Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: JamieC2311 on 09 July 2025, 06:49:13
-
Removed my bottom arms as i’m refreshing my suspension, if the arms were oem i was going to rebuild then with Polybushes & as i’m told the after market arms don’t last.
Upon removing I can’t see any part numbers or gm stamping or any other parts manufacture stamping. Are these likely to be oem or just another generic brand?
(https://i.ibb.co/B5VBbjDC/IMG-5852.jpg)
-
The original GM Wishbones had flat rivets on the ball joint but a lot of aftermarket wishbones had dome rivets. If the ball joint had been changed at some point, I’d expect the rivets to have been replaced with bolts.
If refurbishing, clean them up with a wire spinner and check for any stress cracks near to the rear horizontal bush and the ball joint. I refurbed mine with genuine GM rear bush and poly bushes on the front bush, but that was a few years back now. :y
-
It might be a trick of the camera, but that looks bent along the rear edge.
Also remove that bracket with the ball on it... Not even GM arms came with that attached and you will need it ;)
-
It might be a trick of the camera, but that looks bent along the rear edge.
……..
I thought that, near to the levelling ball area. As you say, it may be an optimal delusion. :)
-
Removed my bottom arms as i’m refreshing my suspension, if the arms were oem i was going to rebuild then with Polybushes & as I’m told the after market arms don’t last
The possible problem with aftermarket arms is the bushes tend not to last as long as OE. The actual arms are still stamped steel sections welded together; once fitted to the car you'll not be able to tell any difference between OE and pattern[size=78%].[/size]
The procedure is to fit poly front bushes, OE rears and replace any loose ball joints. This is applicable to whichever worn out arms you have. Although an inspection for damage such as twisting would be sensible.
-
i’ll just replace with new then as there does look to be a slight bend as mentioned. I wouldn’t have thought at 24 years old they would be oem anyway but was worth a check, I did find Nos Gm arms at £280 plus shipping from America but hard to justify that cost. Cheers :y
-
£80-100 will get you both arms, drop links and track rods. Then treat them as service items. Especially with today's roads.
-
But fit poly bushes at the front and genuine GM bushes at the rear of them if you want decent handling.
Then wheel alignment to WIM specs.
-
We found that some pattern wishbones use a different rear bush to OE, making changing the rear bush a problem. I'm sure even DG will confirm that ATP's shitty arms need replacement balljoints after a year or 2.
Hence if you have genuine GM arms in good condition, refurbing is the better, long term cheaper option. And short term cheaper as well ;D
-
We found that some pattern wishbones use a different rear bush to OE, making changing the rear bush a problem. I'm sure even DG will confirm that ATP's shitty arms need replacement balljoints after a year or 2.
Hence if you have genuine GM arms in good condition, refurbing is the better, long term cheaper option. And short term cheaper as well ;D
Indeed :y
Which is why is say to treat them as service items ;) And whilst alignment cost is a consideration, the state of the roads means you're probably getting the alignment done the often too.
-
We found that some pattern wishbones use a different rear bush to OE, making changing the rear bush a problem. I'm sure even DG will confirm that ATP's shitty arms need replacement balljoints after a year or 2.
Hence if you have genuine GM arms in good condition, refurbing is the better, long term cheaper option. And short term cheaper as well ;D
Indeed :y
Which is why is say to treat them as service items ;) And whilst alignment cost is a consideration, the state of the roads means you're probably getting the alignment done the often too.
Which makes ATP junk quite expensive to use all the time, assuming the damn things ever turn up in the first place.
-
They served a purpose ;)
-
I think I have a pair of new unused FAI wishbones, cost me £70 in 2020....