Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: a2reed on 24 September 2012, 03:48:00

Title: OEM or not to OEM...That is the question???
Post by: a2reed on 24 September 2012, 03:48:00
Looks like my Front suspension mount(s) need changing ....

After some investigation I have got it down to them but there are various makes on the market... being part of the steering I am guessing that OEM would be best would it not..???I

I have seen KYB and QH on fleabay but am unsure of the quality ... can anyone advise if these are any good ... who was the OEM made by ?....and how much?...i s it worth the extra?
Title: Re: OEM or not to OEM...That is the question???
Post by: scottambrose on 24 September 2012, 08:34:47
i work at a large motor factors and all parts sold in the uk must meet or exceed oe specification and quality however some items just dont seem to be as good as oe. but some are better. in my experience, an anti roll bar d bush from oe compared to say a firstline one, is alot better feel and even looks better the quality of the rubber and the way its been cut all look better.
where as say a timing belt kit ie gates id have no worry fitting instead of oe. and infact i did on my mv6
Title: Re: OEM or not to OEM...That is the question???
Post by: TheBoy on 24 September 2012, 08:57:54
Not sure how expensive they are, if not too bad, I'd probably stick with GM.  If a good quality pattern is significantly cheaper, though....
Title: Re: OEM or not to OEM...That is the question???
Post by: Jimbob on 24 September 2012, 10:31:28
Hellishly expensive genuine, £100+ per side from memory!

I got Febi (I think) for a fraction of the price from my local factors.
plus they came complete with bearing, which was extra with genuine.
Title: Re: OEM or not to OEM...That is the question???
Post by: Jimbob on 24 September 2012, 10:34:12
edit : found it...

Did my second front suspension top mount.

Both done now.

1st was fubar, 2nd very tired.

So much smoother now.
VX prices are extortionate at about £100 a side, used febi from my local factor at £38 a side for mount and race :y  Very pleased with the results.
Title: Re: OEM or not to OEM...That is the question???
Post by: a2reed on 24 September 2012, 13:49:43
Indeed I am expecting the VX ones to be stupid money but does anyone know the OE Manufacturer ... were they lemforder etc?

Also I have seen these ...anyone know if either of the two makes are any good?

http://www.micksgarage.com/steering-suspension-parts/suspension-mounting-kit/vauxhall/omega/omega/1993-2004/2.5-v6/8117/
Title: Re: OEM or not to OEM...That is the question???
Post by: a2reed on 24 September 2012, 14:39:40
or are contitech any good?
Title: Re: OEM or not to OEM...That is the question???
Post by: feeutfo on 24 September 2012, 14:54:17
Ah, top shock mounts. Dunno. Interested though as my top mount barings are pitted. Although they don't seem to be causing any great issues. :-\

What symptoms are you having by the way? I've yet to see these fail so not sure of the problems they cause tbh.

All German parts might sell them too, as a lemforder dealer. Not sure on price though. Not pericularly cheap I suspect.
Title: Re: OEM or not to OEM...That is the question???
Post by: a2reed on 24 September 2012, 15:01:02
Creaking coming from that area ... changed everything else and checked steering box and idler ... new wishbones as welll.. it is either the mount and bearing gone or the spring is snapped at the top ..


BTW "buypartsby " now tell me the mount kit is made by KYB... any good?
Title: Re: OEM or not to OEM...That is the question???
Post by: Jimbob on 24 September 2012, 15:06:49
I have a vague memory of the kyb ones being a slightly smaller size and causing someone a lot of grief....
Title: Re: OEM or not to OEM...That is the question???
Post by: a2reed on 24 September 2012, 15:14:43
Mm ok ... now trying All German PArts .. he reckons Lemforder were the OEM parts for the top shock mounts

Has just given a price for the Lemforder mount plus bearing £39-68 plus the vodka and tonic ... so a beeter price than the copied parts!!


Title: Re: OEM or not to OEM...That is the question???
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 24 September 2012, 16:38:09
Would have thought that the OE would be Sachs Boge as they supplied the Strutts as complete assemblies.
Title: Re: OEM or not to OEM...That is the question???
Post by: 05omegav6 on 24 September 2012, 16:43:48
 Not sure how compatible they are, but Monkfish sell heavy duty ones for the Monaro for £23... :-\
Title: Re: OEM or not to OEM...That is the question???
Post by: feeutfo on 24 September 2012, 17:01:34
Creaking coming from that area ... changed everything else and checked steering box and idler ... new wishbones as welll.. it is either the mount and bearing gone or the spring is snapped at the top ..


BTW "buypartsby " now tell me the mount kit is made by KYB... any good?

Might be worth checking the steering box bolts and idler bracket bolts to chassis are tight...? Auto Addict had a creaking knock on his. Swore blind it was top mounts, but nope. It was loose box bolts to chassis.

An easy and free check, and springs should be easily spotted if broken, by jacking the car for access.
Title: Re: OEM or not to OEM...That is the question???
Post by: 05omegav6 on 24 September 2012, 17:12:34
Wasn't he chasing that creak around for months :-\
Title: Re: OEM or not to OEM...That is the question???
Post by: TheBoy on 24 September 2012, 18:24:17
Creaking coming from that area ...
//TB's ears prick up ::)
Title: Re: OEM or not to OEM...That is the question???
Post by: feeutfo on 24 September 2012, 19:02:56
Wasn't he chasing that creak around for months :-\
He was, he described it as a knock. Which was fare comment as it was a creak that only creaked once, if you know what i mean. :-\ ;D
Ie, a creak is a series of jumps of a part that sticks, his gave 1 2 or 3 knocks depending on how bad it was. 3 knocks is a creak IMO. ;D

If that makes any sense at all to anyone I'll be amazed. :-[ ;D

Let's just say his was a real heavy slow creak.  ...that knocked. ;D
Title: Re: OEM or not to OEM...That is the question???
Post by: feeutfo on 24 September 2012, 19:04:31
Creaking coming from that area ...
//TB's ears prick up ::)
haven't you tightened your box bolts yet then..?
Title: Re: OEM or not to OEM...That is the question???
Post by: TheBoy on 24 September 2012, 19:09:52
Creaking coming from that area ...
//TB's ears prick up ::)
haven't you tightened your box bolts yet then..?
The bolts won't shift. Couldn't reach to remove the heatsheild to check nuts.  *Think* noise is from passenger side, so probably need to check idler mounting.

However, mine is like a "dry" balljoint or topmount noise.
Title: Re: OEM or not to OEM...That is the question???
Post by: Kevin Wood on 24 September 2012, 19:17:40
The bolts won't shift. Couldn't reach to remove the heatsheild to check nuts.  *Think* noise is from passenger side, so probably need to check idler mounting.

However, mine is like a "dry" balljoint or topmount noise.

Saw an Omega about a week ago with the same noise. A squirt of plus gas on the idler arm bush confirmed that as the source.
Title: Re: OEM or not to OEM...That is the question???
Post by: a2reed on 25 September 2012, 02:31:44
Would have thought that the OE would be Sachs Boge as they supplied the Strutts as complete assemblies.

Not sure ... I know that the sachs aftermarket struts come minus springs and mounts so maybe that would explain a different mount manufacturer in that case ... . Are the springs were Sachs as well?...perhaps they put the whole strut together as an assembly or maybe they just built them using what is available with Lemforder mounts ... after all much of the suspension is Lemforder so wouldn't be surprised... I would be surprised if it was KYB or Firstline however!!!

TBH I don't know but I asked him to check more than once and he said they were definitely Lemforder

At under £50 per side still not a terrible deal although SAF had cheap ones for around £30 per side....either way I will let you know the quality when they arrive ... I would hope they would be resonable even if not the OEM....I will soon find out!
Title: Re: OEM or not to OEM...That is the question???
Post by: a2reed on 25 September 2012, 02:41:14
Just checked out what i think is the Sachs Boge site ( not entirely sure tbh) and it shows Sachs shocks, Boge springs and Lemforder susp mounts ...anyway will take some pics on the big day  and will find out soon ... is there a way to check the OEMs of everything .. anywhere ont tinterweb?

http://webcat.zf.com/index.asp?SPR=4