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[TECHNOPUG]

Hi,

  had to replace my rear shocks last year and fitted a set of Bilstein B4's (MV6 equivalent I believe). I'm looking to replace the fronts also in the coming months, again with B4's. So now my attention has turned to springs. Bilstein don't make springs seperately and I don't wish to bin the new rears to get a whole matched "Sport Kit". Besides, previous experience of Bilstein springs in other cars would not persuade me to buy them again (apart from their coilover kits). So....my first port of call would be Eibach. They do a "performance" kit for the Omega of uprated springs but as they lower the ride height, I'm a little weary of how they will work with the MV6-B4's.

   Does anyone have any experience of running this combination of can anyone advise of other suitable springs?

[Marks DTM Calib]

Which ever way you go, remember that the B4's can only tolerate upto a max of a 30mm drop over the standard (non MV6) setup.

[TECHNOPUG]

Yeah, that's what I figured. The Eibachs claim 30mm drop and this would seem right from previous experience of using them. I'm running 205/15/50's, so no danger of rubbing against the arches. I'd like to fit new bushes as well, so that should keep everything within scope as far as the ride height drop goes. I take it that there are no polybush options for the Omega? What about Senator parts? In my mind I'd just be changing the rear donuts and the top-mounts, then see what parts are still showing signs of age and effecting the steering (wishbones etc).

    I am a little concerned with how much effect it will have on comfort with the B4's and Eibachs. It's difficult to tell how much effect the 50 ratio tyres are having on comfort at the moment as the rest of the suspension is obviously tired. Also pretty hard to tell due to the appalling state of London's roads!

[Marks DTM Calib]

Senator rear subframe bush stiffens the bum up.

Front top mount bushes will be fine, worth stripping, cleaning and greasing the top bearings though.

Ride should be ok, still softer than these modern Mondeos!

[TECHNOPUG]

OK, that's all sounds good and easily DIY'ble.

Where would be the best place to source the rubber donuts (these are the subframe bushes?) and top-mounts - do they need to be geuine VX?

[Marks DTM Calib]

Top mounts will be fine.

Suspension bushes here:

http://www.vauxhall-car-parts.co.uk/acatalog/REAR_AXLE_CROSSMEMBER_BUSH.html#a90250986N

[markey mark]

Top mounts will be fine.

Suspension bushes here:

http://www.vauxhall-car-parts.co.uk/acatalog/REAR_AXLE_CROSSMEMBER_BUSH.html#a90250986N

they same for estate mark ?? what they like to fit ??

[TECHNOPUG]

Top mounts will be fine.

Suspension bushes here:

http://www.vauxhall-car-parts.co.uk/acatalog/REAR_AXLE_CROSSMEMBER_BUSH.html#a90250986N

Are you saying that the top-mounts don't wear and therefore there is no benefit in replacing them - or that standard OE top-mounts are fine but DO replace them?  :-?

[Marks DTM Calib]

Top mounts will be fine.

Suspension bushes here:

http://www.vauxhall-car-parts.co.uk/acatalog/REAR_AXLE_CROSSMEMBER_BUSH.html#a90250986N

they same for estate mark ?? what they like to fit ??

Easy enough to remove (claw hammer).

Can be harder to fit....unless you have the special tool!

Same for all models and cheap at that place to

[Marks DTM Calib]

Top mounts will be fine.

Suspension bushes here:

http://www.vauxhall-car-parts.co.uk/acatalog/REAR_AXLE_CROSSMEMBER_BUSH.html#a90250986N

Are you saying that the top-mounts don't wear and therefore there is no benefit in replacing them - or that standard OE top-mounts are fine but DO replace them?  :-?

Top mounts dont seem to wear

[TECHNOPUG]

Top mounts will be fine.

Suspension bushes here:

http://www.vauxhall-car-parts.co.uk/acatalog/REAR_AXLE_CROSSMEMBER_BUSH.html#a90250986N

Are you saying that the top-mounts don't wear and therefore there is no benefit in replacing them - or that standard OE top-mounts are fine but DO replace them?  :-?

Top mounts dont seem to wear

Oh OK, that one less job to worry about!

Just been out to look at the car and one thing does bother me and that's the ride height. From my understanding, the MV6 springs lower the car around 25mm over the Elite? My model is the Elite (although in Plod spec - so maybe MV6 springs already). All the aftermarket parts websites don't seem to distinguish between Elite and MV6. So 30mm drop with Eibachs, could in fact be 55mm if I'm running Elite already.      
      The car will be on the floor! Nevermind speedhumps, I don't think that I'd even get a trolley jack under the car with my current wheel/tyre combo.

    So....does anyone make uprated progressive springs that DON'T lower the car - MV6 basically? Also, anyway visually that I can confirm whether Elite or MV6 springs are currently fitted?

[Glenn]

I believe the springs are the same, it's the dampers which lower the MV6, only about 15mm, they have less preload in them, lowering spings and MV6 dampers would be real low.... If you lower it I would recomend the B6 or preferably B8 bilsteins for the front at least.

[TECHNOPUG]

OK, well I have the B4's on the back and plan to get the same on the front, so that I have a matching pair (and to save cost!). If these are as I've been lead to believe, MV6 spec, then you are right, another 30mm lowering will definitely have the car on the deck!

So, any uprated springs that don't lower also? Failing that, where is best to get direct replacement MV6 springs (image VX will want a bomb for them)? Also, are all Omega springs the same, if you say that it's the dampers on MV6's which lower the car?

Lots of questions still I'm afraid!