Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Owen on 10 July 2007, 16:22:34

Title: Broken spring broken top mount
Post by: Owen on 10 July 2007, 16:22:34
Monday I had the car jacked up to change the front and back wheels round for even tyre wear. Since then there is a road noise (very similar to off road tyres on tarmac) and a clanking from the passanger side when going over small bumps as if somthing wasnt tightened up! Just had it up in tha air again and on the passenger wheel has a lot of play in it when you move it from left to right! (Engine off and on the ground) Also you can turn the spring n inch or two each way! The driver side spring has no play in it at all!
Took it down to my local garage with no intention of  letting them do any work on it, just wanted to find out the problem as its scrubbed the tyre down in 24 hours >:

They told me all the knuckles and the bottom end of the suspension were fine on both sides
Also there telling me it needs 2 springs £210 fitted, yea, right! ::) Even though they couldnt find a break in the passanger spring, and went on to tell me the the drivers side spring was fine ::)
Or the top mount on the passanger side! Now I have no idea what this is?
They also said if I dont have the right tools Im gonna have to pay someone to do the job!
And finaly they have told me not to use the car till its fixed, is this nessesary?


So any opinions??? And what is the 'Top Mount'??
Title: Re: Broken spring broken top mount
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 10 July 2007, 16:25:11
Is that a lot of play when gripping the wheel in a 3-9 position?

Any in the 6-12 position?
Title: Re: Broken spring broken top mount
Post by: Owen on 10 July 2007, 16:31:32
Quote
Is that a lot of play when gripping the wheel in a 3-9 position?

Any in the 6-12 position?


Nothing on 6-12
Just on the 9-3
Title: Re: Broken spring broken top mount
Post by: Craig_R on 10 July 2007, 16:34:55
If it is your Top Mounts I have just replaced mine but put the old rubbers back in as only one of the bearnings had gone so i have some new spare top mount rubbers but no bearnings.

Ill upload some photos of top mounts when i get home
Title: Re: Broken spring broken top mount
Post by: Owen on 10 July 2007, 16:39:34
Bearings? Top mount sounded to me like somthing I could tighten up with a big spanner! ;D ;D ;D
If they couldnt find a break in the spring then that all it can be??

Is it ok to drive? Have to get my little lad to Oxford tomorow for his post-op stuff!
Title: Re: Broken spring broken top mount
Post by: Craig_R on 10 July 2007, 16:44:48
Ill let someone else answer if it fine to drive as i dont know how bad it is and would not like to say if it is or it is not

Photo of top mount Bearnings from the bottom with no bearning cover on

(http://www.firedragon.com/~swamp/newbearing.jpg)
Title: Re: Broken spring broken top mount
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 10 July 2007, 17:04:29
Is the play felt when trying to rotate the wheel about the ball join axis or is it fore and aft?

If its felt when trying to rotate about the axis then check the track rod ends etc, with somebody wiggling the wheel, you should be able to see/feel the play.

As for driving, as long as you take it steady I dont see it as a major problem.
Title: Re: Broken spring broken top mount
Post by: Owen on 10 July 2007, 19:38:04
Thanks for the pic :y

Dunno if it has any bearing, it was like this from the second I took it of the jack for after the wheel change!

Is the pic the underside of this??

(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb53/trooper30/DSCF0209.jpg)
Title: Re: Broken spring broken top mount
Post by: Craig_R on 10 July 2007, 21:35:56
No Sorry if only it was that easy

One of the members Pete kindly upload a photo of the rubber mount it sits on top of the shock spring as shown in the photo link below the photo i showed You is the underside of the black rubber thing in petes photo on top of the spring

http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/pete1666@btinternet.com/detail_hires?.dir=dfd9re2&.dnm=e79fre2.jpg

hope this helps
Title: Re: Broken spring broken top mount
Post by: Owen on 11 July 2007, 09:04:12
I realy have no idea how to do this, dunno what bits I need. Can it be done with parts from the breakers.

I realy need an idiot guide as I dunno where to start, any pointers would be appreciated fellas as I need to get this done sharpish!
Title: Re: Broken spring broken top mount
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 11 July 2007, 09:23:23
Owen, can you please answer my last set of questions.
Title: Re: Broken spring broken top mount
Post by: Ronald_McBurger on 11 July 2007, 09:28:44
OR YOU GET A FORUM SLAP! :D
Title: Re: Broken spring broken top mount
Post by: Owen on 11 July 2007, 09:38:37
Quote
Is the play felt when trying to rotate the wheel about the ball join axis or is it fore and aft?

If its felt when trying to rotate about the axis then check the track rod ends etc, with somebody wiggling the wheel, you should be able to see/feel the play.

As for driving, as long as you take it steady I dont see it as a major problem.


Right, sorry Mark, well first thing I thought was track rod end, but when they checked it at the garage they said it was all solid!

Sorry Im a donkey, but Im not sure what you mean when you say 'Is the play felt when trying to rotate the wheel about the ball join axis or is it fore and aft?' :-[
Title: Re: Broken spring broken top mount
Post by: Craig_R on 11 July 2007, 09:45:20
Owen Before we go down this Route we need to find out that its not your trackrods

I have new rubber mounts for this Dont get them from a scrapper and dont get them from VX they want 140 +vat for the pair
Title: Re: Broken spring broken top mount
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 11 July 2007, 09:48:07
Ok, is the play felt when you grab the wheel at the 3 and 9 Oclock positions and try to rotate it in the direction the steering moves the assembly?

Is it felt on both the drivers and passenger side wheels?
Title: Re: Broken spring broken top mount
Post by: Owen on 11 July 2007, 10:21:21
Yes the play on the 3-9 possition! Yes it moves the assembly once past the play.

No the drivers side is solid!
Title: Re: Broken spring broken top mount
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 11 July 2007, 10:24:23
Ok, put the steering on full right lock and get somebody to wiggle the wheel for you.....check the idler arm and inner and outer track rod ends to see if they are the bits moving.
Title: Re: Broken spring broken top mount
Post by: Owen on 11 July 2007, 10:34:50
Quote
Ok, put the steering on full right lock and get somebody to wiggle the wheel for you.....check the idler arm and inner and outer track rod ends to see if they are the bits moving.

Right, jacked it up, took wheel off and have put right lock on as directed, and got the wife to move the steering wheel, can see anything moving that shouldnt be. No noticible movement in joints, or knuckles!
Title: Re: Broken spring broken top mount
Post by: Owen on 11 July 2007, 11:03:51
Dunno if this helps, but there is no play where the red arrows point, but that thing that the white arrow points to seems to have play in it!

Does this shed any light?? :-/


(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb53/trooper30/suspension.jpg)
Title: Re: Broken spring broken top mount
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 11 July 2007, 11:19:36
Right, the 'thing' (idler arm) at the end of the white arrow, does it have vertical play in it?

If so, thats your problem......
Title: Re: Broken spring broken top mount
Post by: Owen on 11 July 2007, 11:29:42
Yes, it does have vertical play in it! Have tried to tighten it as much as I can, but no differance, and still play in it!

So its the idler arm! Thanks for your advice there!  Nowt at all to do with the spring or mount, fukin money grabbing garages!


Does a new idler arm come as one whole thing, or do I have to get pther bits to go with it? Will go down the scrappy as soon as I get back from Oxford!

Cheers again for your patientce and advice on this! Will let you know the score! ;)
Title: Re: Broken spring broken top mount
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 11 July 2007, 11:34:59
No....you just need the arm.

I would recommend a new one if you can stretch to it:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VAUXHALL-CARLTON-OMEGA-STEERING-IDLER-ARM-BRAND-NEW_W0QQitemZ290136065332QQihZ019QQcategoryZ10404QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vauxhall-Omega-Idler-arm-New_W0QQitemZ130130740474QQihZ003QQcategoryZ10404QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD3VQQcmdZViewItem

Title: Re: Broken spring broken top mount
Post by: Craig_R on 11 July 2007, 14:15:44
Glad your on the right Track Owen Garages Eh they just make it up as they go along Terrible

Craig
Title: Re: Broken spring broken top mount
Post by: TheBoy on 11 July 2007, 18:43:31
If you need one in a hurry, I have a new sealed one in garage. £30. I live in Brackley
Title: Re: Broken spring broken top mount
Post by: Owen on 11 July 2007, 19:27:49
Oooo Cheers matey :)
On a budget mate so its the scapy ;D But much appreciated mate :y
Title: Re: Broken spring broken top mount
Post by: TheBoy on 11 July 2007, 19:46:21
Quote
Oooo Cheers matey :)
On a budget mate so its the scapy ;D But much appreciated mate :y
You may need to buy that item new - they are prone to excessive wear...
Title: Re: Broken spring broken top mount
Post by: Owen on 11 July 2007, 19:55:47

Believe me if I could I would mate.  ;D
Scrapys gonna have to do just for a short term fix ;)