Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: daveball on 01 October 2012, 11:11:40
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My 1999 Omega Elite 3.0 Estate has got weeping rear shocks and they are the self levelling variety. I believe vauxhallparts are a shocking price and wanted to explore alternatives. I have been talking to Monroe Technical Help and they sell a levelling shock for 180 pounds a pair. They are pumped up manually by tyre pump or some such to level car for towing. He said that he had heard of people coupling these up to the auto levelling system of omegas, but didn't know how much modding was required. Has anyone knowledge of doing this and can anyone tell me a cheaper solution as I'm getting near the cost of repairs equalling value of car.
Regards Dave
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My 1999 Omega Elite 3.0 Estate has got weeping rear shocks and they are the self levelling variety. I believe vauxhallparts are a shocking price and wanted to explore alternatives. I have been talking to Monroe Technical Help and they sell a levelling shock for 180 pounds a pair. They are pumped up manually by tyre pump or some such to level car for towing. He said that he had heard of people coupling these up to the auto levelling system of omegas, but didn't know how much modding was required. Has anyone knowledge of doing this and can anyone tell me a cheaper solution as I'm getting near the cost of repairs equalling value of car.
Regards Dave
ask webby if he still got the ones i put on ralf :y
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Wasnt that a saloon Ralf ? :-\
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Wasnt that a saloon Ralf ? :-\
ok i forgot that sorry :y :y
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GM Estate rear shock absorbers on Trade Club are £78.44 + vat each so not that bad really. Do you know anyone local with a TC card.
Omega ('94-'03)
Shock Absorbers
Application Description Part No. Retail Trade Trade Club
3.0i 24v V6 - X30XE Saloon; Ident W2 72119084 £122.00 £103.74 £77.81
3.0i 24v V6 - X30XE Estate;
With Automatic Self Levelling Device; 72119085 £123.00 £104.59 £78.44
Ident W7
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GM Estate rear shock absorbers on Trade Club are £78.44 + vat each so not that bad really. Do you know anyone local with a TC card.
Try josh wyatt :y
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Hi
Thanks for replies. Don't know anything about Trade Club never used the forum to buy stuff. Are the prices you quote inc VAT and is it easy to get access to a card. i.e. is it a case of asking another forum member for a borrow.??
Regards Dave
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3 choices here
1/. Borrow a tradeclub card of a member on here if you have one close who can help.
2/. Join Autobahnstormers and give them 25 quid. They will then send you one which is vallied for a year.
3/ Send a pm to AndyC and see if he can sort you out :y (andy is a manager at Drive Vauxhall Bury)
All prices will be plus vat.
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Are you looking to fit them yourself ?
We have our very own Loo Knee in Kidsgrove :y
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Thought of self fitting, does't sound too difficult from write-ups, however I am always open to saving work, lying under cars and soft tissue injuries from use of old decrepit tools. Loo nee is in Kidsgrove you say, I presume he's a mechanic who is for hire, will follow this up.
Cheers
Dave
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Its a doddle to do, access panel is in the boot, take up the carpet and 4 screws. Useful if you have ratchet spanners, saves a whole load of time.
The lower bolts on Estates can be a bit sticky, this is usually solved with brute force :y
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Thought of self fitting, does't sound too difficult from write-ups, however I am always open to saving work, lying under cars and soft tissue injuries from use of old decrepit tools. Loo nee is in Kidsgrove you say, I presume he's a mechanic who is for hire, will follow this up.
Cheers
Dave
Yup, he is one of the mechanics on here :y
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=12562
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Darth Loo-knee is your man, I reckon. Top bloke, I'd highly recommend him :)
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I bought the monroe set for my 95 3 litre estate. Pretty much plugand play. Just different connectors on the air Lines. On one side i just cut the very end of the cars air line with a knife to make it fit the monroe shock. On the other side the omega air line was to short to reach the monroe shock. Just used about one meter of the airline from the monroe kit and modified the end with a lighter and a nail to connect it to the omega T piece over the rear axle. Works great and whole kit cost much less than one shock from Opel here in norway.
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Hi MonzaGSE
Thats good news as according to Monroe Technical Department I need their LA361 type shocks which come in at 180 GB pounds free delivery. Can you confirm the part number required. Also they say that the pressure range of their shocks is 20 to 110 psi, does the vauxhall system produce these pressures, and is the top pressure of the Vx system limited to the max pressure figure for the Monroe shocks. I need to try to get the real part first, but if that can't be done then Monroe sounds a good fallback
Thanks for information and to all other posters.
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Hi Monza
One question I didn't ask was Do the Monroe Shocks work and level the car. I need self levelling as I tow a caravan?
Dave
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Just to be clear, aftermarket shocks that need to be modified are £180 for a pair, and genuine ones which bolt straight on, no messing are £78+vat (£92) each, so £184 for a pair.
I don't think I've missed anything :-\
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Sorry cant find the part number. Only got a smartphone here and its not smart enough to run the Flash player required to Get to the Norwegian website where i bought Them. Can check it tomorrow when i Get to a computer. As for the pressure of the omega system i really dont know. But i see on a sticker from the monroe kit that they are marked 20-110 psi as you said. 180 pound is close to the retail price here to. Self levelling Works fine. Pump runs for a few seconds after i turn on the ignition as it should. Also tested Them by popping off the sensor arm when i had everything hooked up. The omega compressor lifted the shocks and back of the car fine. Also released the air and lowered it down normal. Have had the monroe set on the car a good year now and havent noticed any difference to standard self levelling shocks.
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Just to be clear, aftermarket shocks that need to be modified are £180 for a pair, and genuine ones which bolt straight on, no messing are £78+vat (£92) each, so £184 for a pair.
I don't think I've missed anything :-\
Prices obviously a lot different in uk than in norway. Got a good deal on the monroe set and paid 120 pounds. Two new shocks from Opel here costs around 400 pounds. Makes more sence then:)
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At an official price difference of €280, the Monroes do, as you say, make alot of sense :y
However, for the sake of £4, why would the OP not fit genuine :-\ That's what's puzzling me :y
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Hi
I can't definately yet get genuine ones for 184 pounds, I need TC card which I havn't yet managed to borrow. Price is a lot higher without it. Monroe price includes delivery also, does price quoted for real replacement include that. I also love a challenge. I would say if the Monroe shocks are as easy to fit as Monza says, then saving say 20 pounds would be reasonable for any extra hassle.
Dave
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:y
Go with YZ250 cos thats a brill deal........
I am sure any local oofer with a TC would be willing to go with you.
Just put an ask in the forum!!
I have sent you a PM with a solution.
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I don't have a TC card either :y and until they went bust, my local dealer always used to give mive at least 10% off everything :y ok I was buying parts for 4 Vauxhalls, but the Vectras are so boringly reliable, that most of it was heavily discounted oil and £2.50 oil filters, (which were actually 25% off :o), even obscure parts that had to come from Germany had 10% off.
The dealers aren't stupid, they would rather go out of their way to sell parts than turn business away...
If you're that desparate to save money, Now Vauxhall have got genuine estate rear shocks, albeit not self levelling, for £25 each :-\
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Hi MonzaGSE
Thats good news as according to Monroe Technical Department I need their LA361 type shocks which come in at 180 GB pounds free delivery. Can you confirm the part number required. Also they say that the pressure range of their shocks is 20 to 110 psi, does the vauxhall system produce these pressures, and is the top pressure of the Vx system limited to the max pressure figure for the Monroe shocks. I need to try to get the real part first, but if that can't be done then Monroe sounds a good fallback
Thanks for information and to all other posters.
Pressure in the bladders will depend on the load in the car, no?
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Hi MonzaGSE
Thats good news as according to Monroe Technical Department I need their LA361 type shocks which come in at 180 GB pounds free delivery. Can you confirm the part number required. Also they say that the pressure range of their shocks is 20 to 110 psi, does the vauxhall system produce these pressures, and is the top pressure of the Vx system limited to the max pressure figure for the Monroe shocks. I need to try to get the real part first, but if that can't be done then Monroe sounds a good fallback
Thanks for information and to all other posters.
A quick PM or phone call to AndyC would give you some idea of postage to you. He's a helpful chap and would confirm availability and price in one phone call. :y
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3 choices here
1/. Borrow a tradeclub card of a member on here if you have one close who can help.
2/. Join Autobahnstormers and give them 25 quid. They will then send you one which is vallied for a year.
3/ Send a pm to AndyC and see if he can sort you out :y (andy is a manager at Drive Vauxhall Bury)
All prices will be plus vat.
St Edmunds
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PM Received and replied
FYI Shocks are £94.13 each inc VAT and postage is £9.60 inc VAT
Andy
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If it's any help, i have towed a 1500kg caravan with my 2.6 CDX estate without any need for self levelling shocks, as long as it's loaded correctly then there shouldn't be a problem with standard shocks if you wanted to save some dosh :y
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Yep I reckon my self levelling doesn't work at the moment, and I'm still towing the van. I'm in dilema mode at the moment, I need to get some tyres, cam belt replacement coming up, and shocks need replacing. This is on a car that has a brilliant spec but is probably worth at the most 500 pounds. Her indoors is also getting involved and pushing for a newer motor, cos any faults at all cause tremendous anxiety. Afer owning the big Elite I am not easily pleased by anything else other than 320 diesel Merc estates and I really can't find the one I want. I don't want to plough too much dosh into the omega but I want to keep vanning throuh the Winter, whilst looking for my ideal motor. I can get all the jobs done on the moggy but I'd rather save as much as I can for the next motor. Hence my tight and indescisive attitude. I would like however to jack up the rear of the car to level the van, I believe if I put ordinary shocks on, then I will have to change the springs to get the height back. The Monroe shocks are maybe the answer, cos if the rest of the self levelling system isn't working, and needs a lot of fixing, then the Monroe shocks can be pumped up manually to get the level ride and will be set up per journey
Regards
Dave
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Thanks Andy
Dave
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Yep I reckon my self levelling doesn't work at the moment, and I'm still towing the van. .........................................
Monroe shocks are maybe the answer, cos if the rest of the self levelling system isn't working, and needs a lot of fixing, then the Monroe shocks can be pumped up manually to get the level ride and will be set up per journey
Regards
Dave
Have you tried the test procedure in the maintenance guides?
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90617.0
Might be worth checking before deciding. :y
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Have you tried the test procedure in the maintenance guides?
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90617.0
Might be worth checking before deciding. :y
If this procedure fails, then the Monroe Ride-levellers must be worthy of serious consideration.
I've got the LA361's fitted on our Estate, and am happy with 'em.
Have also inserted Grayston Coil-assisters into the rear coil springs, though experience dictates that the latter are not absolutely necessary.
Here's the result with the correctly-loaded caravan hitched-up:
(https://dl.dropbox.com/u/43954633/IMG_0540.JPG)
Hope this helps! ;)
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Hi
Nice outfit Seth. I normally check my tow ball weight, and I run it around 60-70 Kg which should be OK. The car definately sinks with this weight and doesn't recover. Similarly if I sit in the boot it doesn't recover. The compressor runs when ignition switched on after about 20 secs. I disconnected the sensor arm as suggested and pushed it upwards and the compressor runs OK and the car rises slowly, very slowly because air is leaking out of the shocks, you can can feel and hear it.The shocks definatey need replacing cos they leak fluid also, as I said at the beginning of the thread. What I don't understand is the compressor doesn't seem to kick in with only a small movement of the sensor arm, there seems to be a large amount of slack in the system or dead spots. Can any one tell me the operation method of the sensor, is it a variable resistive type and can I check it with an ohmeter, i.e. what sort of resistance values should I expect. Whats the normal total range of movement of the levelling system am I expecting too much? The car must drop about 75 mm with caravan coupled, measured at the towball. Is there any adjustment on the sensor, I haven't studied the part yet cos I need to get the car up in the air, so I don't know what the connections are like and whether obvious adjustment is present ?
Any advice please??
Dave
Dave
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Last thought, can anyone tell me the height measured from some body point that I can check for normal levelled car.
Dave
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IIRC .. the sensor is not continually active, it doesn't monitor/correct all the time you are driving , just for the first minute or so on switch on, Otherwise it would be on and off for every bump and dent in the road !!!
When my shocks were leaking a few years back, the system slowly settled whilst towing, and could be seen by the position of the caravan window in the rear view mirror, if it looked "wrong" then a quick on/off of the ignition at the next set of traffic lights and it went back to where it should be ... until the next time. On a motorway that would be a long time, on a rough country lane it could be just a few miles.... it obviously depended, in my case, just how much movement the 'van was forcing on the suspension. It didn't move at all solo.
New shocks and the problem was solved.
Heavy van (1670 kgs) all connected up with self levelling working as it should ...
(http://imageshack.us/a/img542/8256/img6547g.jpg)
HTH :)
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Two omega's ruined with them bits on,hope that mod dosnt catch on. ::)
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Two omega's ruined with them bits on,hope that mod dosnt catch on. ::)
If you're referring to the monroe shocks i really dont think you know what you're talking about. Have you tried Them? Only difference i can see is that the connection for the air lines seems more secure than the clipon system on the standard shocks. How that can ruin a car is beyond me.
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Two omega's ruined with them bits on,hope that mod dosnt catch on. ::)
If you're referring to the monroe shocks i really dont think you know what you're talking about. Have you tried Them? Only difference i can see is that the connection for the air lines seems more secure than the clipon system on the standard shocks. How that can ruin a car is beyond me.
I think you have just bitten ..... :) ( not much of a worm on that hook either ... :) :) :) )
The previous poster was referring to the caravan "mods" that Seth and I have .... also known as "Tin tents" or "Pikey wagons" .. of course certain admins wouldn't be seen dead in one .. until tea/biscuits and a warm environment to do some soldering in is required .. and yes ... we have the photo's ..... :)
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Haha. :) oops sorry about that. Must defend myself that english is not my first language. Obviously got that one all wrong. I havent done the caravan mod myself. However i have a 67 Opel blitz van for camping:)