Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: chris mv6 on 06 December 2010, 21:26:37

Title: feels like a boat
Post by: chris mv6 on 06 December 2010, 21:26:37
hi guys never had an omega before and i just bought a 3.0v6 elite estate and just wondered is the suspension supposed to feel really soft? or do i need to invest in some new shocks?
Title: Re: feels like a boat
Post by: Broomies Mate on 06 December 2010, 21:32:34
The suspension on the Elite is soft, very soft, but no harm in getting her up on a ramp and doing a few basic checks of the suspension components.   :y
Title: Re: feels like a boat
Post by: Andy B on 06 December 2010, 21:32:50
An Elite isn't exactly a sports car, but I suppose it depends what you're comparing it to.  ;)
Title: Re: feels like a boat
Post by: chris mv6 on 06 December 2010, 21:48:26
i understand its more a comfort car just never had a car with such soft suspension before. i will be having a look at suspension components when i get chance.need to sort the rocker gaskets out first as leeking oil.
Title: Re: feels like a boat
Post by: Cliffo B on 06 December 2010, 21:48:42
I think the Elites have excellent suspension,they have self levelling suspension,works by automatic air assisted shocks operated by a small compressor under the front offside wing, could be something wrong with this system
Title: Re: feels like a boat
Post by: Broomies Mate on 06 December 2010, 21:50:57
Quote
i understand its more a comfort car just never had a car with such soft suspension before. i will be having a look at suspension components when i get chance.need to sort the rocker gaskets out first as leeking oil.

Do the Gaskets, then ensure you clean out the Breathers (these are probably blocked and caused the gaskets to fail in the first place).

Plenty of info on the forum, a guide in the maintenance section!  :y
Title: Re: feels like a boat
Post by: chris mv6 on 06 December 2010, 21:51:15
are all the shocks air assisted then front and rear.is their a way of testing the compressor to find out if its faulty.
Title: Re: feels like a boat
Post by: chris mv6 on 06 December 2010, 21:53:26
already found the info on gaskets and cleaning all the breathers.very informative site you guys have here.thumbs up to the oof.
Title: Re: feels like a boat
Post by: Andy B on 06 December 2010, 21:59:24
Quote
are all the shocks air assisted then front and rear.is their a way of testing the compressor to find out if its faulty.

Just the rears. Load the boot, start the engine & wait for the compressor to run.  ;)
Title: Re: feels like a boat
Post by: chris mv6 on 06 December 2010, 22:02:36
thanks andy b will try that tomorrow.
Title: Re: feels like a boat
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 06 December 2010, 22:54:52
Very soft, there's nothing below an S-Class that's better in a straight line. Nose likes to pitch into corners (inherited from the carlton) though still grips, dont think this is like a big wallowy, gooey citroen, or a caddy, they are a sure-footed, good-handling car, and do grip, and grip, and grip, before progressively letting go, I've found.

Though you, er,  may want to wait until all of the snow has melted before putting that to the test  :y :y
Title: Re: feels like a boat
Post by: chris mv6 on 06 December 2010, 23:19:55
yeah will wait till snow has gone.they are a bit lively in the snow ;D
Title: Re: feels like a boat
Post by: Cliffo B on 06 December 2010, 23:30:49
Thought I should also mention that my miggy tugs an 18ft single axle caravan several thousand mls a yr with total confidence and safety and carries swmbo's motorised buggy practically permanent she does it all easily without any protest, also we do a weekly trip of 140mls from Leeds to the east coast and back, the return generally done in the late hours at speeds approaching the limit on narrow twisty B roads and she holds the road which feels entirely safe to me a driver of senior years, not at all soft just very stable and positive in short "miggy does the biz" for me and obviously the suspension and roadholding contributes to this,so go for it and you will have a nice motor :y 
Title: Re: feels like a boat
Post by: alank46 on 07 December 2010, 07:19:03
I second that.  I live in rural England and find the car excellent in the lanes as well as the motorways.  It can be hurried along with accuracy and security when needed and I'm in the mood.  As a comparison my other vehicle is a Mazda MX-5, renowned for its precision and sportiness.
Alan

PS Implication is that there is something wrong with the OP's car, either suspension or tyres.  The Omega is sensitive to tyre make/model.


Quote
Thought I should also mention that my miggy tugs an 18ft single axle caravan several thousand mls a yr with total confidence and safety and carries swmbo's motorised buggy practically permanent she does it all easily without any protest, also we do a weekly trip of 140mls from Leeds to the east coast and back, the return generally done in the late hours at speeds approaching the limit on narrow twisty B roads and she holds the road which feels entirely safe to me a driver of senior years, not at all soft just very stable and positive in short "miggy does the biz" for me and obviously the suspension and roadholding contributes to this,so go for it and you will have a nice motor :y 
Title: Re: feels like a boat
Post by: Welung666 on 07 December 2010, 07:55:35
Quote
already found the info on gaskets and cleaning all the breathers.very informative site you guys have here.thumbs up to the oof.

Chris, if you need a hand just shout, I'm not far away from you :y
Title: Re: feels like a boat
Post by: djac on 07 December 2010, 16:44:25
How many miles has your car done? I recently had new rear springs on my Elite when it failed the MOT. The springs had snapped (common problem) and I think the car feels quite a bit firmer with the new springs - probably to be expected.

We're not talking sports-car type firm, just a bit harder than before.

My car has nearly 130k miles on it.
Title: Re: feels like a boat
Post by: chris mv6 on 07 December 2010, 17:34:02
thanks wellung will appreciate the the offer. :y
Title: Re: feels like a boat
Post by: chris mv6 on 07 December 2010, 17:35:07
the car has got 152000 on the clock.the only advisory the car had was with the front track rod ends, but will be checking all the suspension when i get chance.