Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Pmacca2000 on 08 May 2017, 19:48:24

Title: Wishbones
Post by: Pmacca2000 on 08 May 2017, 19:48:24
over the time I've driven my car I've noticed that the wishbones are suffering.
Clearly the bushes are over the hill, any idea how much these cost to replace?
Title: Re: Wishbones
Post by: STEMO on 08 May 2017, 20:09:53
Have they been beat up and battered around?
Title: Re: Wishbones
Post by: Fraggles Rock on 08 May 2017, 20:10:09
Depends what you buy and who fits it. Front wishbones only: budget £1-600 for parts depending on source, £1-200 labour, and a further £100 to set it up properly.

This last point is critical, and can highlight other issues. Budget a grand and get the whole lot done front and back... springs, rear trackrods, shocks and bushes.
Title: Re: Wishbones
Post by: Webby the Bear on 08 May 2017, 20:56:45
Depends what you buy and who fits it. Front wishbones only: budget £1-600 for parts depending on source, £1-200 labour, and a further £100 to set it up properly.

This last point is critical, and can highlight other issues. Budget a grand and get the whole lot done front and back... springs, rear trackrods, shocks and bushes.

Far canal mate, most people on here are penny pinching mofo's quite thrifty, hence driving omegas  ;D

Off the top of me 'ed we'd charge £100 per 'bone and 2 hours labour. So about 340.

Or more sensible option. Get the ATP pack and get a home spanner twirler on here to fit them for you. Save shed loads  :y
Title: Re: Wishbones
Post by: Webby the Bear on 08 May 2017, 20:58:57
....this assuming pmacca ain't an experienced spanner twirler himself  :y
Title: Re: Wishbones
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 08 May 2017, 21:42:22
Refurb your current ones. They are better quality than anything you will replace them with. Polybushes in the front, GM bushes in the rear and new balljoints. Off the top og my head - around £150, plus £70 ish for wheel alignment.
Title: Re: Wishbones
Post by: Fraggles Rock on 08 May 2017, 22:58:59
The grand was for wishbones, track rods, shocks front and rear, rear track rods, top mounts, labour and geo.

Trying to prepare the OP for the reality of his car hitting that mileage. ;)
Title: Re: Wishbones
Post by: Zirfeld on 08 May 2017, 23:16:43
Most error is to fasten the bolts directly after assembling with full torque. Do not do that! Fasten the bolts with half torque and drive a few miles before fasten the bolts with full torque and 160 kg load an the front seats.

Also cheap Material will thank you with a long using period.

Rolf
Title: Re: Wishbones
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 08 May 2017, 23:22:43
Not sure if there's summat escaped in translation, but the wishbone front bushes should only ever be tightened with the car on the ground.Before driving.

To suggest driving with the bolts loose, ie not fully tightened, is nuts. Not least because summat could potentially come adrift, but also for the damage it will cause :o
Title: Re: Wishbones
Post by: Nick W on 08 May 2017, 23:30:17
Refurb your current ones. They are better quality than anything you will replace them with. Polybushes in the front, GM bushes in the rear and new balljoints. Off the top og my head - around £150, plus £70 ish for wheel alignment.


having done four front suspension rebuilds last year, I didn't see any worthwhile difference in the actual wishbones between new ATP and crusty old genuine ones. My recommendation is to buy the ATP set(about £80 for wishbone, trackrods and droplinks), replace the front bushes with polys, and forget about them. If you only change the wishbones, I don't see any need to have geometry done either.


If the car has no record of other front suspension components in the last 30k miles, then it will benefit from all of them in one go; shocks, springs, bearings, topmounts, bumpstops, trackrods, wishbones and droplinks. That's about 90minutes work and £200 in parts per side if you shop carefully. Coupled with a quality alignment it will transform how the car drives.
Title: Re: Wishbones
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 08 May 2017, 23:36:31
This.

But consider that the rear shocks will probably be the same age, and accurate geometry depends on setting the rear... Ergo the seized rear track rods also on the list. ;)
Title: Re: Wishbones
Post by: Zirfeld on 09 May 2017, 00:02:44
Hi Doc Gollum

I spoke about a ride around the corner. After that the bearings should have reached the correct position and can be screwed with full torque, standing on the ground and loaded of course with 160 kg on the front seats.

Did it several times - never failed.

Rolf
Title: Re: Wishbones
Post by: TheBoy on 09 May 2017, 16:43:19
I agree with Migv6.

Poly front bush, about £40-£50 a pair.
GM rear bush, about £20 a pair
New balljoints **ONLY IF OLD ONES WORN** about £15 each.
Remove surface rust and paint £5


I think the ATP wishbones I have seen are substandard enough I wouldn't want them on my car.
Title: Re: Wishbones
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 09 May 2017, 17:14:30
Iirc my GM rear bushes were more like £70 the pair. Will have a look at the receipt later.
Title: Re: Wishbones
Post by: TheBoy on 09 May 2017, 17:17:02
Iirc my GM rear bushes were more like £70 the pair. Will have a look at the receipt later.
Trade or retail?  I paid about that for 4 (granted, last year...)
Title: Re: Wishbones
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 09 May 2017, 17:59:05
Albsiemers strikes again.  ::).................................List price £19.90 + vat each. I was charged £16.95 + vat each. So approx. £41 for the pair. :y
Title: Re: Wishbones
Post by: Pmacca2000 on 09 May 2017, 19:21:24
Thanks for the advice, she's only had rear springs and front drop links in 17 years and the ride is a bit crash over speed bumps theses days so I think the bushes are worn
Title: Re: Wishbones
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 09 May 2017, 19:23:10
Shocks as likely.
Title: Re: Wishbones
Post by: Pmacca2000 on 11 May 2017, 17:16:52
Retail, just helps if I can plan the job
Title: Re: Wishbones
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 11 May 2017, 18:06:03
Bilsteins at good prices here.  :y
http://www.europerformance.co.uk/pages/products/product_info.mhtml?product=262866;car=vauxhallomega
Title: Re: Wishbones
Post by: Nick W on 11 May 2017, 18:25:52
Shocks as likely.


Front springs too. Replacing mine made a huge improvement to the ride, as the springs are what 'absorb' the bumps.
Title: Re: Wishbones
Post by: neil74 on 11 May 2017, 19:38:11
I've just bought wishbones from ATP for £46  :o.
Title: Re: Wishbones
Post by: Webby the Bear on 11 May 2017, 21:29:22
My ATP 'bones lasted bloody ages. And the drop links n track rods are still going strong. They 'look' rusty as fek  ;D but no play anywhere. Currently got QH 'bones on. Over a year old and no issues so far.
Title: Re: Wishbones
Post by: Pmacca2000 on 13 May 2017, 07:49:40
Funny thing is it seems to be ratteling on the rh front and not the left.
Makes me wonder if it's a spring but it feels lower
Title: Re: Wishbones
Post by: Pmacca2000 on 13 May 2017, 22:38:20
I've had a chance to look under the old girl today, the front bush on the rh wishbone is almost popping out under full lock, seems to have been getting worse since I moved to an area full of speed humps