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[Geoff-H]

I have a 2.2l petrol Omega estate on a 52 plate. A problem has developed over the last few weeks where I get steering wheel vibration/oscilation under moderate braking (It goes away if I brake harder). The tyres are fairly well worn; near to the wear limits. I have checked the disk run-out and it is 0.08mm on the nearside and almost zero on the offside (The disks were replaced about 8k miles ago). There is no discernable bearing wear on the nearside and a very small amount of play on the offside. Is one of these factors the likely cause? Is it a combination of all three? Or is there another factor that I have not considered? Hope someone can help. :-/

[Jimbob]

What  disks were used for the replacement?

an omega is a very heavy car and have been known (many times) to warp pattern disks in a relitavley short time.

[Geoff-H]

Thank you for your reply. I don't know what make the disks are (though they did come from a factor) but I have measured the run-out with a dial gauge and the offside shows nothing measurable whilst the nearside shows 0.08mm. This doesn't seem a lot but would it be enough to generate noticable steering oscilation?

[Andy B]

Thank you for your reply. I don't know what make the disks are (though they did come from a factor) but I have measured the run-out with a dial gauge and the offside shows nothing measurable whilst the nearside shows 0.08mm. This doesn't seem a lot but would it be enough to generate noticable steering oscilation?

I agree that 0.08mm/0.003" doesn't seem to be very much, but I think it could very well be your problem.
I went the pattern disc route with my 24v Senator (same discs) years ago, and had problems within 3/4000 miles, OE discs sorted it though.

[PxMetro]

I have a 2.2l petrol Omega estate on a 52 plate. A problem has developed over the last few weeks where I get steering wheel vibration/oscilation under moderate braking (It goes away if I brake harder). The tyres are fairly well worn; near to the wear limits. I have checked the disk run-out and it is 0.08mm on the nearside and almost zero on the offside (The disks were replaced about 8k miles ago). There is no discernable bearing wear on the nearside and a very small amount of play on the offside. Is one of these factors the likely cause? Is it a combination of all three? Or is there another factor that I have not considered? Hope someone can help. :-/

If the problem has "Developed" as you put it, then it has been "developing" over time indicating that something is not as serviceable as it once was (Obvious I know), but, it would suggest to me that either the disks are not running as true as they once did, or perhaps the bushes in the bottom wishbones have deteriorated to the point where they are no longer absorbing the vibration as they should.
Also; have you checked the steering idler bush for wear, as this too could be giving you a problem.

[Geoff-H]

Thank you for the replies. I am grateful for all the info offered and am not ruling anything out at the moment as I once spent a lot of time and money chasing down a problem on my previous Omega and I don't want to start replacing parts needlessly this time.

I will have a look at the wishbone bushes and see what state they are in. Not sure where to find the 'steering idler bush'?

Does anyone think that the slight play in the offside bearing or the worn tyres might be an issue?

[YZ250]

Thank you for your reply. I don't know what make the disks are (though they did come from a factor) but I have measured the run-out with a dial gauge and the offside shows nothing measurable whilst the nearside shows 0.08mm. This doesn't seem a lot but would it be enough to generate noticable steering oscilation?

I agree that 0.08mm/0.003" doesn't seem to be very much, but I think it could very well be your problem.
I went the pattern disc route with my 24v Senator (same discs) years ago, and had problems within 3/4000 miles, OE discs sorted it though.

I had exactly the same on my 2003 3.2 Elite. The run-out on mine was less than 0.05mm on a Dti guage. My car has under 50,000 miles on it and the symptons were the same but what was annoying was that it didn't always do it. It had sailed through MOT on wishbones and had four new Toyo Proxes T1R's fitted. I changed the discs and it cured it.
However, I got the disc's from a well known vauxhall spares outlet (Auto ?) and as the parts that I received are not OE after just 3500 miles the wobble is creeping back so Andy B could very well be correct in his solution.

[Andy B]

....
However, I got the disc's from a well known vauxhall spares outlet (Auto ?) and as the parts that I received are not OE after just 3500 miles the wobble is creeping back so Andy B could very well be correct in his solution.

Mine came from Brakes International. I took my discs back to him .... needless to say he wasn't interested. Another lost customer. 

[gstylebaby]

I put a set of black diamond drilled discs on mine and they warpped after a sort time took them back and got another set off them and they have lasted quit well but not sure i would pay the price tag again and i would never buy the pads again due to the butter fly part came off the second set and then they rattled about in the carrier.

[Geoff-H]

Thank you once again for all contributions. There seems a clear body of opinion that it is the disks that are the culprit. Nevertheless, I am also grateful for suggestions about other possible causes as I can eliminate these by inspection before committing to replacing the disks.

[alfie]

My mig has always had a brake judder problem,I,ve changed the disc,s but the problem still persisted,It was only when it failed the last mot on the steering idler,that it was solved after that was replaced.
Alfie.

[YZ250]

Thank you for the replies. I am grateful for all the info offered and am not ruling anything out at the moment as I once spent a lot of time and money chasing down a problem on my previous Omega and I don't want to start replacing parts needlessly this time.

I will have a look at the wishbone bushes and see what state they are in. Not sure where to find the 'steering idler bush'?
Does anyone think that the slight play in the offside bearing or the worn tyres might be an issue?

The Boy has done a guide to steering idler in the Maintenance Section, certainly worth a look.