Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: YZ250 on 08 December 2013, 22:28:32

Title: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: YZ250 on 08 December 2013, 22:28:32
I've searched for an answer on here but have come to no conclusion. Sorry if I've missed it.

I've read that GM rear coil springs are mega expensive so does anybody know of a decent alternative. I want to keep the self levelling for towing the van.
I thought I had found an answer with KYB but then several people slated them for going rusty quick.
Would like to go with Boge or Sachs if possible. Car is a 52 plate 3.2 Elite estate.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: kevinp58 on 08 December 2013, 22:30:12
Boge are good but not sure about for SL suspension
Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: chrisgixer on 08 December 2013, 22:39:48
Was going to say Kyb, but they don't list sl for the estate. But some have had rust issues with them anyway. :-\

Gm most reliable afaik. They should be on tc.
Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: 05omegav6 on 08 December 2013, 22:42:34
Plod springs if you want to keep costs down with good s/h...

260k hard miles, minimal rusting and, touch wood, no breakages :y
Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: chrisgixer on 08 December 2013, 22:44:09
To add, Any springs sill work with SL shocks. They don't have to be sl springs. But the ride will be firmer.
Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: 05omegav6 on 08 December 2013, 22:47:17
To add, Any springs sill work with SL shocks. They don't have to be sl springs. But the ride will be firmer.
And that's a bad thing because... ::)
Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: chrisgixer on 08 December 2013, 22:50:10
To add, Any springs sill work with SL shocks. They don't have to be sl springs. But the ride will be firmer.
And that's a bad thing because... ::)
Depends if Al likes the ride in the Elite. If towing at steady speed I'd rather have the comfort. ...if ;D
Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: YZ250 on 08 December 2013, 22:54:04
I've seen some of the posts regarding the prices for GM rear coils.  :o :o

I'm just replacing all the front suspension now so wanted to keep it sensible.  :y

Plod springs if you want to keep costs down with good s/h...

260k hard miles, minimal rusting and, touch wood, no breakages :y

Anyone got any. It's urgent as MOT is imminent.

To add, Any springs sill work with SL shocks. They don't have to be sl springs. But the ride will be firmer.

Any downside to sticking standard one's on then.  :-\ Could I stick Sachs on from ECP. It says 'for vehicles without ride height adjustment'.  :-\
Incidentally, my TC front shocks have GM/ Sachs written on them.  :-\

Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: chrisgixer on 08 December 2013, 23:00:18
Only that Elite suspension is very soft. A lot of body roll when cracking on.

But on the other hand, they are brilliant cruising on a trip. Not towed with one so not sure how a pikey place would affect the handling or if towing would be improved with firmer/rear springs suspension.

Non sl springs are cheaper I believe. Boge standard springs will be fine. But will be firmer ride than sl springs. A question of taste really. :)
Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: YZ250 on 08 December 2013, 23:14:34
So apart from being a bit firmer they'll be ok, yeh. I can live with that.  :y They won't fall out when I take our local hump back bridge at a ton then.  :-X
Standard it is then.

To add, Any springs sill work with SL shocks. They don't have to be sl springs. But the ride will be firmer.
And that's a bad thing because... ::)

 ;D

My other car is an 'M' Sport. They forgot to put any springs on that.  ;) ;) ;D

Cheers guys.  :y
Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: chrisgixer on 08 December 2013, 23:16:52
Standard non sl less likely to break too.
Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: YZ250 on 08 December 2013, 23:23:36
Standard non sl less likely to break too.

Are you psychic.  :-\ I'm replacing the fronts and spotted a broken rear.  :'( Just got around to pressing my GM rear bushes in the wishbones on my home made press. Fair play to you guys when you say "changed this and changed that" like its a five minute job.  :y I'm getting too old for this crawling under cars malarkey.  :y

Just a thought, does Lazy Docker want me to try any height tests when I'm ripping it apart.  :-\
Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: chrisgixer on 08 December 2013, 23:58:44
Can't hurt to measure up. Especially how high the sl tops out. :)
Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: terry paget on 09 December 2013, 07:47:54
Plod springs if you want to keep costs down with good s/h...

260k hard miles, minimal rusting and, touch wood, no breakages :y
I would not guarantee explod springs! In December 2008 I was driving OE03EWW my 2003 explod 3.2 saloon, admittedly with 4 lead pigs (I am a printer) in the boot as ballast for grip on the ice and snow; I pulled out of a garage after refuelling, heard two bangs from the back of the car as both rear springs broke.
Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: 05omegav6 on 09 December 2013, 10:04:37
No much of a surprise given the extra load and temperature combination... can only relay my direct experience :y
Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: TheBoy on 09 December 2013, 16:48:31
I put Boge SL springs on the rear of my Elite when the OE springs snapped. Very similar to the OE ones, and far, far, far better quality than KYB, which to be frank, are shite.

Obviously, all replaced with something that goes around corners now...
Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: YZ250 on 09 December 2013, 19:04:12
I put Boge SL springs on the rear of my Elite when the OE springs snapped. Very similar to the OE ones, and far, far, far better quality than KYB, which to be frank, are shite.

Obviously, all replaced with something that goes around corners now...

What, you've bought a bimmer.  :o :o :o :o ;) ;)

Got Sachs in the end. The shocks were all GM/Sachs and they were original. In the end I just gave my reg number, paid the money and picked up the coil springs.  ;D
Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: TheBoy on 09 December 2013, 21:26:18
I put Boge SL springs on the rear of my Elite when the OE springs snapped. Very similar to the OE ones, and far, far, far better quality than KYB, which to be frank, are shite.

Obviously, all replaced with something that goes around corners now...

What, you've bought a bimmer.  :o :o :o :o ;) ;)

Got Sachs in the end. The shocks were all GM/Sachs and they were original. In the end I just gave my reg number, paid the money and picked up the coil springs.  ;D
No, but I did test drive an Audi yesterday, with a potential view to buying one.

Fortunatately, common sense kicked me in the face, and I came to my senses.
Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: TheBoy on 09 December 2013, 21:27:14
Where did you get your springs from, YZ?
Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: YZ250 on 09 December 2013, 21:45:28
Where did you get your springs from, YZ?

EPC in Aylesbury. I went there as they could get them to Aylesbury in two hours and I was desperate for MOT. I haven't even looked at the code on the box to see if they are standard or self levelling. I told the guy on the phone that I wasn't bothered whether they were standard or self levelling so he just used the reg number to search. I was hoping they were the cheaper standard Sachs but oh no, they still cost a fair bit.

I'm off to see what I've been sold now. I'll edit in a minute.  :y

Edit:

Box label says Sachs Omega Estate/Carlton Estate HD.  :-\
Guess they are standard as code is 24339749. Just googled it and no mention of suitable for self levelling.

What's actually in the box is anybody's guess.  ;D ;D
Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: YZ250 on 09 December 2013, 22:06:32
 
Where did you get your springs from, YZ?

EPC in Aylesbury. 

.......or even ECP.  ;D ;D
Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: Grrrrrr on 19 December 2013, 20:04:33
EPC = Euro Car Parts?
Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: Grrrrrr on 19 December 2013, 20:04:59
Damn! Got me doing it now. ECP!  ::)
Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: 05omegav6 on 19 December 2013, 20:06:02
EPC = Euro Car Parts?
;D
That's them :y
Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: albitz on 19 December 2013, 20:29:06
EPC = Euro Car Parts? Euro crap prats

Fixed.  :y  ;D
Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: adey2 on 24 December 2013, 17:08:09
if you need a decent 2nd hand pair of self level springs i have a pair in garage off a estate, i put a set of plod ones on mine as with full tank of fuel and lpg tank full dogs in boot with tool boxes, missis and kids on board i was forever scraping my towbar on speed humps around here as too soft for my needs, the self leveling shocks were left in place and still work fine
Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: YZ250 on 24 December 2013, 19:18:58
if you need a decent 2nd hand pair of self level springs i have a pair in garage off a estate, i put a set of plod ones on mine as with full tank of fuel and lpg tank full dogs in boot with tool boxes, missis and kids on board i was forever scraping my towbar on speed humps around here as too soft for my needs, the self leveling shocks were left in place and still work fine

Thanks for the kind offer but I've replaced them with new Sachs standard springs as they were needed urgent for the MOT.

Cheers anyway.  :y
Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: tunnie on 24 December 2013, 19:53:18
Found ECPs to be very good so far, be good to see how you get on  :y
Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: 05omegav6 on 24 December 2013, 21:32:02
Not sure on the length or if the Omega self levelling pump is man enough, but found some sensibly priced air springs for a Chevrolet Silverado... Will dig out a link when I get home :y
Title: Re: What's the alternative to GM for rear coil springs for self levelling
Post by: 05omegav6 on 25 December 2013, 10:49:35
Not sure on the length or if the Omega self levelling pump is man enough, but found some sensibly priced air springs for a Chevrolet Silverado... Will dig out a link when I get home :y
Theses...

 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-GM-25815604-Rear-Suspension-Air-Spring-Trailblazer-Envoy-Bravada-/200976554360?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item2ecb22d978  (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-GM-25815604-Rear-Suspension-Air-Spring-Trailblazer-Envoy-Bravada-/200976554360?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item2ecb22d978) :-\