Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: tango on 04 May 2020, 19:04:44

Title: Rear shockers for elite
Post by: tango on 04 May 2020, 19:04:44
Hi all
Omega 2.6 elite 2003
Rear shockers have leaked out on both sides,
What the cheapest alternative as haven’t got the money to throw on this for now.
I’ve had a look at the old ones and they do have a wire going into them just under the arch
Thanks in advance
Or has anyone got a used pair they might be selling
Title: Re: Rear shockers for elite
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 04 May 2020, 19:11:33
Three choices...

1.Beg, steal or borrow new from VX,

2. Buy a pair of S/H and hope... ;D

3. Buy a pair of HD springs, Kilen or similar and a pair of standard Sachs shocks. Should cost you around £100.

Springs and shocks are different Saloon/Estate but engine size irrelevant for rears :y
Title: Re: Rear shockers for elite
Post by: tango on 04 May 2020, 19:57:16
So what exactly is the function of the wire on the shocks
And if I replace with standard will it affect anything

And do I have to change the springs ???
Title: Re: Rear shockers for elite
Post by: johnnydog on 04 May 2020, 20:02:31
Saloon self levelling shockers 72119084 are no longer available through VX and have been for sometime now. Estates 72119085 are still available but will not fit the saloon (if you were tempted to buy some to try). The pipe you refer to is the airline from the compressor under the fos wheel arch to raise or lower the suspension as required.
If you are going back to standard shocks, then you should change the rear springs - self levelling springs are softer than standard as the shockers do a fair amount of the work in maintaining a level ride height irrespective of the load on the rear, whereas this is mainly down to the springs with a standard set up.
Title: Re: Rear shockers for elite
Post by: BazaJT on 04 May 2020, 20:09:24
Yes if you change to "ordinary"dampers you have to change the springs too as the self levelling springs are too soft for the non-self levelling dampers to cope with.
Title: Re: Rear shockers for elite
Post by: tango on 04 May 2020, 20:09:31
I don’t think my car has self levelling
There is no pipe connected to the shock that would carry compressed air 
(Unless I missed it lol I’ll have another lol )
All I could see was a wire very flimsy type I’ll try to take a pic tomorrow
Title: Re: Rear shockers for elite
Post by: tango on 04 May 2020, 20:10:50
Yes if you change to "ordinary"dampers you have to change the springs too as the self levelling springs are too soft for the non-self levelling dampers to cope with.
That’s makes sense thanks
Title: Re: Rear shockers for elite
Post by: tango on 04 May 2020, 20:12:07
Saloon self levelling shockers 72119084 are no longer available through VX and have been for sometime now. Estates 72119085 are still available but will not fit the saloon (if you were tempted to buy some to try). The pipe you refer to is the airline from the compressor under the fos wheel arch to raise or lower the suspension as required.
If you are going back to standard shocks, then you should change the rear springs - self levelling springs are softer than standard as the shockers do a fair amount of the work in maintaining a level ride height irrespective of the load on the rear, whereas this is mainly down to the springs with a standard set up.
with the car on axle stands I don’t want to experiment lol plus don’t have the money for the originals ,just need to get it back on the road
Title: Re: Rear shockers for elite
Post by: johnnydog on 04 May 2020, 20:13:38
The wire is only very thin, probably about 2mm thick. The cone shaped connector on the shocker near the top of the body has a thin spring clip on it with two tails to squeeze together to release it. Should be easily identifiable from that.
Title: Re: Rear shockers for elite
Post by: BazaJT on 04 May 2020, 20:23:30
I thought all Elites came with self levelling as standard? Unless of course a previous owner has swapped them out for some reason?
Title: Re: Rear shockers for elite
Post by: YZ250 on 04 May 2020, 20:47:34
Did we establish saloon or estate?  :-\
To give you some idea, a pair of self levelling shocks for my elite estate cost me £309 in November 2018. Had to be ordered from Germany via Vauxhall dealership.  :y  No idea if still available.  :-\
Title: Re: Rear shockers for elite
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 04 May 2020, 20:50:38
Elites  do have s/l as standard. I suspect the op is mistaking a thin air pipe for a  wire. I had to replace my self levellers recently and got a pair of Sachs dampers for just under £70 delivered from JD motorsport on ebay.
I had already previously changed the springs for standard (non s/l) spec springs, so didn't need to bother with that.
When changing to non s/l dampers remember to unplug either the level sensor on the o/s/r of the car or the compressor at the o/s/f wheelarch, to disable the s/l system. Other wise the compressor will run permanently when the ignition is on.
Title: Re: Rear shockers for elite
Post by: tango on 04 May 2020, 21:17:05
The wire is only very thin, probably about 2mm thick. The cone shaped connector on the shocker near the top of the body has a thin spring clip on it with two tails to squeeze together to release it. Should be easily identifiable from that.
Yes that’s right
So what’s the function of this wire ???
Title: Re: Rear shockers for elite
Post by: tango on 04 May 2020, 21:20:09
Elites  do have s/l as standard. I suspect the op is mistaking a thin air pipe for a  wire. I had to replace my self levellers recently and got a pair of Sachs dampers for just under £70 delivered from JD motorsport on ebay.
I had already previously changed the springs for standard (non s/l) spec springs, so didn't need to bother with that.
When changing to non s/l dampers remember to unplug either the level sensor on the o/s/r of the car or the compressor at the o/s/f wheelarch, to disable the s/l system. Other wise the compressor will run permanently when the ignition is on.
Could be possible a previous owner has changed them to standard already
There is another sensor near the diff wich looks similar to the one you get near the front
I suspect this is to determine height
Title: Re: Rear shockers for elite
Post by: LC0112G on 04 May 2020, 21:20:23
The wire is only very thin, probably about 2mm thick. The cone shaped connector on the shocker near the top of the body has a thin spring clip on it with two tails to squeeze together to release it. Should be easily identifiable from that.
Yes that’s right
So what’s the function of this wire ???

It's not a wire - it's a pipe. There is a compressor under the front bumper, and the pipe then runs all the way to the back of the car, where it 'pumps up' the shock absorber to maintain the correct ride level regardless of how much weight you put in the back seats & boot.
Title: Re: Rear shockers for elite
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 04 May 2020, 21:29:33
I don’t think my car has self levelling
There is no pipe connected to the shock that would carry compressed air 
(Unless I missed it lol I’ll have another lol )
All I could see was a wire very flimsy type I’ll try to take a pic tomorrow
The 'wire' is an airline to the shocks, it's how the self levelling works  ;)

Elite springs are a softer rating than the non self levelling. Only change the shocks and you'll soon be thinking that you've broken something because it will drive like a squidgy sponge.
Title: Re: Rear shockers for elite
Post by: Entwood on 04 May 2020, 22:37:51
Before you disconnect what you deem a "wire" ..as said, its an airline held in with a spring clip... MAKE SURE THE BODY OF THE CAR IS SUPPORTED .. if you have raised the car on ramps without supporting the BODY you are in danger of serious injury .... if there is ANY air left in the boots, as you disconnect that "pipe" the air will escape and the whole body WILL drop .. and quickly .. if an arm, or even worse, a chest is underneath it will be pinned ....

BE BLOODY CAREFUL
Title: Re: Rear shockers for elite
Post by: tango on 04 May 2020, 23:16:25
Thanks for the advice 👍
I’ll put up a pic tomorrow
Title: Re: Rear shockers for elite
Post by: tango on 05 May 2020, 19:48:19
Yes you were right guys that thin pipe is for the air
 I seriously would never had thought it would carry compressed air
Anyway got some new standard shocks kyb £75 for the pair and put lowering springs wich I had sitting in the shed it’s dropped the car by about 30mm so looking nice
Thankyou all for your help 👍
Title: Re: Rear shockers for elite
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 05 May 2020, 20:00:10
Job jobbed then ;)
Title: Re: Rear shockers for elite
Post by: Andy B on 05 May 2020, 20:46:41
Yes you were right guys that thin pipe is for the air  .....

we know  ;) ;)
Title: Re: Rear shockers for elite
Post by: LC0112G on 05 May 2020, 21:33:52
Yes you were right guys that thin pipe is for the air
 I seriously would never had thought it would carry compressed air
Anyway got some new standard shocks kyb £75 for the pair and put lowering springs wich I had sitting in the shed it’s dropped the car by about 30mm so looking nice
Thankyou all for your help 👍

Unplug the compressor (under the OSF front bumper) or the level sensor (on the OSR trailing arm). Otherwise the compressor will be running all the time and you'll bu99er it.
Title: Re: Rear shockers for elite
Post by: tango on 05 May 2020, 21:37:29
Yes you were right guys that thin pipe is for the air  .....

we know  ;) ;)
thats why always consult the professionals on here 👍
Title: Re: Rear shockers for elite
Post by: tango on 05 May 2020, 21:38:34
Yes you were right guys that thin pipe is for the air
 I seriously would never had thought it would carry compressed air
Anyway got some new standard shocks kyb £75 for the pair and put lowering springs wich I had sitting in the shed it’s dropped the car by about 30mm so looking nice
Thankyou all for your help 👍

Unplug the compressor (under the OSF front bumper) or the level sensor (on the OSR trailing arm). Otherwise the compressor will be running all the time and you'll bu99er it.
👍
Title: Re: Rear shockers for elite
Post by: LC0112G on 05 May 2020, 22:21:52
Or easier still....Pull the relay out from the fuse box. That way both the external electrical plugs (compressor and level sensor) remain sealed and safe from water/salt/rust ingress.

Dunno why I didn't think of that first - Rioja overdose probably.