Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: polilara on 18 August 2017, 09:13:02

Title: When towing Caravan +normal load in car the riding height (rear) is quite low
Post by: polilara on 18 August 2017, 09:13:02
Although using only 50-75 kg "noseweight" three person in car - one in the rear seat - and something in the boot the riding height in rear reduces a lot. Rear springs are pretty new and a bit stronger than original, shock absorbers are new original gas pressure ones but not adjustable. Car is 2001 Saloon Elegance with V6.

What would be the best way to get adjustable riding height to the rear axle? Found some solutions inside springs or adjustable air pressure absorbers but would like to hear experience/recommendation to solve the problem. Perhaps stronger springs are not more comfortable when driving alone without extra load.
Title: Re: When towing Caravan +normal load in car the riding height (rear) is quite low
Post by: robson on 18 August 2017, 09:44:13
I put those hard rubber inserts onto my rear springs it helped  ride height.I think that the ride height of the tow bar on the omega is low.
Title: Re: When towing Caravan +normal load in car the riding height (rear) is quite low
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 18 August 2017, 10:32:49
Didn't Cliffo B have airbags fitted inside his springs :-\

If I recall, he had an Elite estate, but found that the 80l LPG tank, a mobility scooter and a caravan were all a bit too much for the self leveling system...
Title: Re: When towing Caravan +normal load in car the riding height (rear) is quite low
Post by: polilara on 18 August 2017, 12:17:37
Airbags inside springs sounds promising, understood Monroe LA360 could be a possibility, too.
Title: Re: When towing Caravan +normal load in car the riding height (rear) is quite low
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 18 August 2017, 14:05:00
Search Cliffo B  and read through his posts ;)
Title: Re: When towing Caravan +normal load in car the riding height (rear) is quite low
Post by: steve6367 on 18 August 2017, 14:26:14
Although using only 50-75 kg "noseweight" three person in car - one in the rear seat - and something in the boot the riding height in rear reduces a lot. Rear springs are pretty new and a bit stronger than original, shock absorbers are new original gas pressure ones but not adjustable. Car is 2001 Saloon Elegance with V6.

What would be the best way to get adjustable riding height to the rear axle? Found some solutions inside springs or adjustable air pressure absorbers but would like to hear experience/recommendation to solve the problem. Perhaps stronger springs are not more comfortable when driving alone without extra load.

Change the springs to some that give you the height you want - my Saloon with tow bar does and it works very well.
Title: Re: When towing Caravan +normal load in car the riding height (rear) is quite low
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 18 August 2017, 15:47:35
Here do...

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=85322.0 :y
Title: Re: When towing Caravan +normal load in car the riding height (rear) is quite low
Post by: polilara on 18 August 2017, 16:54:53
Here do...

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=85322.0 :y

Thanks for this, seems to be long story, have to study it. What I found so far is that Monroe Solution was not the ideal one.
Title: Re: When towing Caravan +normal load in car the riding height (rear) is quite low
Post by: frostbite on 19 August 2017, 10:26:00
Your best bet would be the rubber coil assisters, they would keep most of the height. My 2.0 went low pulling the MRS. hot food trailer

The rear wheels should be inset enough that even if you were to bottom out the shocks, wouldnt rub on the arches or inner archs/ coils
Title: Re: When towing Caravan +normal load in car the riding height (rear) is quite low
Post by: polilara on 19 August 2017, 14:30:56
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=85322.0
This was interesting. I was about to order Monroe levelers

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Monroe-LA360-Shock-Absorber-pieces/dp/B00DQC72PA

but understood they are not as good dampers as the original MV6 ones.

1. How about normal Elegance model. Can the Monroe levelers be worse than what I have now? Would be the easiest way for me.
2. Mad Progressive or Air Helper could be something, have to contact them.
http://mad-suspension.co.uk/
3. Could someone clarify what are the "Rubber Coil Assisters" frostbite mentoined.
Title: Re: When towing Caravan +normal load in car the riding height (rear) is quite low
Post by: Entwood on 19 August 2017, 14:40:14
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=85322.0
This was interesting. I was about to order Monroe levelers

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Monroe-LA360-Shock-Absorber-pieces/dp/B00DQC72PA

but understood they are not as good dampers as the original MV6 ones.

1. How about normal Elegance model. Can the Monroe levelers be worse than what I have now? Would be the easiest way for me.
2. Mad Progressive or Air Helper could be something, have to contact them.
http://mad-suspension.co.uk/
3. Could someone clarify what are the "Rubber Coil Assisters" frostbite mentoined.

This sort of thing, I used them on the Mk1 Granada many years back .. they work ok when towing but make things a bit firm when solo

https://www.practicalcaravan.com/reviews/accessory/28389-grayston-rubber-coil-spring-assister
Title: Re: When towing Caravan +normal load in car the riding height (rear) is quite low
Post by: polilara on 19 August 2017, 15:05:00
Thanks Entwood, Nice to get you to this discussion, too. Remember you said once "Omegas are excellent towcars, without any doubt whatsoever" which I really agree now after this Summer. What is your solution or does Elite have automatic height control?
Title: Re: When towing Caravan +normal load in car the riding height (rear) is quite low
Post by: Entwood on 19 August 2017, 15:09:52
Thanks Entwood, Nice to get you to this discussion, too. Remember you said once "Omegas are excellent towcars, without any doubt whatsoever" which I really agree now after this Summer. What is your solution or does Elite have automatic height control?

yup .. and excellent it is  .. :)
Title: Re: When towing Caravan +normal load in car the riding height (rear) is quite low
Post by: Andy B on 19 August 2017, 20:49:29
Thanks Entwood, Nice to get you to this discussion, too. Remember you said once "Omegas are excellent towcars, without any doubt whatsoever" which I really agree now after this Summer. What is your solution or does Elite have automatic height control?

yup .. and excellent it is  .. :)

I agree.  But Airmatic is even better  :y
Title: Re: When towing Caravan +normal load in car the riding height (rear) is quite low
Post by: polilara on 20 August 2017, 17:10:31
Thanks Entwood, Nice to get you to this discussion, too. Remember you said once "Omegas are excellent towcars, without any doubt whatsoever" which I really agree now after this Summer. What is your solution or does Elite have automatic height control?

yup .. and excellent it is  .. :)

I agree.  But Airmatic is even better  :y

What's this, something I shoud know, too??
Title: Re: When towing Caravan +normal load in car the riding height (rear) is quite low
Post by: Andy B on 20 August 2017, 17:43:10
Thanks Entwood, Nice to get you to this discussion, too. Remember you said once "Omegas are excellent towcars, without any doubt whatsoever" which I really agree now after this Summer. What is your solution or does Elite have automatic height control?

yup .. and excellent it is  .. :)

I agree.  But Airmatic is even better  :y

What's this, something I shoud know, too??

Sorry. It was a joke. Airmatic is what Mercedes call their air suspension.  :y
Title: Re: When towing Caravan +normal load in car the riding height (rear) is quite low
Post by: polilara on 20 August 2017, 17:48:22
OK, no problem, I am still not sure which way to go. Monroe solution would be easiest way but are the that poor dampers?

Heard that Volvo have also a solution which pumps it by itself to right height.
Title: Re: When towing Caravan +normal load in car the riding height (rear) is quite low
Post by: Entwood on 20 August 2017, 18:45:15
Thanks Entwood, Nice to get you to this discussion, too. Remember you said once "Omegas are excellent towcars, without any doubt whatsoever" which I really agree now after this Summer. What is your solution or does Elite have automatic height control?

yup .. and excellent it is  .. :)

I agree.  But Airmatic is even better  :y

What's this, something I shoud know, too??

It's what his posh Merc has .....  :)

Does the same thing but costs 15 times as much and breaks  more often ..........   :)
Title: Re: When towing Caravan +normal load in car the riding height (rear) is quite low
Post by: johnnydog on 20 August 2017, 19:54:55
Didn't Cliffo B have airbags fitted inside his springs :-\

If I recall, he had an Elite estate, but found that the 80l LPG tank, a mobility scooter and a caravan were all a bit too much for the self leveling system...

That surprises me, because I tow a car transporter with a 3.2 Elite saloon, and even loaded with a medium sized vehicle such a Golf or Audi A4, the ride height isn't much lower than when solo. It just has genuine GM self levelling springs and shockers fitted. Obviously, the self levelling system needs to working properly and not loosing pressure under load. With the caravan on the back, it doesn't look any different to normal when the self levelling has done its job.
Title: Re: When towing Caravan +normal load in car the riding height (rear) is quite low
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 20 August 2017, 20:23:53
Didn't Cliffo B have airbags fitted inside his springs :-\

If I recall, he had an Elite estate, but found that the 80l LPG tank, a mobility scooter and a caravan were all a bit too much for the self leveling system...

That surprises me, because I tow a car transporter with a 3.2 Elite saloon, and even loaded with a medium sized vehicle such a Golf or Audi A4, the ride height isn't much lower than when solo. It just has genuine GM self levelling springs and shockers fitted. Obviously, the self levelling system needs to working properly and not loosing pressure under load. With the caravan on the back, it doesn't look any different to normal when the self levelling has done its job.
I believe the issue was with the rear axle loading rather than the caravan... boot load was probably around the 250kg mark without the caravan nose weight :-\

If the springs were past their best, then the factory air shocks can only do so much.
Title: Re: When towing Caravan +normal load in car the riding height (rear) is quite low
Post by: Andy B on 20 August 2017, 21:15:19


It's what his posh Merc has .....  :)

Does the same thing

It doesn't  :D You can't raise your car & you don't  have comfort/normal/sport settings  :y

but costs 15 times as much and breaks  more often ..........   :)

I'll let you have the cost bit, but contest that breaks more often   ;) though I've had two new rear shockers recently at €400  :(
Title: Re: When towing Caravan +normal load in car the riding height (rear) is quite low
Post by: polilara on 21 August 2017, 04:38:19
Has anybody else experience of these?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Monroe-LA360-Shock-Absorber-pieces/dp/B00DQC72PA
Is that the way e.g. what is installed in Elite?
Title: Re: When towing Caravan +normal load in car the riding height (rear) is quite low
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 21 August 2017, 07:06:23
They attach in the same way as the standard shock absorber :y

Only differences are saloon or estate and you plug the cars existing air supply to them.

Retrofitting the system is easy enough.  :y
Title: Re: When towing Caravan +normal load in car the riding height (rear) is quite low
Post by: Auto Addict on 21 August 2017, 07:16:42
I fitted MAD progressive to my Omega, easy to fit and worked a treat :y
Title: Re: When towing Caravan +normal load in car the riding height (rear) is quite low
Post by: frostbite on 21 August 2017, 07:52:44
Do you think the kinetic nivomats from a volvo do a good job?

They sort of self level when there is movement
Title: Re: When towing Caravan +normal load in car the riding height (rear) is quite low
Post by: polilara on 21 August 2017, 18:28:36
I think it is really good solution, just shocks and no other components, friend of mine have it in Volvo V70. He is very satisfied with them. Unfortunately not available for Omega.

http://www.roversd1.info/nivomat.htm
Title: Re: When towing Caravan +normal load in car the riding height (rear) is quite low
Post by: polilara on 22 August 2017, 11:50:30
I perhaps can get new original Omega pneumatic shocks to rear. If I am happy with manual height adjustment just by adding pressure when needed what other parts I need than shocks. Do I need a pressure tank etc. or can I just add air direct  to shocks.