Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Varche on 09 October 2009, 11:21:16
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Thought I would start a thread on typical life expectancy of suspension parts as I have owned my car for over 9 years and before that it was a high mileage (48k in nearly two years) company car. Since new it has only had front shockers once and rear once but needs some more rear now. Steering arm replaced by me. It had a "Bush" replaced on the front end as it pulled to the left when we bought it. No idea what it was but suspect it was a wishbone. I keep having a poke ( gentle use of crowbar etc) at various components to see if there is any play. At 140k plus miles useage including unmade roads I would expect more things to need replacing. I am glad they don't though!
I realise it depends on type of use (roads, towing, loads etc) but what is the norm/expected replacement on? :-
1.Shock absorbers F/R
2.Springs F/R
3.Wishbones
4.Drop links
5.track rod ends
6.steering arms
7.Rear subframe bushes
8.Top front strut mounts
9.Anything I have missed
Varche
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in 45k i have yet to change my wishbones, last time at WIM (May) they were fine.
Rear springs last around 7/8 years i think before the rears snap due to corrosion, fronts last longer.
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That would also depend a lot on what you drive on...
My first Omega was sold at 60k, needed some bushes at 40k (not sure which ones - was long time ago an replaced under the extended warranty anyway).
My second Omega was sold at 50k, I suspected worn wishbones but never managed to prove it because the car was sold as is (and the new replacement wishbones donated to a member on this forum and dully installed on his immaculate MV6...). Also WIM gave me an advisory on one of the droplinks.
Both cars had the original dampers (sorry, 'shocks'...) with no sign of wear.
So based on my experience the conclusion is that you might expect something minor to start going wrong with the suspension at around 40-50k....
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I have a 98 MV6 on 119k.
On inspection a few weeks ago:
- Snapped spring on the front, and also on rear
- Rear subframe bushed completely worn and falling apart, and "donut" bushes quite worn also
- Steering idlers dont match so im assuming they have been changed at some point
- Front wishbone bushes have play in them
Droplinks seem ok, though the backs are a bit rusted/worn. Shocks all seem to be ok, as does most of the rest of the suspension components - although i now have coilovers fitted instead of the original suspension set up.
My previous omega also needed wishbones and steering idlers, cant remember the mileage (think it was about 100k) and that was 11 years old when i go it.