Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: serge on 12 September 2009, 18:08:04

Title: Tired Suspension
Post by: serge on 12 September 2009, 18:08:04
OK Try again!  :-[

Hello everyone.  I'm new but my Omega isn't.
It's a 1997 CDX 2.5 automatic.
It's been well looked after, but is showing signs of age.
The biggest problen I have with it is it bottoms out on speed bumps and rough roads.
I had the rear springs replaced some years ago and, shortly after, had some Grayston spring assisters fitted.
This improved it for a while.
Now I need to find a relatively cheap way of raing the ground clearance when laden.
Are rubber coil assisters the answer?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  :)

S
Title: Re: Tired Suspension
Post by: Selseybill on 12 September 2009, 18:13:19
Quote
OK Try again!  :-[


I had the rear springs replaced some years ago and, shortly after, had some Grayston spring assister's fitted.
This improved it for a while.
S
You only use spring assister's for heavy load such as towing caravans.Get yourself a good set of shock absorbers.You can pick them up from £35 per pair 
Title: Re: Tired Suspension
Post by: serge on 12 September 2009, 18:18:15
Thanks Bill!
How will that stop it scraping?
What type do you suggest I get?

Your advice is much appreciated!   :y

S
Title: Re: Tired Suspension
Post by: bigdods on 12 September 2009, 18:22:41
Buy an elite with air suspension  ::)

I had a 98 CDX 2.5 , never had any problem bottoming out, suspension was excellent. It may be that you have either the wrong spring/damper combo (too soft maybe) or its been lowered sometim in its past.

Best bet is to replace the shocks and springs all round for standard vx items to get it back to the proper spec.

Unless you are carrying some seriously heavy weights in the boot, can you define 'fully laden' ?

The most I had in mine was 2 adults and 2 large kids , 8 man tent , air beds camping gear, clothes etc. So full boot and every spare space inside the car crammed. It still sat level and drove fine
Title: Re: Tired Suspension
Post by: serge on 12 September 2009, 18:30:04
That's the sort of load I sometimes carry, but it can sometimes bottom out with two adults and a bootful.

It's never been lowered.

S
Title: Re: Tired Suspension
Post by: Tony H on 12 September 2009, 18:32:12
When you say it "bottoms" out are you refering to the mudflaps scraping if so it's not too much to worrie about unless the handling is compromised.
The Omega was fitted with state of the art self adjusting mud flaps. On bumpy roads the gradually abraid themselfs on the tarmac until they dont catch. or if you drive in an area that has peticulary rough roads they snap themselves off altogether so as not to annoy or concern the driver.
G.M think of everything  ::)
Title: Re: Tired Suspension
Post by: serge on 12 September 2009, 18:43:16
Mudflaps are long-gorn.
I'm afraid it's metal;  metal I tell ya!

I'm worried that my exhaust system might get ripped off!!

S
Title: Re: Tired Suspension
Post by: Ghost on 12 September 2009, 19:08:06
That sounds more like the shocks are gone and not the springs mate.
if you push your car up and down does it whip?
Title: Re: Tired Suspension
Post by: serge on 12 September 2009, 21:00:22
Dunno Ghost:  I'll give it a go tomorrow.

S
Title: Re: Tired Suspension
Post by: dbr on 12 September 2009, 22:17:45
i have assistor springs at the back. but with 3 adults and luggauge ....on the 'tom tom' roads in france the exhaust scraped the road on the bumpy bits.
Title: Re: Tired Suspension
Post by: serge on 24 March 2010, 19:44:13
Sorry to be so rude Ghost!  :-[
Had to nip down to the chippy.

No, it doesn't whip.

S
Title: Re: Tired Suspension
Post by: Andy B on 24 March 2010, 19:56:22
Quote
Sorry to be so rude Ghost!  :-[
Had to nip down to the chippy.

No, it doesn't whip.

S

Bl00dy hell!
How far away is your chippy? You've been 6 months  ;D  ;D  ;D  ;D
Title: Re: Tired Suspension
Post by: gstylebaby on 24 March 2010, 19:58:01
Quote
Quote
Sorry to be so rude Ghost!  :-[
Had to nip down to the chippy.

No, it doesn't whip.

S

Bl00dy hell!
How far away is your chippy? You've been 6 months  ;D  ;D  ;D  ;D

Pmsl mate  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Tired Suspension
Post by: neilr on 25 March 2010, 16:14:01
Sorry to burst in but shock absorbers do not alter ride height. Its the springs that do .
Title: Re: Tired Suspension
Post by: jonny2112 on 25 March 2010, 16:26:01
Is there a chance an exhaust mounting may be damaged or loose, thereby causing it to hit the ground? Just a thought.   ;)
Title: Re: Tired Suspension
Post by: Pitchfork on 25 March 2010, 17:23:48
I had saloon shocks accidently fitted to my estate & that bounced & bottomed. Saloon types are longer but seem softer than estate ones so I wonder if fitting estate shocks to a saloon might cause something similar?
Title: Re: Tired Suspension
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 25 March 2010, 17:46:55
mine is 97 2.5 cd.. I changed all shocks.. and car height is nearly same as spec.. but I still touch speed bumpers if not very slow, even there is no load other than me.. :-/

ps: generally cats are the ones to touch first..
Title: Re: Tired Suspension
Post by: Shackeng on 25 March 2010, 17:52:06
Quote
When you say it "bottoms" out are you refering to the mudflaps scraping if so it's not too much to worrie about unless the handling is compromised.
The Omega was fitted with state of the art self adjusting mud flaps. On bumpy roads the gradually abraid themselfs on the tarmac until they dont catch. or if you drive in an area that has peticulary rough roads they snap themselves off altogether so as not to annoy or concern the driver.
G.M think of everything  ::)

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Tired Suspension
Post by: Tony H on 25 March 2010, 17:53:16
Quote
Quote
Sorry to be so rude Ghost!  :-[
Had to nip down to the chippy.

No, it doesn't whip.

S

Bl00dy hell!
How far away is your chippy? You've been 6 months  ;D  ;D  ;D  ;D
 
Must have been on hell of a queue  ::) ;D
Title: Re: Tired Suspension
Post by: serge on 30 March 2010, 14:36:16
Thanks for the answers.
The exhaust mounting seems to be OK.

Yes, I seem to have exorcised the ghost  ;D

I'll have to ask over at Uberbahnstormers  :-/

S
Title: Re: Tired Suspension
Post by: Kiksomass on 30 March 2010, 20:21:08
Quote
When you say it "bottoms" out are you refering to the mudflaps scraping if so it's not too much to worrie about unless the handling is compromised.
The Omega was fitted with state of the art self adjusting mud flaps. On bumpy roads the gradually abraid themselfs on the tarmac until they dont catch. or if you drive in an area that has peticulary rough roads they snap themselves off altogether so as not to annoy or concern the driver.
G.M think of everything 
::)
Yeah mine split over the winter so they are now in a landfill somewhere. I notice the difference though with crap on the sides of the car! :o