Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: unlucky alf on 23 September 2010, 19:24:56

Title: what a cr*p setup.
Post by: unlucky alf on 23 September 2010, 19:24:56
After giving my old bus a quick brake inspection i done my usual & checked the front wheel bearings for play, all was fine up & down but found play side to side, so having determined that it appeared to be a track rod end i bought a replacement, today i set about changing it only to find it is stuck solid & wont unscrew despite of a generous soaking >:(, what a stupid design that clamp collar & split in the tube bit is, ive now odered a complete unit as the original started to bend with the welly i gave it, is this just the "unlucky alf" syndrome rearing its ugly head again or is this the norm for doing these?. :-/
Title: Re: what a cr*p setup.
Post by: Mysteryman on 23 September 2010, 19:28:49
Cheer up alf, there are SOME simple jobs on the omega. Putting air in the tyres is a doddle. :y
Title: Re: what a cr*p setup.
Post by: Entwood on 23 September 2010, 19:30:21
Mark DTM has the way with those .... the mantra "heat always wins" was heard several times at Newent as mine were "cooked" over a camping stove. .....   :)

But he was right ... lots of heat, lots of plus gas, and lots of wriggling and they worked free.

On reassembly oodles of grease... inside, outside .. anyside .. is apparently the answer .. :)
Title: Re: what a cr*p setup.
Post by: PhilRich on 23 September 2010, 19:32:09
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Cheer up alf, there are SOME simple jobs on the omega. Putting air in the tyres is a doddle. :y
[/highlight]



No it bloody isn't! I did my back in just the other day cos the soddin' valve was at the bottom of the wheel!! :(  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: what a cr*p setup.
Post by: unlucky alf on 23 September 2010, 19:49:03
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Mark DTM has the way with those .... the mantra "heat always wins" was heard several times at Newent as mine were "cooked" over a camping stove. .....   :)

But he was right ... lots of heat, lots of plus gas, and lots of wriggling and they worked free.

On reassembly oodles of grease... inside, outside .. anyside .. is apparently the answer .. :)

My dad always told me the same thing about heat, unfortunately my blow torch was out of gas & couldnt go & get another bottle, & i dont think the mrs would of appreciated me wrenching the gas hob from the kitchen worktop, ;D the new one will get well greased although itll probably outlive the car anyway :(.
Title: Re: what a cr*p setup.
Post by: unlucky alf on 23 September 2010, 19:54:05
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Cheer up alf, there are SOME simple jobs on the omega. Putting air in the tyres is a doddle. :y

You deserve this again ;D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEO7I3DdDq8
Title: Re: what a cr*p setup.
Post by: Mysteryman on 23 September 2010, 19:59:40
Quote
Quote
Cheer up alf, there are SOME simple jobs on the omega. Putting air in the tyres is a doddle. :y

You deserve this again ;D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEO7I3DdDq8


Thank you Alf, it makes me giddy watching my family do that. :D
Title: Re: what a cr*p setup.
Post by: TheBoy on 23 September 2010, 20:07:41
Similar setup to senators/carltons, which also suffer from seizing.

It has the potential to be trouble free, but often isn't
Title: Re: what a cr*p setup.
Post by: Shackeng on 23 September 2010, 21:05:05
I just took the whole rod off. Much easier. HTH
Title: Re: what a cr*p setup.
Post by: Entwood on 23 September 2010, 21:16:35
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I just took the whole rod off. Much easier. HTH


How much were the "full" replacements ?? (both ends and a new centre, both sides I'm guessing ?? )

:)
Title: Re: what a cr*p setup.
Post by: Shackeng on 23 September 2010, 22:14:29
They were £26.98 each plus VAT from Camberley Auto Factors in Cheney Manor. :y
Title: Re: what a cr*p setup.
Post by: Entwood on 23 September 2010, 22:20:59
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They were £26.98 each plus VAT from Camberley Auto Factors in Cheney Manor. :y

Wow .. thats cheap for all 3 bits .... what make are they ?? Might have to pop over.. :)
Title: Re: what a cr*p setup.
Post by: unlucky alf on 23 September 2010, 22:21:29
Ive just paid £13-95 inc p&p new from vaux-world for the whole o/side assy :y :y
Title: Re: what a cr*p setup.
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 24 September 2010, 08:43:36
The biggest issue I find is overtightening of the pinch bolts, they dont need doing up tight.

As always though, lots of grease on the replacement ones.

Also, I remove the whole assembly and stick it on the gas hob  :y
Title: Re: what a cr*p setup.
Post by: Shackeng on 24 September 2010, 08:46:09
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Quote
They were £26.98 each plus VAT from Camberley Auto Factors in Cheney Manor. :y

Wow .. thats cheap for all 3 bits .... what make are they ?? Might have to pop over.. :)


I didn't think it was that cheap! Can't remember the make.
Title: Re: what a cr*p setup.
Post by: TheBoy on 24 September 2010, 09:44:21
I have had real issues with some of the pattern track rod ends failing quickly (within 2-3yrs), so I always go back to genuine now (£30ish per track rod end)  :'(
Title: Re: what a cr*p setup.
Post by: Entwood on 24 September 2010, 09:48:57
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I have had real issues with some of the pattern track rod ends failing quickly (within 2-3yrs), so I always go back to genuine now (£30ish per track rod end)  :'(


Thats the sort of price I was expecting ... £60 odd plus the bit in the middle... around £75 a side ??? Which is why I thought £27 cheap !!!

Decisions, decisions ... :(
Title: Re: what a cr*p setup.
Post by: unlucky alf on 24 September 2010, 11:17:56
Oh dear, so it sounds like my £13-95 with p&p might be a job i`ll be returning to in the near future then. :'( :'(
Title: Re: what a cr*p setup.
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 24 September 2010, 11:19:23
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I have had real issues with some of the pattern track rod ends failing quickly (within 2-3yrs), so I always go back to genuine now (£30ish per track rod end)  :'(


Thats the sort of price I was expecting ... £60 odd plus the bit in the middle... around £75 a side ??? Which is why I thought £27 cheap !!!

Decisions, decisions ... :(


But yours are done and fixed.....
Title: Re: what a cr*p setup.
Post by: Entwood on 24 September 2010, 11:35:53
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Quote
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I have had real issues with some of the pattern track rod ends failing quickly (within 2-3yrs), so I always go back to genuine now (£30ish per track rod end)  :'(


Thats the sort of price I was expecting ... £60 odd plus the bit in the middle... around £75 a side ??? Which is why I thought £27 cheap !!!

Decisions, decisions ... :(


But yours are done and fixed.....


Front ones are .. back ones are siezed solid ... but WIM said the "error" is too small to worry about.

3 choices as I see it.

1) Leave well alone until they need replacing/more adjustment

2) Remove and spend some time (and gas) attempting to free them.

3) Remove and replace with new very greasy units

         a) At £75 a side for genuine

         b) At £30 a side for pattern

decisions.... decisions

:)
Title: Re: what a cr*p setup.
Post by: tunnie on 24 September 2010, 11:37:26
slight thread hi-jack here but at track rods tested as part of MOT? Garage in town failed mine last time cause it was 'not adjustable' No idea why they were buggering about with it, only sent it down there for an MOT
Title: Re: what a cr*p setup.
Post by: davethediver on 24 September 2010, 11:41:50
Not sure about the ability for them to be adjusted having anything to do with the MOT but certainley can fail if there is play in them :y
Title: Re: what a cr*p setup.
Post by: Shackeng on 24 September 2010, 16:52:52
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
I have had real issues with some of the pattern track rod ends failing quickly (within 2-3yrs), so I always go back to genuine now (£30ish per track rod end)  :'(


Thats the sort of price I was expecting ... £60 odd plus the bit in the middle... around £75 a side ??? Which is why I thought £27 cheap !!!

Decisions, decisions ... :(


But yours are done and fixed.....


Front ones are .. back ones are siezed solid ... but WIM said the "error" is too small to worry about.

3 choices as I see it.

1) Leave well alone until they need replacing/more adjustment

2) Remove and spend some time (and gas) attempting to free them.

3) Remove and replace with new very greasy units

         a) At £75 a side for genuine

         b) At £30 a side for pattern

decisions.... decisions

:)

Thats what I did, and WIM were quite happy with their condition, well greased obviously. :y
Title: Re: what a cr*p setup.
Post by: Shackeng on 24 September 2010, 16:54:19
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slight thread hi-jack here but at track rods tested as part of MOT? Garage in town failed mine last time cause it was 'not adjustable' No idea why they were buggering about with it, only sent it down there for an MOT

Sounds very naughty, I can't imagine why they would look at the adjustment. :-/