Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[omega2018]

bit late for me now i have ordered the parts but it seems there may be an alternative self levelling rear shock (if AC Delco is considered an alternative to GM).

my sl shock is GM part number 72119084 , acdelco do a direct cross interchange, part number 560227

discovered through a useful cross reference website see my post http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=127114.0

[elvin315]

GM owns ACDelco so regardless of the part numbers they are the same shocks. Obviously I'm unfamiliar with the vendors in your neck of the woods but I've made a list of suppliers in The States. Who knows, they might sell in The UK. Remember, shocks for the Monaro/GTO fit the Omega, so any shock made for them will do, but they are not air-shocks. Monroe sells the Air-Max and they are. Hope this helps.

http://cateraowners.forumotion.com/t108-catera-suspension-upgrades-overview#410

[05omegav6]

There's a set of the Monroe Air Shocks on Ozzy ebay for $375AU so cheaper to buy GM by the time you've shipped them over

I have an AC Delco thermostat on mine, half the price of a VX one inspite of shipping it from Florida... iirc the seller was Number1GMspares,  based in Jacksonville

[chrisgixer]

GM owns ACDelco so regardless of the part numbers they are the same shocks. Obviously I'm unfamiliar with the vendors in your neck of the woods but I've made a list of suppliers in The States. Who knows, they might sell in The UK. Remember, shocks for the Monaro/GTO fit the Omega, so any shock made for them will do, but they are not air-shocks. Monroe sells the Air-Max and they are. Hope this helps.

http://cateraowners.forumotion.com/t108-catera-suspension-upgrades-overview#410

Any experience with air bags in the springs elvin? I'd like to try these, but having issues finding a supplier.
Cliffo B has a set on here from Mad Catz but they have changed management and are no longer helpfull, as the Omega is not officially covered in their range.

[elvin315]

Personal experience.........no, but while researching suspension upgrades for the Catera I found these guys. The kit they sell is for a full blown (unintentional pun, but a good one, no?) air suspension for our cars. Probably not what you want but an email or call to Arizona might yield some answers.

http://www.airbagit.com/Air-Suspension-kits-all-4-wheels-p/fbs-cad-04-kit3.htm
http://www.airbagit.com/v/vspfiles/pages/AirBags_PAGE.htm

[chrisgixer]

Thanks but I really was looking for a pair of air bags to use in conjunction with the OE self levelling suspension set up.

It would have to be modified to let the air out when not carying a load, as the rear becomes a lot less independant with self levelling activated. So it would be a case of plugging in the relay to activate the air bags of the self levelling when carrying a load, then pull the relay and let the air out when not loaded to let the rear suspension behave normally for general use.

No biggy though as I don't actually carry s load that often.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Chrisgixer, could you explain further the reasons for using air bag suspension in conjunction with the factory-fit set up? Is it purely a case of 'I want to see if it can be done' for which I applaud you, or is there a weight limit / the Vx shocks not lifting the rear is it should for the loads you wish to carry?

[chrisgixer]

Oe sl is very good for load carrying. But not very good at damping each side independently when not load carrying. So if not load carrying it's better to bin sl and just use standard shocks. Which is where I am now with my car.

However when load carrying, rarely, the rear is over loaded. It sags and wallows so needs help, especially as camber increases when lower and wears the tyres. Mine are 265 wide and £300 a pair ish. So I don't want uneven wear caused by increased camber from an even lower ride height from load carrying.

Adding air bags within the springs would help the rear.

Self levelling shocks can't achieve what I want as the bladders must be fully inflated all the time or they chafe themselves to bits through normal susoension movement, when the selflevelling is deactivated/no air in the bladders.

So the problem is, oe self levelling is always on. Which I don't want, as it's rubbish for "MY" purposes most of the time.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Ah, fair enough. I am sure this won't suit your purposes, but I know that all the Omega taxis round my way run with either Estate springs or sometimes with an extra rubber ring installed, just to add another half inch to the ride height. This way the bum of the car is up in the air, but when there's two, three or four people in the car, plus luggage, as there frequently is, is makes a lot of difference to keepign the car on an even keel. A good friend of mine had an Elite, and he did this mod. Now his wife is..... not small... and the council estate he lives is full of speed bumps. Fitting the 'estate springs' (pun not intended) meant the car was almost 'bottoming-out proof'

Obviously not suggesting we all fit estate springs, nor get thinner wives, but I like the low-tech simple but effective approach.

[elvin315]

I didn't know how you intended to use them. The following is an Airlift 1000 air helper spring install video. The Airlift 1000 list doesn't specify the Catera or Omega but I believe they will fit our cars. Watch the video and maybe ask for more details. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjI9ToaUFrw



http://www.airliftcompany.com/shop/60797/

[omega2018]

just to finish off this thread I fitted two new rear qh shocks (non self levelling) and two new pro+power springs today. 

i used cheap spring compressors £6 a pair which meant all i had to undo was the anti roll bar bolt, no messing with abs sensors, brake lines, transaxle or exhaust.  the compressors were single clamp i think that is better than the double one.  i did put some amalgamating rubber tape on the clamp to stop any metal to metal slip.  i also shortened them. 

the original 13 year old o/s shock was completely knackered rusted through i am amazed it was still working.  however the 2 year old n/s one looks like new so i have put it on ebay if anyone needs one.

[Magwheels]

Been out in it yet?

Noticed any difference I ride quality?

If the shock was knackered it was probably a bit less wallowy (is that even a word?).

[chrisgixer]

just to finish off this thread I fitted two new rear qh shocks (non self levelling) and two new pro+power springs today. 

i used cheap spring compressors £6 a pair which meant all i had to undo was the anti roll bar bolt, no messing with abs sensors, brake lines, transaxle or exhaust.  the compressors were single clamp i think that is better than the double one.  i did put some amalgamating rubber tape on the clamp to stop any metal to metal slip.  i also shortened them. 

the original 13 year old o/s shock was completely knackered rusted through i am amazed it was still working.  however the 2 year old n/s one looks like new so i have put it on ebay if anyone needs one.

The springs? 

[omega2018]

i shortened the spring compressors otherwise they would obstruct installing the springs.  with hindsight i would have used straps instead and cut them or perhaps just used the jack to compress in situ as it takes ages to unwind a compressor with a non ratchet spanner and my socket wouldn't fit in the gap. 

will test ride it now and report back.  i always found the elite sl suspension a bit hard so am hoping it will be a softer ride.

[tidla]

You done well to get a spring compressor in the limited space.

Getting the new spring in was a challenge i guess.