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[mikejaytee]

Hi all,

I want to check the front suspension camber settings on my 2.6 estate, 2001, as I have considerable wear on the insides of the front tyres. The tracking has been checked, and as I have fitted new tyres I just want to be sure that everything is correct. Looking from the front of the car there appears to be noticeable negative camber. Is this normal?....and is it adustable?

Any information much appreciated. I have read the thread on front suspension bushes and wishbones and this is very helpful. My car has done 60,000m and the bushes look fine. However, if anyone has experience of a similar tyre wear issue due to soft or worn bushes, I would be interest :)ed to know.

Many thanks all. The site is excellent, and has inspired my interest in the Omega....these cars offer massive value for money, and are actually superb vehicles.

Cheers,

Mike.

[ians]

Camber is adjustable and needs to be correct, or else you will get uneven tyre wear.

60k is about the lifespan for wishbone bushes - you can't tell by looking, need a lever against them to test for excessive movement.

Whereabouts are you?

[Seth]

It's adjusted by slackening the two (12mm I think), clamp bolts at the base of the struts. For pin-point accuracy, it needs to be done on a lazer-type aligner. Worth forking-out and getting it set correctly.

[mikejaytee]

Thanks for this..appreciated.

I'm in West Wales....

Are the bushes availbale from Vauxhall dealers, as I have one locally?...or from online parts suppliers?

I can do the work without any problem.....I just don't want to see another pair of front tyres go down the tubes.....especially as I have just fitted them myself!

Many thanks again,

Mike.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Thanks for this..appreciated.

I'm in West Wales....

Are the bushes availbale from Vauxhall dealers, as I have one locally?...or from online parts suppliers?

I can do the work without any problem.....I just don't want to see another pair of front tyres go down the tubes.....especially as I have just fitted them myself!

Many thanks again,

Mike.

Wishbone bushes are unlikely to be the route cause of excessive inner edge wear.

Camber needs setting to -1deg 10'.....it will probably be closer to -2deg due to ageing of the suspension components

[Olympia5776]

Not wishing to hijack this thread but I'm going to have the geometry checked again as I am getting some tramlining creeping in. For obvious reasons I cannot go to WIM but a local tyre dealer has started doing geometry and I know the operator who is diligent and understanding.
 Does anyone have a print out after WIM set their car up so I can show him what to aim for ?
The suspension on my car has been refurbished by myself over the last 1500 miles with new wishbones , struts,and droplinks. The tram lining appeared when I went from 225-55-16's to 235-45-17's .
I've also fitted adjustable camber bolts on the front.
Don

[Kaycee]

Did you use the Camskill adjusting bolts i bought some 14 mm camskills and they wont fit

[ians]

Don,
I don't want to be a bore but the WIM setup is their intellectual property.  Sharing that would be the same as distributing ripped off software.

Best to ask WIM directly. Given your location they may well be happy to send it to you direct.
Good luck

[Olympia5776]

Did you use the Camskill adjusting bolts i bought some 14 mm camskills and they wont fit

Nope , these

http://www.lmfvauxhall.co.uk/store/product.php?productid=16680&cat=0&page=1

[Marks DTM Calib]

I struggle to understand how they can work on a strutt with a slotted hole.

[Olympia5776]

Don,
I don't want to be a bore but the WIM setup is their intellectual property.  Sharing that would be the same as distributing ripped off software.

Best to ask WIM directly. Given your location they may well be happy to send it to you direct.
Good luck

Nope  ,thats a fair comment and I have already contacted WIM direct .
Cheers  

[Chris_H]

I struggle to understand how they can work on a strutt with a slotted hole.

I guess you might need to put them in the non-slotted hole and hope the slotted one doesn't walk when adjusting!

[Marks DTM Calib]

I struggle to understand how they can work on a strutt with a slotted hole.

I guess you might need to put them in the non-slotted hole and hope the slotted one doesn't walk when adjusting!

Lol, little chance of that as the slottd one is the top and would need slackening to.

I suspect the best hope is that the weight of the car forces the slot against one side of the adjuster.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Ow yes, the installation guide is a laugh.

Setting the initial camber without any weight etc on the wheel......excessive use of the air impact wrench.....no re-settling of teh cars suspension after its lowered before adjusting.....

[lpgelite]

Thanks for this..appreciated.

I'm in West Wales....

Are the bushes availbale from Vauxhall dealers, as I have one locally?...or from online parts suppliers?

I can do the work without any problem.....I just don't want to see another pair of front tyres go down the tubes.....especially as I have just fitted them myself!

Many thanks again,

Mike.

Wishbone bushes are unlikely to be the route cause of excessive inner edge wear.

Camber needs setting to -1deg 10'.....it will probably be closer to -2deg due to ageing of the suspension components

IMHO and IME worn wishbone pivot bushes are the main cause of excessive tyre wear due to allowing excessive toe out when braking. The design of the pivot bush in particular leaves much to be desired.

I fitted Meyle heavy duty BMW E34 (upper control arm) bushes to my wishbones about five months ago.

These fit as a direct replacement for the standard Boge pivot bushes and offer a massive improvement in feel and stability.

They must be fitted with the plastic insert facing horizontally inboard (towards the middle of the car) to control deflection under braking.

The superior design of these bushes prevents toe out when braking and has eliminated inside edge wear on my '99 Elite.

Check also the steering idler bush for wear by trying to move it up and down. More than a trace of vertical movement will contribute towards vague steering and inside edge wear again by allowing toe out when braking.

The habit of turning the steering wheel with the car stationary will wreck the idler bush in no time.

A quality replacement arm will cost about £30.

Camber angle on later Omegas (C models) is specified at -1 deg using all the same suspension parts as earlier models. I now use this setting on my '99 model.

Attention should also be given to correct rear wheel alignment, which can cause weird steering if incorrect.