Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: JamesV6CDX on 17 August 2008, 13:01:40

Title: Eating tyres
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 17 August 2008, 13:01:40
Hi Guys, quick question. My Omega is absolutely eating tyres on the edges.

Question is this - would knackered wishbone bushes, and a cacked steering idler cause this problem, as well as geometry?

At the moment, I don't want to risk the 150mile drive to WIM until I can get it much better, the handling is quite... scary!!
Title: Re: Eating tyres
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 17 August 2008, 13:02:55
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Hi Guys, quick question. My Omega is absolutely eating tyres on the edges.

Question is this - would knackered wishbone bushes, and a cacked steering idler cause this problem, as well as geometry?

At the moment, I don't want to risk the 150mile drive to WIM until I can get it much better, the handling is quite... scary!!

More info please, small band on the inside or outside edge?

All over the tread?

Any feathering to the inside or outside tread?
Title: Re: Eating tyres
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 17 August 2008, 13:04:30
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Hi Guys, quick question. My Omega is absolutely eating tyres on the edges.

Question is this - would knackered wishbone bushes, and a cacked steering idler cause this problem, as well as geometry?

At the moment, I don't want to risk the 150mile drive to WIM until I can get it much better, the handling is quite... scary!!

More info please, small band on the inside or outside edge?

All over the tread?

Any feathering to the inside or outside tread?

It's a tricky one, because the previous owner seems to have swapped wheels around :(

The fronts are wearing on the inner edge - they're probably not far from the canvas on the inner edge but the rest of the tread, incl outer edge, is fine.

The rears seem to have wear on both edges, moreso inner...
Title: Re: Eating tyres
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 17 August 2008, 13:06:59
At a guess

Rears are or have been under inflated.

Fronts have the camber out

So, camber is more related to strutt length than wishbones (which I suspet will ahev more impact on Caster and Toe) and will be due to the springs weakening with age (not an issue)
Title: Re: Eating tyres
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 17 August 2008, 13:08:25
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At a guess

Rears are or have been under inflated.

Fronts have the camber out

So, camber is more related to strutt length than wishbones (which I suspet will ahev more impact on Caster and Toe) and will be due to the springs weakening with age (not an issue)

Do you still think it's the wishbone bushes that's causing it to feel all over the place?
I feel like whenever the car hits a rut or a line in the road, it tries to take the steering wheel off me - it's like driving with a very underinflated pair of tyres!
Title: Re: Eating tyres
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 17 August 2008, 13:11:42
I can't seem to make the steering idler move, what's the best way to prod it around to check for play?
Title: Re: Eating tyres
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 17 August 2008, 13:13:55
Wishbones are causing bump steer so yes, they are an issue, tyre wear wont be directly caused by wishbones though
Title: Re: Eating tyres
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 17 August 2008, 13:14:34
Your looking for vertical play in the idler when wiggling the passenger wheel in the 3-9 Oclock positions
Title: Re: Eating tyres
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 17 August 2008, 13:15:03
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Wishbones are causing bump steer so yes, they are an issue, tyre wear wont be directly caused by wishbones though

Excellent - as long as I can get the handling so it feels safe, I will then drive it to WIM to be finished off :y

Title: Re: Eating tyres
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 17 August 2008, 13:15:48
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Your looking for vertical play in the idler when wiggling the passenger wheel in the 3-9 Oclock positions

Perfect. I'll just finish me cuppa and go out there with the jack :y

Shame buypartsby sent me the wrong bones, I would have had them fitted today  :'(
Title: Re: Eating tyres
Post by: iainb on 17 August 2008, 13:15:50
You have discribed my car,nsf tyre outside edge osf inside edge and all over the place on uneven surfaces.
On Friday had wishbones changed (bushes shot) also offside track rod also shot
 I have just had it tracked and it was 10 degrees  tow in ????
Now its a dream and no rattles :y
Title: Re: Eating tyres
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 17 August 2008, 13:17:29
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You have discribed my car,nsf tyre outside edge osf inside edge and all over the place on uneven surfaces.
On Friday had wishbones changed (bushes shot) also offside track rod also shot
 I have just had it tracked and it was 10 degrees  tow in ????
Now its a dream and no rattles :y

Sadly, they wont have checked and adjusted the camber which will have been a major contributor to the tyre wear.
Title: Re: Eating tyres
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 17 August 2008, 13:21:00
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You have discribed my car,nsf tyre outside edge osf inside edge and all over the place on uneven surfaces.
On Friday had wishbones changed (bushes shot) also offside track rod also shot
 I have just had it tracked and it was 10 degrees  tow in ????
Now its a dream and no rattles :y

Sadly, they wont have checked and adjusted the camber which will have been a major contributor to the tyre wear.

Agreed, I phoned a few places yesterday.

Me: "Can you do full geometry on my Omega"
Them: "Sure, sir, no problem".
Me "Can you confirm if this includes camber?
Them: "Afraid not sir, that's too tricky"
Me: Well it's not full geometry then, is it!  >:(
Title: Re: Eating tyres
Post by: Kevin Wood on 17 August 2008, 13:29:13
First place I took mine to didn't adjust the camber, and then, as I was leaving, said "oh, you might find you get inner shoulder wear cos there's quite a lot of camber". When I asked why they didn't adjust it - "oh, we have a policy of not adjusting anything that's "in the green".

>:(

Change the wishbones then take it to WIM. :y In the meanwhile you might be able to effect a rough camber adjustment that'll stop it eating the tyres so badly using a flat surface, a spirit level and a bit of trigonometry.

Kevin
Title: Re: Eating tyres
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 17 August 2008, 13:30:49
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First place I took mine to didn't adjust the camber, and then, as I was leaving, said "oh, you might find you get inner shoulder wear cos there's quite a lot of camber". When I asked why they didn't adjust it - "oh, we have a policy of not adjusting anything that's "in the green".

>:(

Change the wishbones then take it to WIM. :y In the meanwhile you might be able to effect a rough camber adjustment that'll stop it eating the tyres so badly using a flat surface, a spirit level and a bit of trigonometry.

Kevin

Do you still fancy doing both cars together?
I could drive it up the M4 when it's quiet  ;D
Title: Re: Eating tyres
Post by: Kevin Wood on 17 August 2008, 13:36:24
Yep. could do. I think next weekend I'm tied up on Saturday but free otherwise.

Kevin
Title: Re: Eating tyres
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 17 August 2008, 13:38:38
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Yep. could do. I think next weekend I'm tied up on Saturday but free otherwise.

Kevin

Excellent - fancy a spanner wielding session starting Sunday AM?
That could work out well, as I could leave nice and early and have a quiet motorway to travel up on...

I reckon we can do both cars in a day :y

Would work well for me - as I start my training course the weekend after  ::)
Title: Re: Eating tyres
Post by: Kevin Wood on 17 August 2008, 13:43:04
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Yep. could do. I think next weekend I'm tied up on Saturday but free otherwise.

Kevin

Excellent - fancy a spanner wielding session starting Sunday AM?
That could work out well, as I could leave nice and early and have a quiet motorway to travel up on...

I reckon we can do both cars in a day :y

Would work well for me - as I start my training course the weekend after  ::)

Come over on Saturday evening if you like. Then we can get an early start [size=8]or wait for the hangover to clear[/size].

Kevin
Title: Re: Eating tyres
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 17 August 2008, 13:45:20
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Yep. could do. I think next weekend I'm tied up on Saturday but free otherwise.

Kevin



Excellent - fancy a spanner wielding session starting Sunday AM?
That could work out well, as I could leave nice and early and have a quiet motorway to travel up on...

I reckon we can do both cars in a day :y

Would work well for me - as I start my training course the weekend after  ::)

Come over on Saturday evening if you like. Then we can get an early start [size=8]or wait for the hangover to clear[/size].

Kevin

Sounds good to me mate. I will make sure I get all of the correct parts etc, (bones, idler) and get up there. If I aim to arrive around 9pm, does that sound OK?

I may have to tap into your brain for Trigonomitry calculations though - I've not done that since passing my GCSEs' ;D
Title: Re: Eating tyres
Post by: Kevin Wood on 17 August 2008, 13:58:18
Yep. No worries. :y

Kevin
Title: Re: Eating tyres
Post by: Omegadoha, Desert Member on 17 August 2008, 15:27:46
I had my camber adjusted. I'm not sure how they did it, but everytime I reverse or go up or down a ramp there is a small knocking noise. But at least the tyres should be OK. But I did get both wishbone bushes both sides changed and the drop link rods. All in all its a lot better.
Title: Re: Eating tyres
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 17 August 2008, 18:23:26
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Your looking for vertical play in the idler when wiggling the passenger wheel in the 3-9 Oclock positions

Exactly what mine does........but dont think it will the case for James.....or if it is.....theres something else wrong as well.......coz mine has a lot of play in it.....and its not scuffing tyres badly.

James - I notice mine when braking, when you first hit the brakes the car makes a little deviation to one side......i assuming its coz the idler is moving with the shift in weight and the wheel is turning slightly.

Ordered a new one sat morning.....hopefully should come tomorrow or tuesday  :)
Title: Re: Eating tyres
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 17 August 2008, 19:07:48
Shifting to one side when braking was a shot wishbone bush on a previous Omega, TD...
Title: Re: Eating tyres
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 17 August 2008, 19:13:03
Im pretty certain its the idler on mine causing that prob.......you wanna see the play its got ;D ;D

When you do the 9-3 test on the passenger wheel the idler moves a good 1/2inch if not more  ::)
Title: Re: Eating tyres
Post by: bappy on 17 August 2008, 19:14:33
Hi Kevin,

I have new wishbones being delivered on monday that need fitting. Just the wishbones - I have an open ticket with tony at wim to finnish off my camber but dont fancy paying him £60/hour to do a job that I should with a little instrunction a tool-borrow be able to do myself.

What are you charging and can you assist another oofer next weekend for an hour or so?? fel free to tell me to shove off if you want! :D

Thanks,
Ben