still there. Measurements would be very handy though.

Cheers

G
Title: Re: Front crossmember replacement does it require jig/alignment?
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 02 December 2016, 05:46:43
Just reread this... My measurements will be of no use as the information I have is Omega B, not Omega A/Senator B :-[
Title: Re: Front crossmember replacement does it require jig/alignment?
Post by: grifter on 02 December 2016, 08:02:16
Just reread this... My measurements will be of no use as the information I have is Omega B, not Omega A/Senator B :-[

I still have the areas where it was spot welded on anyway so should be able to relocate it. What i was thinking was does it keep in check both front legs gap vertically up and down but looking at it I don't think so, I think it's more side to side strengthening. Appreciate help with measurements all the same. See what the guys on ABS says as well.
Title: Re: Front crossmember replacement does it require jig/alignment?
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 02 December 2016, 09:41:42
Given the cross member is forward of the chassis sections which relate to geometry of the drive train, no jig required just a bit of careful measurement.
Title: Re: Front crossmember replacement does it require jig/alignment?
Post by: Nick W on 02 December 2016, 11:52:09
Given the cross member is forward of the chassis sections which relate to geometry of the drive train, no jig required just a bit of careful measurement.

And perhaps checking the fit of some of the more critical components before you permanently attach it.
Title: Re: Front crossmember replacement does it require jig/alignment?
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 02 December 2016, 12:48:05
Given the cross member is forward of the chassis sections which relate to geometry of the drive train, no jig required just a bit of careful measurement before removing the old one...
Fixed
Title: Re: Front crossmember replacement does it require jig/alignment?
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 02 December 2016, 12:59:07
Given the cross member is forward of the chassis sections which relate to geometry of the drive train, no jig required just a bit of careful measurement before removing the old one...
Fixed

I think your kidding yourself if you expect such levels of accuracy during original manufacture!  ;D ;D ;) :y
Title: Re: Front crossmember replacement does it require jig/alignment?
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 02 December 2016, 14:36:09
Given the cross member is forward of the chassis sections which relate to geometry of the drive train, no jig required just a bit of careful measurement before removing the old one...
Fixed

I think your kidding yourself if you expect such levels of accuracy during original manufacture!  ;D ;D ;) :y
Lol no, but OP hasn't got a cat in hells chance if he didn't measure it before removing the old one ;)
Title: Re: Front crossmember replacement does it require jig/alignment?
Post by: biggriffin on 03 December 2016, 14:46:48
Do you honestly think, that monkey boy, body shop fitter would check, measure, etc when fitting after a crash,,,, Er no,
Remove old bent one, check innerwings are ok remove old panel, re-fit new. What jig.
Title: Re: Front crossmember replacement does it require jig/alignment?
Post by: neil74 on 03 December 2016, 15:45:58
When I bought my second senator (G549 DEV) someone had already removed the crossmember and not bothered to fit another one in it's place.
Title: Re: Front crossmember replacement does it require jig/alignment?
Post by: grifter on 02 April 2017, 21:45:19
All replaced now, it seemed to sit nice and snug in where the old one went, after cleaning up the old bits that were still spot welded on - but not actually holding it place due to the rest of it rusted away!

(http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q11/Pichost28/Cars/Senator/senator-front-crossmember-NS_zpset4tbsp6.jpg) (http://s132.photobucket.com/user/Pichost28/media/Cars/Senator/senator-front-crossmember-NS_zpset4tbsp6.jpg.html)

(http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q11/Pichost28/Cars/Senator/senator-front-crossmember-OS_zpsi6tu8eu5.jpg) (http://s132.photobucket.com/user/Pichost28/media/Cars/Senator/senator-front-crossmember-OS_zpsi6tu8eu5.jpg.html)

(http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q11/Pichost28/Cars/Senator/senator-front-crossmember_zpsvfo0dtsj.jpg) (http://s132.photobucket.com/user/Pichost28/media/Cars/Senator/senator-front-crossmember_zpsvfo0dtsj.jpg.html)