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[Weds]

My Omega over the last few months has got progressively worse steering in a straight line and tramling.. I have just changed the front wishbones, but i cant make up my mind if its the rear of the car thats the problem. The handling just feels a bit weird.

Do worn rear subframe bushes show any symptoms, and are problems with them easy to spot.

The track-rod ends appeared ok and I couldn't find any slack in the idler arm whilst I was changing the wishbones. But I now wish i did the drop links as they are noisy now..

[feeutfo]

General rule, and with any rule there is an exception but...

If the pull can be felt through the steering wheel its the front at fault.

If there is no sensation of the pull through the steering, its the back. Either donuts being main culpret, or the two dif blocks to chassis.

Whats tyre wear like?


It looks the same if watching the driver from the passenger from the drivers seat as all you see is steering corrections. Its all about the feel and feed back through the steering, or not.


Did you tighten the wishbone bolts wheels loaded btw?

[Kevin Wood]

Some tyres tramline as they are nearing the end of their life IME (say under about 3-4mm of tread). I tend to rotate them to the back end when that happens. Could easily be bushes, as said, or simply tyre pressure. Worth a play to see what suits the tyres best.

Do you know that the geometry of the suspension is OK? It would have needed setting up after new wishbones.

[Weds]

There doesn't appear to be any feeling of wandering through the steering wheel.

I have recently replaced the rear tyres but the front are getting quite low so I might try swapping them round.

Tyre pressures are 32psi all round.

Yes, I do need to get the geometry done. A trip to WIM will be booked soon.

Wishbone bolts were tightened with suspension compressed.

[feeutfo]

Sounds like rear donuts to me.

[Weds]

Sounds like rear donuts to me.

Can these be checked visually or it it just a case of changing them..

Anyone like a job changing them for me ?

[Michael2.6]

Donut bushes are not easy to change can be done without a special tool

but like i say not easy

[feeutfo]

Sounds like rear donuts to me.

Can these be checked visually or it it just a case of changing them..

Anyone like a job changing them for me ?

Only visual checks are from under the car, triangular plate under rear door, where the rear jack point is, looking from the direction of the dif there is a gap between tri plate and chassis where the bush sits. Poke a thumb in there and push the rubber nodules in, if they seaperate, bush fubar.

Bring it up if you like, i'll do them. See the guide for links to parts, febi or lemforder.

Or i'm currently looking into rear polys for mine, if anyone has a link for rear poly please post.
 But looking at kmac from regal(uk) ...?

[Mr Gav]

Or i'm currently looking into rear polys for mine, if anyone has a link for rear poly please post.
 But looking at kmac from regal(uk) ...?

I think Kmacs are the only option for polyurethane but worth fitting, I had a set on my Senator and was a big improvement over standard 
Last I heard they were around £120, we had a `group buy` of 25 sets and it still worked out at £112 each so I don`t think there are any ways to get them much cheaper.

[feeutfo]

Or i'm currently looking into rear polys for mine, if anyone has a link for rear poly please post.
 But looking at kmac from regal(uk) ...?

I think Kmacs are the only option for polyurethane but worth fitting, I had a set on my Senator and was a big improvement over standard 
Last I heard they were around £120, we had a `group buy` of 25 sets and it still worked out at £112 each so I don`t think there are any ways to get them much cheaper.

Yeah, was affraid of that.

[Mr Gav]

Or i'm currently looking into rear polys for mine, if anyone has a link for rear poly please post.
 But looking at kmac from regal(uk) ...?

I think Kmacs are the only option for polyurethane but worth fitting, I had a set on my Senator and was a big improvement over standard 
Last I heard they were around £120, we had a `group buy` of 25 sets and it still worked out at £112 each so I don`t think there are any ways to get them much cheaper.

Yeah, was affraid of that.

Cheapest way is if you knew someone going to Aus for a holiday and would be willing to bring some back in the suitcase, avoiding the import duty and VAT which IIRC was what bumps the price up considerably.

[feeutfo]

Sounds like rear donuts to me.

Can these be checked visually or it it just a case of changing them..

Anyone like a job changing them for me ?

Just doublechecked the guide and there is no lemforder link
http://www.allgermanparts.co.uk/ourshop/prod_910708-Rear-axle-mounting-bush-Lemforder-16063-01-90-447-156.html

[feeutfo]

Guide
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90654.0
And as you can see its been a long learning curve with this job. Guide needs an update for the latest methods, which involve a baring puller although its not essential, and jacking on the subframe so it cant move, or re aligning the bolts can be a real pest. No special tools required. Jack on subrame to hold sub frame still is key, then its just a case of levering/pulling/battering the old bush out, then forceing the new in with the right orientation, wiggle the bush centre spacer so it settles is the rubber pad nicely, then bolt it all back up again.
 Although some of the methods listed in the guide come in handy if things get awkward.
In case anybody is looking at doing the job.

All being well an hour aside as plenty, but it can easily turn into half a day if things go wrong. Which they sometimes do!

[Lazydocker]

Sounds like rear donuts to me.

Can these be checked visually or it it just a case of changing them..

Anyone like a job changing them for me ?

Only visual checks are from under the car, triangular plate under rear door, where the rear jack point is, looking from the direction of the dif there is a gap between tri plate and chassis where the bush sits. Poke a thumb in there and push the rubber nodules in, if they seaperate, bush fubar.

Bring it up if you like, i'll do them. See the guide for links to parts, febi or lemforder.

Or i'm currently looking into rear polys for mine, if anyone has a link for rear poly please post.
 But looking at kmac from regal(uk) ...?

If it makes any difference to price, I'll have a set for my Estate