Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Tick Tock on 29 February 2016, 18:26:38

Title: GM lower ball joint (wishbone outer) obsolete?
Post by: Tick Tock on 29 February 2016, 18:26:38

I'm in the process of refurbishing the front suspension on my 2.5 V6 CDX, with replacement rear wishbone bushes (genuine GM bought off OOF member  :y) and new Powerflex polys on the front. Knowing the GM quality is consistent and reliable, I took a trip to the parts counter at Bayliss in Hereford to find out price and availability on lower ball joints. The computer says no, and it's an obsolete part said the man - no longer on the system..... but he did offer me the whole wishbone assembly!

Are these common-user parts really not available from GM now?

I guess there will come a time when most parts won't be stocked by the main dealer, especially for anything that was last produced over 12 years ago, so the bay of e, or motor factors offering after market parts will be the norm. Quality can be hit and miss, and it's no problem doing a track rod due to premature failure, but a lower ball joint is a different matter and a lot more work.

(http://www.emgauge70s.co.uk/omega_cdx206.jpg)

Options so far can range in price, so word of mouth sometimes helps.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KEYPARTS-KBJ5323-BALL-JOINT-LOWER-L-R-fit-GM-Vectra-95-on-Omega-94-on-/400803837878?hash=item5d51c537b6:g:5qgAAOSwibFUX6OW (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KEYPARTS-KBJ5323-BALL-JOINT-LOWER-L-R-fit-GM-Vectra-95-on-Omega-94-on-/400803837878?hash=item5d51c537b6:g:5qgAAOSwibFUX6OW)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BORG-BECK-BBJ5323-BALL-JOINT-LOWER-L-R-fit-GM-Vectra-95-on-Omega-94-on-/400803632768?hash=item5d51c21680:g:MtAAAOSwzOxUXzRS (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BORG-BECK-BBJ5323-BALL-JOINT-LOWER-L-R-fit-GM-Vectra-95-on-Omega-94-on-/400803632768?hash=item5d51c21680:g:MtAAAOSwzOxUXzRS)

Cheers




   

Title: Re: GM lower ball joint (wishbone outer) obsolete?
Post by: TheBoy on 29 February 2016, 19:59:00

AGP do Lemforder balljoints that seem OK on mine

Title: Re: GM lower ball joint (wishbone outer) obsolete?
Post by: 05omegav6 on 29 February 2016, 20:06:50

I replace mine with Delphi (yes I know) ones, about a tenner each and in stock at local factors.

Once you've drilled the rivets out, it's easy to treat it as a service item ;)

Title: Re: GM lower ball joint (wishbone outer) obsolete?
Post by: VXL V6 on 29 February 2016, 20:26:21

Borg and Beck are distributed by Firstline so highly likely to be as utterly rubbish as anything made by Frontline.

Title: Re: GM lower ball joint (wishbone outer) obsolete?
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 25 March 2016, 00:01:52

Double check, but I believe that Astra / Zafira are identical. Do some digging, the GM ones I bought as for 'Zafira' which, of course will be available for a while yet.

I know there's haters out there, but there's plenty of ex dealer stock comes up on auction sites etc.. and never been burned yet. Just read the ad carefully, and do your research  :)

Title: Re: GM lower ball joint (wishbone outer) obsolete?
Post by: 05omegav6 on 25 March 2016, 00:37:42

Don't overlook the US either... ;)