Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: rds on 18 September 2007, 13:12:31
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Hello everyone
i am having an issue with the main dealer after my 4 year service and alignment problems.
Leaving aside the other issues, they have charged me for an alignment check and adjustment but apparetnly have not adjusted anyting as the car was on the limit of tolerance for pulling to the left!
I was not happy with being charged for this activity/explanation and they are now re-aligning. I have asked that the change be to drive straight ahead ie not pull to the left or right but in a neutral position. The technician has advised me that this would put the geometry to the other extreme tolerance and is not recommended.
Surely if pulling to the left is one extreme, being "neutral" is not the other extreme but mid way to puliing to the right?
They have to sort the car today so any thoughts greatfully received.
many thanks
RDS
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Where are you?
If your not to far try http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk/ recommended by people on this site.
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hi thanks for that - i'm in south London so solihull a bit far!
regards
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LOL
Wheels in motion is in Hertfordshire I believe, I didn't make that clear did I!!!!!
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hoho too quick off the draw i was! apologies.
thing is, car is with the dealer today and i wanted to be prepared for the inevetiable "they are all like that" or what do you expect" type answers.
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Located in Hemel Hempsted well worth drive to get check, think its best to make an appointment .
Also I think members of this forum get a capped price.
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to avoid starting a new thread, can anyone tell me what the most likely cause of inner edge wear would be... on just the offside front tyre?? :-/
all 3 others have worn evenly, my tyre pressures are correct (checked weekly) and the geometry and tracking are "allegedly" spot on according to the guy at my local tracking centre
it's been pulling to the left quite noticeably the last 3 or 4 weeks
its booked in at my local garage, i asked them to check all around the suspension and everywhere to be on the safe side...
any ideas?
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to avoid starting a new thread, can anyone tell me what the most likely cause of inner edge wear would be... on just the offside front tyre?? :-/
all 3 others have worn evenly, my tyre pressures are correct (checked weekly) and the geometry and tracking are "allegedly" spot on according to the guy at my local tracking centre
it's been pulling to the left quite noticeably the last 3 or 4 weeks
its booked in at my local garage, i asked them to check all around the suspension and everywhere to be on the safe side...
any ideas?
Camber adjustment is out on that wheel. I had the same on mine, I adjusted the camber myself and all is now well ;)
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to avoid starting a new thread, can anyone tell me what the most likely cause of inner edge wear would be... on just the offside front tyre?? :-/
all 3 others have worn evenly, my tyre pressures are correct (checked weekly) and the geometry and tracking are "allegedly" spot on according to the guy at my local tracking centre
it's been pulling to the left quite noticeably the last 3 or 4 weeks
its booked in at my local garage, i asked them to check all around the suspension and everywhere to be on the safe side...
any ideas?
Camber adjustment is out on that wheel. I had the same on mine, I adjusted the camber myself and all is now well ;)
easy to do? how would i know when its correct?
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I cheated and i must firstly state that this does not mean it will be as good as having it done properly.
Firstly i made sure the car was on a good level surface.
I then via a metal bar that fits the wheel diameter and a spirt level, measured the vertical angle of the good front wheel and the transfered this to the bad one.
The camber on mine is adjusted by undoing the 2 large bolts where the hub assy joins the strut.
The holes are slightly elongated and allow the hub to move in and out, thus altering the camber.
Always mark up with tipex before you adjust as this will give you a refernce mark to make your adjustments from.
It took me about an hour to do, and has worked a treat, no more worn out inner edge :y
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i think i'll seek professional methods for the practical part then :y
thanks :D
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Hello everyone
i am having an issue with the main dealer after my 4 year service and alignment problems.
Leaving aside the other issues, they have charged me for an alignment check and adjustment but apparetnly have not adjusted anyting as the car was on the limit of tolerance for pulling to the left!
I was not happy with being charged for this activity/explanation and they are now re-aligning. I have asked that the change be to drive straight ahead ie not pull to the left or right but in a neutral position. The technician has advised me that this would put the geometry to the other extreme tolerance and is not recommended.
Surely if pulling to the left is one extreme, being "neutral" is not the other extreme but mid way to puliing to the right?
They have to sort the car today so any thoughts greatfully received.
many thanks
RDS
Can you display any figures.... Namely the front camber and castor positions.
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Pulling to the left on an Omega is often a failed wishbone bush - a VERY common problem.
Pattern wishbones are around £20 each (you should buy a pair and replace both sides) and they come complete with a full set of new bushes. Genuine Vx wishbones are now £180 each (they used to be around £45!).
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hi thanks for that - do you think the state of the wishbone bush would have been checked as pasr to fthe MOT or 4 year service that the dealer undertook last week?
also will they have checked tire pressures to ensure that that issue is eliminated re pulling to left?
regards
RDS
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Don't think the dealer will check. 4 years ago the dealer warned me about the wishbone bushes as an advisory for the MOT. THe last three MOTs have passed without even an advisory on this despite me not doing anything at all!
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hi thanks for that - i'm in south London so solihull a bit far!
regards
Not at all...worth going to see them. I did, after 4 years of pulling to the left, and Tony got me sorted... it is really worth going there...
On the previous Omega, the Vx dealer charged me £95 for full geometry but I got a full refund after I took the technician to a test drive (in a car park, because if you try it on a road they will always blame it on the road camber) and showed him it was still pulling to the left...
My advice is go to see Tony at Wheels in Motion, even from Solihul.
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Don't think the dealer will check. 4 years ago the dealer warned me about the wishbone bushes as an advisory for the MOT. THe last three MOTs have passed without even an advisory on this despite me not doing anything at all!
cheers - i think this advisory stuff is another way to part you form your £££
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hi thanks for that - i'm in south London so solihull a bit far!
regards
Not at all...worth going to see them. I did, after 4 years of pulling to the left, and Tony got me sorted... it is really worth going there...
On the previous Omega, the Vx dealer charged me £95 for full geometry but I got a full refund after I took the technician to a test drive (in a car park, because if you try it on a road they will always blame it on the road camber) and showed him it was still pulling to the left...
My advice is go to see Tony at Wheels in Motion, even from Solihul.
ok B&Q carpark here i come first.............
cheers!
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Hello everyone
i am having an issue with the main dealer after my 4 year service and alignment problems.
Leaving aside the other issues, they have charged me for an alignment check and adjustment but apparetnly have not adjusted anyting as the car was on the limit of tolerance for pulling to the left!
I was not happy with being charged for this activity/explanation and they are now re-aligning. I have asked that the change be to drive straight ahead ie not pull to the left or right but in a neutral position. The technician has advised me that this would put the geometry to the other extreme tolerance and is not recommended.
Surely if pulling to the left is one extreme, being "neutral" is not the other extreme but mid way to puliing to the right?
They have to sort the car today so any thoughts greatfully received.
many thanks
RDS
Can you display any figures.... Namely the front camber and castor positions.
the figures they gave me were scant to say the least - i'll dig them out at home and re-post!
ta
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Car is now back with me.
However Dealer has only given me the toe in figure not caster and camber saying that is only doen for 4 wheel alignment. Is that true?? the car still pulls to the left. Ive left the toe in at home but i recall it as +2mm.
they are due to call me back today so views appreciated !
regards
RDS
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If they knew what they were doing they would have known that TOE cannot affect pulling to one side and they would have done a 4 wheel alignment!
Kevin
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thnaks but is that correct?
ie if one wheel takes a clump eg from a kerb then it will not align and then pull to one side or other?
regards
RDS
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If you discount the position of the steering wheel (if it is straight ahead when the car is travelling straight), TOE acts equally on each wheel when the car is running straight. The two wheels have different toe only once the driver turns one way or the other.
Incorrect toe can make the car unstable or nervous and can cause tyre rear problems but it won't, in itself, cause the car to pull to one side since it acts equally on both front wheels when travelling straight.
Kevin
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ok thanks for that - so in a way they are right - you need to pay extra for the full check but they are "wrong" in that they said the alignment check would see if there was any incorrect setting!!
is it true though that "all omegas tend to pull to the left"?
the mechanic says "we can adjust the settings to straight ahead but that is the opposite kimit of travel". Should i go for that?
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Don't waste anymore money at the dealer - pop up and see Wheels-InMotion who posted earlier. Mention OmegaOwners for a capped price. You will get a proper alignment suited to your car. I personally thoroughly recommend them.
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Pulling to the left on an Omega is often a failed wishbone bush - a VERY common problem.
Pulling is always either a geometry issue or a tyre drift issue. Any worn component will give inconsistencies, but unlikely to give a constant pull...
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Pulling to the left on an Omega is often a failed wishbone bush - a VERY common problem.
Pulling is always either a geometry issue or a tyre drift issue. Any worn component will give inconsistencies, but unlikely to give a constant pull...
yes: i specifically asked the dealer that and they said no worn parts........also tyre pressure was checked.
so could be a 4 wheel alignment after all?
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Pulling to the left on an Omega is often a failed wishbone bush - a VERY common problem.
Pulling is always either a geometry issue or a tyre drift issue. Any worn component will give inconsistencies, but unlikely to give a constant pull...
yes: i specifically asked the dealer that and they said no worn parts........also tyre pressure was checked.
so could be a 4 wheel alignment after all?
4 wheel alignment is not worth doing imho. That is possibly what the dealer has done. Get a FULL GEOMETRY check done by SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING (which rules out most dealers!). As said, http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk in Hemel Hempstead, just off M25.
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Pulling to the left on an Omega is often a failed wishbone bush - a VERY common problem.
Pulling is always either a geometry issue or a tyre drift issue. Any worn component will give inconsistencies, but unlikely to give a constant pull...
yes: i specifically asked the dealer that and they said no worn parts........also tyre pressure was checked.
so could be a 4 wheel alignment after all?
4 wheel alignment is not worth doing imho. That is possibly what the dealer has done. Get a FULL GEOMETRY check done by SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING (which rules out most dealers!). As said, http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk in Hemel Hempstead, just off M25.
Ok thanks again!
Regards
RDS