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Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: dippydave on 06 July 2009, 16:26:29

Title: MOT fail - who's got some wishbones?
Post by: dippydave on 06 July 2009, 16:26:29
Booo  :'( My estate failed the MOT today. Least it doesn't need any welding!  :y Hope to get it sorted this week as several hundred miles planned for the weekend. what awful timing. Anyway, details for your amusement and advice are:

It has 'the worst lower arm bushes i've ever seen' according to the tester  :( Recommendations for new wishbones on fast delivery please!

Needs a track rod end too - I guess that'll be easy to change while the arms are off :)

Has an exhaust leak, somewhere unspecific around the manifold/downpipe. Gawd knows where to start looking for that one.

Rear pads need changing as they're worn and the locking device (clip?) is missing too!

Finally, and it's way beyond my capability, a rear wheel bearing is rough as too. :( The garage behind the MOT centre quoted £120 supplied and fitted to remedy that, which doesnt seem too bad to me  :-/
 :-/
Could've been worse overall I guess, the only extra advisory was 'oil leak' but no idea where from  ;D From checking levels, it's certainly not a big one.

I'm looking at part prices now!

Title: Re: MOT fail - who's got some wishbones?
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 06 July 2009, 16:39:20
Dave, given the mileage, that's pretty bloomin' good mate, the failures are all consumables really..

 Glad to hear the emissions are also OK :y
Title: Re: MOT fail - who's got some wishbones?
Post by: dippydave on 06 July 2009, 16:44:06
Yeah, 180k is good going and the consumables it's just a case of getting hold of!

The tester said of emissions that on LPG it's less stringent, but if it doesn't pass, they try it on petrol anyway and often passes that way!

In this case he thought my exhaust blow might affect the petrol emissions/lambda readings etc but didn't have to find out!
Title: Re: MOT fail - who's got some wishbones?
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 06 July 2009, 16:50:41
Try autovaux mate, usually very reasonably priced with quick delivery.

Title: Re: MOT fail - who's got some wishbones?
Post by: tunnie on 06 July 2009, 17:02:38
i got a pair of wishbones here, bought a pair, as i was sure 1 of our 3 Omegas would need them, but none of them have yet!  :o

I paid £50 for them, your welcome to them for same money, but they are quite heavy, so postage is an issue  :-/
Title: Re: MOT fail - who's got some wishbones?
Post by: dippydave on 06 July 2009, 17:06:19
Here's prices I got so far after I went to local trade parts place (Fletchers/Oscotts and Vauxhall. Despite having a TC i'm not sure they quoted those prices, but anyway:

                                 Vx             Oscotts
Wheel Bearing       61.50            49.50
Suspension Arm   216.00 (!)       57.50
Tie Rod Outer         51.00            21.66
Rear Brake Pad       19.65            12.99

The clips for the rear brake disc, as it's unvented, are 4.64 each only from Vx.

So it's time to shop around!

Title: Re: MOT fail - who's got some wishbones?
Post by: ScottieMV6 on 06 July 2009, 17:18:08
www.buypartsby.com were doing them at £45 for a pair IIRC  :y
Title: Re: MOT fail - who's got some wishbones?
Post by: dippydave on 06 July 2009, 17:18:43
Quote
i got a pair of wishbones here, bought a pair, as i was sure 1 of our 3 Omegas would need them, but none of them have yet!  :o

I paid £50 for them, your welcome to them for same money, but they are quite heavy, so postage is an issue  :-/

Thanks for the offer! Where did you get them as i've heard some pattern ones are harder to fit than others....

Now also need to work out whether postage is much more than fuel for a pop to Northamptonshire! ...
Title: Re: MOT fail - who's got some wishbones?
Post by: tunnie on 06 July 2009, 17:22:46
Quote
Quote
i got a pair of wishbones here, bought a pair, as i was sure 1 of our 3 Omegas would need them, but none of them have yet!  :o

I paid £50 for them, your welcome to them for same money, but they are quite heavy, so postage is an issue  :-/

Thanks for the offer! Where did you get them as i've heard some pattern ones are harder to fit than others....

Now also need to work out whether postage is much more than fuel for a pop to Northamptonshire! ...

Not autovaux, they where more pricey, can't remember now  :'(

It was a Vaux Parts specalist, i paid £25 a pop for them, had them delivered to work. looked a bit of a plonker taking those home on the tube  ;D
Title: Re: MOT fail - who's got some wishbones?
Post by: dippydave on 06 July 2009, 18:11:37
Just had a chat with autovaux who want £60ea for the arms, he says they're made by 'lengthorder' (?) who used to make them for GM, and are requested by autobahnstormers etc. He reckons the bushes are better than normal pattern ones and comparable with GM.

buypartsby want £18.63 per arm!  :-/
Title: Re: MOT fail - who's got some wishbones?
Post by: KillerWatt on 06 July 2009, 19:08:13
Quote
It has 'the worst lower arm bushes i've ever seen' according to the tester  :( Recommendations for new wishbones on fast delivery please!
Camberley Auto Factors keep them in stock, £47 each inc VAT if you get trade discount (might as well do the droplinks while you are at it).
The above parts supplied by CAF are made by Delphi Lockheed (NOT a mickey mouse name by any stretch).

Quote
Needs a track rod end too - I guess that'll be easy to change while the arms are off :)
Do both sides, because if one is shagged then the other isn't far behind.

Quote
Has an exhaust leak, somewhere unspecific around the manifold/downpipe. Gawd knows where to start looking for that one.
Start the car up and listen for the noise.

Quote
Rear pads need changing as they're worn and the locking device (clip?) is missing too!
£7 from CAF, or £20 from Vx if you don't have a trade card.
I know what the "purists" here will say, but I have no problem with aftermarket pads on mine.

Quote
Finally, and it's way beyond my capability, a rear wheel bearing is rough as too. :( The garage behind the MOT centre quoted £120 supplied and fitted to remedy that, which doesnt seem too bad to me  :-/
 :-/
The bearing is £40 if you have a TC card, so it can probably be got for less if you use a 3rd party motor factor.
I'm damn sure you can find someone near you to change it for a lot less than £80, especially as it's easily done in under an hour.
Title: Re: MOT fail - who's got some wishbones?
Post by: dippydave on 06 July 2009, 19:54:10
Quote
Quote
It has 'the worst lower arm bushes i've ever seen' according to the tester  :( Recommendations for new wishbones on fast delivery please!
Camberley Auto Factors keep them in stock, £47 each inc VAT if you get trade discount (might as well do the droplinks while you are at it).
The above parts supplied by CAF are made by Delphi Lockheed (NOT a mickey mouse name by any stretch).

Quote
Needs a track rod end too - I guess that'll be easy to change while the arms are off :)
Do both sides, because if one is shagged then the other isn't far behind.

Quote
Has an exhaust leak, somewhere unspecific around the manifold/downpipe. Gawd knows where to start looking for that one.
Start the car up and listen for the noise.

Quote
Rear pads need changing as they're worn and the locking device (clip?) is missing too!
£7 from CAF, or £20 from Vx if you don't have a trade card.
I know what the "purists" here will say, but I have no problem with aftermarket pads on mine.

Quote
Finally, and it's way beyond my capability, a rear wheel bearing is rough as too. :( The garage behind the MOT centre quoted £120 supplied and fitted to remedy that, which doesnt seem too bad to me  :-/
 :-/
The bearing is £40 if you have a TC card, so it can probably be got for less if you use a 3rd party motor factor.
I'm damn sure you can find someone near you to change it for a lot less than £80, especially as it's easily done in under an hour.

Thanks for all the supply tips!

What makes an arm from CAF worth twice as much as the buypartsby one tho?
The droplinks - haven't been picked up as worn, and there's no clunking sound so really? :-/

And on the bearing job, the computerised job spec machine said 3 hours to change! He reckoned maybe he'd get it down to two as although it's quite involved and likely to be seized, he's got some tricks  :-/ Oh and he said £34 for the bearing....

I've tried listening to the exhaust and still none the wiser. think i need to turn the radio off!  ;D


Title: Re: MOT fail - who's got some wishbones?
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 06 July 2009, 20:07:41
buypartsby wishbones will be fine for a 2.0 GLS dave. I've used them on many occasions without issue. I think Kevin has a simelar pair on his MV6 too
Title: Re: MOT fail - who's got some wishbones?
Post by: KillerWatt on 06 July 2009, 20:11:40
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What makes an arm from CAF worth twice as much as the buypartsby one tho?
Who makes the buypartsby one?

Quote
The droplinks - haven't been picked up as worn, and there's no clunking sound so really? :-/
S'up to you, but for the sake of £10 and you have to remove one end anyway......

Quote
And on the bearing job, the computerised job spec machine said 3 hours to change! He reckoned maybe he'd get it down to two as although it's quite involved and likely to be seized, he's got some tricks
There is the possibility of seizure which will obviously impact on the job time, but it ain't 3 hours even by Vx book times.
Title: Re: MOT fail - who's got some wishbones?
Post by: dippydave on 07 July 2009, 11:12:50
Quote
Quote
What makes an arm from CAF worth twice as much as the buypartsby one tho?
Who makes the buypartsby one?

Quote
The droplinks - haven't been picked up as worn, and there's no clunking sound so really? :-/
S'up to you, but for the sake of £10 and you have to remove one end anyway......

Quote
And on the bearing job, the computerised job spec machine said 3 hours to change! He reckoned maybe he'd get it down to two as although it's quite involved and likely to be seized, he's got some tricks
There is the possibility of seizure which will obviously impact on the job time, but it ain't 3 hours even by Vx book times.

Speaking to buypartsby, the cheap one (18.63) is made in the far east, hundreds are sold, 1 yr warranty. They also do a Quin & Hazell one for 39.62. Even with next day delivery of an outrageous £23 buypartsby are well cheaper than any motorfactors i can find in Birmingham. Problem with CAF is they're all 'darn sarf'!

You've persuaded me to do the droplinks too, it is indeed only another bolt!

The wheel bearing job time came from a computer system that i presumed was the same as vx use for quoting jobs  :-/

That job and the exhaust leak are the ones i think are beyond me :(
Title: Re: MOT fail - who's got some wishbones?
Post by: ians on 09 July 2009, 12:50:27
Did it fail on the exhaust?  If so the leak should be noticable and really the tester should be able to tell you where.

Maybe worth getting underneath and getting a helper to cover the rear of the pipe with a hand - hopefully you will be able to see where its blowing.  Front section is unlikely I would have thought (that's the cat bit).
Title: Re: MOT fail - who's got some wishbones?
Post by: going crazy on 10 July 2009, 10:19:10
Quote
buypartsby wishbones will be fine for a 2.0 GLS dave. I've used them on many occasions without issue. I think Kevin has a simelar pair on his MV6 too

I have a pair on mine from buypartsby as well - changed them a few weeks back so need to wait a little while for the feedback I guess. 
Title: Re: MOT fail - who's got some wishbones?
Post by: dippydave on 29 July 2009, 18:26:07
Passed today  :y

Been longer than the 14 days allowed so another full test was needed. Thankfully the MOT station are very nice and did me a discount  :y

Phew!
Title: Re: MOT fail - who's got some wishbones?
Post by: raywilb on 07 August 2009, 10:28:58
just bought a set of suspension arms £23-95p + vat + £10 delivery charge total £57-90p . genuine vx from these www.vauxhall-car-parts.co.uk. advise have a looksee at their catalogue. :y