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[Gaffers]

Recently while visiting family ooop north I had the pleasure(!) of driving on the M42 where it gets a little bumpy with all the grooves in the road sections.  Never had this happen before but I noticed the back end was moving requiring minor adjustments with the steering wheel.  Now I know the Elite has that awful wallowy rear suspension but it shouldn't do that!  Also noticed that some of the fresh brand new rumble strips down the road cause the sunroof to rattle quite severely. 

My guessing is that the shocks are knackered?

I am about to order some Bilstein B4s but will I need to replace the springs too?  If I do I would like to lower by about 20mm but I can only find 40mm. 

The front wishbones have seen better days too so I am looking at doing the following work in a one-er to erradicate:

- Front wishbones and droplinks
- Rear bushes
- Front and rear shocks (poss springs)

Am I asking for trouble doing it all at once and should it sort out this handling problem?

[Kevin Wood]

Rear bushes sound like a possibility for the wandering. Might be worth having a look to confirm and ensure that's the only issue

If you dislike the current setup aside from that it makes sense to change the shocks and springs while you're at it so you only throw it all out of alignment once.

Front end - well, again, any issues might as well be sorted, then a decent geometry setup.

Kevin

[feeutfo]

Assuming no other issues such as broken rear spring or seriously incorrect camber/toe,trailing arm play or flat tyre then rear donut bushes are favourite. Guide in maintenance with link to part needed.

If your doing that level of surgery, do it all IMO, or at least check everything, then set up and fit Tyres once done if needed.

Would suggest taking measurements for currrent camber and toe settings first, do one side set it best you can, then do the other and set that side.

[feeutfo]

Ime, if the car diverts off line with no sensation of it through the steering wheel, it's rear bushes, providing also that your not running falcon tyres.

 And tbh there can't be many omegas around now still with original bushes that are in acceptable condition. Can there?

[Gaffers]

Rear bushes sound like a possibility for the wandering. Might be worth having a look to confirm and ensure that's the only issue

If you dislike the current setup aside from that it makes sense to change the shocks and springs while you're at it so you only throw it all out of alignment once.

Front end - well, again, any issues might as well be sorted, then a decent geometry setup.

Kevin

Yeah thats what I was thinking, I may as well get all the parts lined up and then do it in one go and then go to WIM 

[Gaffers]

Ime, if the car diverts off line with no sensation of it through the steering wheel, it's rear bushes, providing also that your not running falcon tyres.

 And tbh there can't be many omegas around now still with original bushes that are in acceptable condition. Can there?

Maybe, but the silver, older, omega handles much much better.  Even after 165k

And although the previous owner put on a bunch of cheap boots, I do not think it is them as the handling has gotten worse.

[Gaffers]

Is it worth doing the other rear bushes too?  Are they difficult to replace?

[feeutfo]

Is it worth doing the other rear bushes too?  Are they difficult to replace?

Others on the diff rarely give trouble afaik. Might be worth a look at the ones chassis to diff in the rear spring replacement guide tho, they can separate and are easy to un bolt.

circular cotton real bushes in diff are a bitch to replace Mark tells me, but fortunately are fairly bullet proof.

[Kevin Wood]

Maybe, but the silver, older, omega handles much much better.  Even after 165k

And although the previous owner put on a bunch of cheap boots, I do not think it is them as the handling has gotten worse.

Tramlining issues do worsen with tyre wear, IME.

Kevin

[Gaffers]

Maybe, but the silver, older, omega handles much much better.  Even after 165k

And although the previous owner put on a bunch of cheap boots, I do not think it is them as the handling has gotten worse.

Tramlining issues do worsen with tyre wear, IME.

Kevin

I need to check, but I dont think there is any significant wear.  The tyres have done maybe 2k