Print

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

[Andy A]

My Desmond has just failed its MOT and I have a couple of questions about the parts needing to be replaced.

It failed on the N/S and O/F/front Track rod end ball joints. I have 2 new ones that came with the ATP front wishbone control arms from Germany as part of the kit I ordered a way back.
The brand ARE Atec Are these any good?

Is it worth me putting the new front drop links on the car that was also in the kit while I'm under there?

The rear shocks need replacing, are the BILSTEIN b4 Rear Shock Absorbers still recommended and are all the 2.2, 2.6 and 3.2 all the same? Any one know where I can buy 2x new ones in the UK?

Thanks

[Doctor Gollum]

Fit them and be grateful they are free... (I know TB will have a fit reading that, but why spend £ when you have a perfectly serviceable brand new set...)

Drop links ditto. (although why you didn't fit them all in one go...  lesson for next time.

If the wishbones were recently fitted, geometry should be limited to tracking

Rear shocks same across the engine range EXCEPT Elites have self levelling and estates are different to saloons.

Genuine OE replacements for saloon :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAUXHALL-OMEGA-B-2-6-2x-Shock-Absorbers-Pair-Rear-00-to-03-Y26SE-Damper-Boge-/332357145174

Estates should be similar price. 

[Andy A]

Fit them and be grateful they are free... (I know TB will have a fit reading that, but why spend £ when you have a perfectly serviceable brand new set...)

Drop links ditto. (although why you didn't fit them all in one go...  lesson for next time.

If the wishbones were recently fitted, geometry should be limited to tracking

Rear shocks same across the engine range EXCEPT Elites have self levelling and estates are different to saloons.

Genuine OE replacements for saloon :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAUXHALL-OMEGA-B-2-6-2x-Shock-Absorbers-Pair-Rear-00-to-03-Y26SE-Damper-Boge-/332357145174

Estates should be similar price. 

So the Boge Al are, what was on the car when made?

[Doctor Gollum]

Sachs/Boge are the same firm. Those linked are genuine Sachs and are identical to the factory ones and include the correct fittings (unlike Bilstein)

HTH.

[Andy A]

Sachs/Boge are the same firm. Those linked are genuine Sachs and are identical to the factory ones and include the correct fittings (unlike Bilstein)

HTH.

Well appropriated Al. Thanks

[Andy A]

Al, any idea what the torque settings are for the bottom rear shock bolt and the front track rod ball joint nuts are?

Thanks

[Doctor Gollum]

Same as Haynes...

Track rods are 60nm and shocks 90nm from memory. Will double check later, but someone will doubtless be along with a definite answer 

[Andy A]

Same as Haynes...

Track rods are 60nm and shocks 90nm from memory. Will double check later, but someone will doubtless be along with a definite answer 

Good memory Al.  15nm for the pinch bolts if anyone needs to know. 

[Doctor Gollum]

 

[New POD]

Fit them and be grateful they are free... (I know TB will have a fit reading that, but why spend £ when you have a perfectly serviceable brand new set...)

Drop links ditto. (although why you didn't fit them all in one go...  lesson for next time.

If the wishbones were recently fitted, geometry should be limited to tracking

Rear shocks same across the engine range EXCEPT Elites have self levelling and estates are different to saloons.

Genuine OE replacements for saloon :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAUXHALL-OMEGA-B-2-6-2x-Shock-Absorbers-Pair-Rear-00-to-03-Y26SE-Damper-Boge-/332357145174

Estates should be similar price. 

Any links to decent but cheap shocks for the front of a 3.2 MV6 Doctor ?

[Doctor Gollum]

A bit of any oxymoron... 

The link for the rears should give you some direction.

[Andy A]

Al. I have another problem.

The MOT failed on 1 rear shock and the track rod end ball joint on both sides has excessive play.

Took the drivers side wheel off first and thought I'll have a pull around with the disc to see what the play would look like for a future visual. Couldn't find any play in the ball joint that has failed on that side. Not that I have ever seen one with worn before. So not quit sure how much moment it needs to have to fail the MOT.

What I did find with horizontal movement of the wheel hub was at least a 1/4 inch vertical movement of the idler arm. Is this enough to have failed the MOT?

I don't want to put the car back in for the part MOT after fixing the shocks and track rods and find they have picked on the Idler arm afterwards. Can they do that?

Thanks

[Doctor Gollum]

There are two ball joints on each track rod.

Personally I would replace both so clearly new, likewise the shocks and take it back. It should then pass as the two listed items will have obviously been replaced with new parts. 

[Enceladus]

That's right. Re-present the car to the MOT station that failed it within 10 days of the original test and they re-test, usually FOC. However they only test/inspect the items in the original failure list. Not the whole MOT or the advisories.

[BazaJT]

I suppose these days they can look it up on the computer but just to be on the safe side I've always taken the fail sheet back and left it in plain sight on the passenger seat and informed the garage that I've done so.That way they can see what it failed on and what has been repaired.