Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: andrewrobuk on 31 August 2012, 18:32:38
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Hi All
Im hoping that someone will be able to help and shed some light on a problem Im having.
I have replaced a very tired looking original GM S/L rear shocks with some Monroe shocks that are also S/L. After fitting them and connecting air lines back up, it all seems fine until taking it for a drive. There is a knocking coming from the rear of the car, as well as the ride being very hard and bouncy.
I have had them back off and on again twice to have a look and check bolts etc but can not pin-point the problem. I have also tried testing the S/L sensor which when doing so the air bladders you can see on both sides are inflating and going solid, and afterwards releasing air which you can hear from the front of the car where the release valve is. The car does not rise though and it seems that the arm on the sensor needs to be all the way up or down for there to be any response from the air pump. Which makes me think it is possibly the air pump at fault???
However, the noise does seem to be coming from the top of the shocks as if they are fully extended and it is reaching its limit, as if they are 'topping out' as opposed to 'bottoming out' which defective ones would. Which then makes me think that are the springs still up to the job and could do with replacing???
If anyone has had any experience of this, or any suggestions, your help would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Andrew
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Are the Monroe`s MA825`s
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41J9B271R0L.jpg)
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Didn't think the Monroes were a direct replacement :-\ :-\
In fact, I thought the only source for S/L Shocks was Vx :-\ :-\
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Didn't think the Monroes were a direct replacement :-\ :-\
In fact, I thought the only source for S/L Shocks was Vx :-\ :-\
Only available in the States (allegedly) aftermarket part for the Catera
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http://www.ebay.com/sch/sis.html?_nkw=MONROE%20MA825%20Rear%20Shock%20Absorber%20&_itemId=170633905930
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Mine are black. I dont have the part numbers to hand. Will have a look for them and let you know
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Make sure you have the correct parts re estate saloon.
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Didn't think the Monroes were a direct replacement :-\ :-\
In fact, I thought the only source for S/L Shocks was Vx :-\ :-\
Only available in the States (allegedly) aftermarket part for the Catera
Catera is saloon only :y
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Aren't estate (station wagon?) shocks shorter?
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Yup :y
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:y Wouldn't it be nice if someone could give a definite answer to the Self Levelling shocker questions?
I am in the same quandry myself and am trying to make sense of the different 'correct' advice I am receiving.
Surely someone has the information, a set of pictures for both the saloon and estate versions, which clearly shows the SL shockers both on and off the vehicle, plus a set of the correct part numbers would not go amiss.
Due to the high cost of the items it makes any mistaken advice even worse if coins are tight.......... :D
To add to that; What sort of wanny would put a set of standard shockers on and spoil a perfectly good car? Could it be that they could not really afford to run it in the first place? >:(
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Bought a set with two monroe self levelling shocks, a gauge for air pressure and sone tubing. Was just a small fraction of the cost of a genuine Opel shock. Just went to my local parts supplier here in norway. Used a knife to adapt the cars air line and the shocks work great with the omega s/l system. Estate btw.
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Bought a set with two monroe self levelling shocks, a gauge for air pressure and sone tubing. Was just a small fraction of the cost of a genuine Opel shock. Just went to my local parts supplier here in norway. Used a knife to adapt the cars air line and the shocks work great with the omega s/l system. Estate btw.
Only problem I can see is that I live in rip off Britain where the outlets I have sought advice from seem only interested in selling even if it is the incorrect and totally unsuitable part.
Nice to know that you resolved yours though.
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Just bit the bullet and buy the vauxhall shocks
Then you no the jobs done right :y
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;)
Found a pair on Fleabay for £64 notes thanx to PeteElite so the job is now on its way to completion. Trade club costs are £93.37 each so its a fair bet the the VX normal retail costs are way way higher.
When the time comes to replace them though they will then be from VX. :y
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Mine are black. I dont have the part numbers to hand. Will have a look for them and let you know
Andrew, it will be interesting to see what these are . Did you import them or buy from UK?
I thought only replacements were genuine VX :-\ :-\ :-\
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:y Wouldn't it be nice if someone could give a definite answer to the Self Levelling shocker questions?
I am in the same quandry myself and am trying to make sense of the different 'correct' advice I am receiving.
Surely someone has the information, a set of pictures for both the saloon and estate versions, which clearly shows the SL shockers both on and off the vehicle, plus a set of the correct part numbers would not go amiss.
Due to the high cost of the items it makes any mistaken advice even worse if coins are tight.......... :D
To add to that; What sort of wanny would put a set of standard shockers on and spoil a perfectly good car? Could it be that they could not really afford to run it in the first place? >:(
Strange comment . . standard shocks work perfectly well . . car will just sit a bit low as per standard set up when heavily loaded.
A few omega owners have fitted standard shocks mainly as a cost cutting exercise I would say .
Can't see how it would "spoil a perfectly good car " though :-\ :-\ :-\
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If you fit standard rear shocks you will also need to replace the springs as the S/L rear sporings are way too soft for standard.
Car was designed for it to run on /L rear shocks and springs so would need total replacement or not at all.
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Be interesting to hear from Duggs on this one . :-\ :-\
Wonder if he changed his springs to standard when he fitted standard shocks?
Duggs . . you about ? ;D ;D ;D :-\
I'm probably wrong . . as I usually am :-[ . . I do better on guitar forums ;D ;D ;D ;D
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If you have a S/L set up on an Elite and the shocks give up you are faced with 2 options that I see:
1)..Replace the defective S/L shocks with genuine GM parts as that will restore car back to factory set up albeit springs are probably as tired.
2)..Replace both the shocks and springs with a set up of your choice and disable the air line pump achieving a firmer ride than stock Elite.
Probably on balance it would almost be a cheap to fit new S/L shocks as second hand suspension parts is a bit of a lottery as unknown what life it has had before and maybe only a short lived fix,but budget does have a lot to do with final decision .
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As Amba says really. Load carrying is the best use of self levelling, it works every well for that. Big loads or towing and it's a must tbh. Preserves the ride height and hence the camber to get the best out of the tyres.
But remove the load and it has very little use IME. The dampers can't cope and normal dampers give a far more independent feeling rear axle from left to right.
For sport or daily commute driving only. Self levelling is of little use, especially in conjunction with Elite suspension, which is soft and unresponsive by comparison.
Just to repeat what's said before. If fitting stock/non self levellng dampers to an Elite, the springs must be changed as well. Self levelling dampers are designed to work with SL springs as a unit. Although any springs will work with SL dampers, which can be a good, or at least a better compromise.