Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: jonny2112 on 18 July 2012, 20:18:08

Title: MOT fail
Post by: jonny2112 on 18 July 2012, 20:18:08
Well, as suggested elsewhere, it failed. Only three problems - worse that I'd hoped, but better than expected  ;)

Headlamp washers not working - hoping it's only blocked pipes or something simple;
Broken rear spring - already discussed in another OOFers thread, so should be able to sort that?
Rear brake imbalance - not sure what to make of this, or how to resolve it.

Suggestions welcome .................  :y
Title: Re: MOT fail
Post by: b4ndit on 18 July 2012, 20:27:19
Rear brake imbalance not a fail only an advise :y
Title: Re: MOT fail
Post by: Entwood on 18 July 2012, 20:36:19
Rear brake imbalance .. probably a sticking piston or a sticking pad. 

Strip down and clean the caliper, especialy the sliding bolt areas.

Exercise the pistons CAREFULLY .. you do NOT want one popping out !! and ensure they move easily and the shiny bits (fescalised portions) are clean.. if rusty a VERY light rub with fine emery may help .. but once the rust eats through the fescalised surface it never gets better.

A good clean and reassemble will usually sort things out, or you'll see something obvious like a hihgly rusty disc or badly worn pads.

HTH  :)
Title: Re: MOT fail
Post by: jonny2112 on 18 July 2012, 21:12:43
Rear brake imbalance not a fail only an advise :y

Unfortunately no advisories over here mate  :'(
It's all or nothing  :-X

Thanks Entwood, I'll give that a go  :y
Title: Re: MOT fail
Post by: TheBoy on 18 July 2012, 21:15:19
No sliders on rear, Entwood ;)

OP - follow Entwoods suggestions, esp pistons. If handbrake imbalance, clean up that mech as well
Title: Re: MOT fail
Post by: jonny2112 on 18 July 2012, 21:23:47
It actually says

'Brake system - Foot brake left/right differential high - Rear'

Title: Re: MOT fail
Post by: TheBoy on 18 July 2012, 21:35:08
It actually says

'Brake system - Foot brake left/right differential high - Rear'
Main brakes then :)
Title: Re: MOT fail
Post by: Andy B on 18 July 2012, 21:45:45
.... and the shiny bits (fescalised portions)  ......

We're only simple folk here Nige ............ please use plain English. Do you mean the pistons have a chrome finish & if rust is already showing then it's too late?   ::) ::)
Title: Re: MOT fail
Post by: jonny2112 on 18 July 2012, 21:56:29
.... and the shiny bits (fescalised portions)  ......

We're only simple folk here Nige ............ please use plain English. Do you mean the pistons have a chrome finish & if rust is already showing then it's too late?   ::) ::)

 ;D ;D :D

Any more thoughts on the washers? I'll need to check connections I suppose in the first instance, and for blocked pipes?
Title: Re: MOT fail
Post by: Entwood on 18 July 2012, 21:59:47
.... and the shiny bits (fescalised portions)  ......

We're only simple folk here Nige ............ please use plain English. Do you mean the pistons have a chrome finish & if rust is already showing then it's too late?   ::) ::)

and I thought you were an engineer ... bloody fishheads ....    ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

The fescalising treatment puts a much thicker, more constant, and therefore stonger coating on a component than standard chrome plating.
Title: Re: MOT fail
Post by: Andy H on 18 July 2012, 22:13:49
Rear brake imbalance .. probably a sticking piston or a sticking pad. 

Strip down and clean the caliper, especialy the sliding bolt areas.

Exercise the pistons CAREFULLY .. you do NOT want one popping out !! and ensure they move easily and the shiny bits (fescalised portions) are clean.. if rusty a VERY light rub with fine emery may help .. but once the rust eats through the fescalised surface it never gets better.

A good clean and reassemble will usually sort things out, or you'll see something obvious like a hihgly rusty disc or badly worn pads.

HTH  :)
Rear caliper pistons are protected by rubber gaiters on the Omega. It is actually a very good design (unlike the handbrake  ::)). You will not be able to see the shiny surface of the pistons (unless the gaiter is shot).

The rear calipers will normally outlast the rest of the car. If you do have a faulty one you should be able to get a good second hand one from one of the OOF breakers  :y

When I had similar symptoms on my last Omega it turned out to be rust on the edge of the brake pads preventing the pads moving. There was nothing wrong with the pistons :)
Title: Re: MOT fail
Post by: jonny2112 on 18 July 2012, 22:15:38
Cheers Andy  :y