Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: JamesV6CDX on 07 August 2008, 11:44:46

Title: Suspension strut question
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 07 August 2008, 11:44:46
I've just had the Meega up in the air to look at why it feels vague.

When you rock the wheels at 9+3 o clock, the whole strut in the engine bay seems to move around, eg the circular plate.

I've tried to tighten, but all that seems to happen is that the nut feels tight and the whole strut just moves around.

Are the struts knackered - is this normal? Any advice?

Wishbone bushes actually feel fine...

Title: Re: Suspension strut question
Post by: Elite Pete on 07 August 2008, 12:07:58
IIRC theres a rubber bush at the top of the strut.
Title: Re: Suspension strut question
Post by: Grumpy on 07 August 2008, 12:13:47
Not had it on the Omega, but same as Elite Pete said, I had it
on my Audi 2.3 E Coupe. It was indeed the worn rubber mounting
bush at the top of the strut allowing everything to move around.
Title: Re: Suspension strut question
Post by: TheBoy on 07 August 2008, 12:15:54
There will be movement there.

If excessive, there is a bearing at the top
Title: Re: Suspension strut question
Post by: Andy B on 07 August 2008, 12:37:03
It's called a bearing, but in the case of an Astra G it's just a rubber bush. IIRC Lotus Carltons/Omegas have a conventional bearing in there too. For SWMBO's Astra G Vauxhall wanted £60, Andrew Page (motor factor) wanted £6  :-?
It's been on the car for a year now & so far ...... it's been OK
Title: Re: Suspension strut question
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 07 August 2008, 12:43:44
So what can I do about it?  :'( :-/
Title: Re: Suspension strut question
Post by: Lazydocker on 07 August 2008, 12:54:59
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So what can I do about it?  :'( :-/

Replace it! :D :D :D IIRC it's not too bad a job to do :y :y
Title: Re: Suspension strut question
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 07 August 2008, 13:03:29
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So what can I do about it?  :'( :-/

Replace it! :D :D :D IIRC it's not too bad a job to do :y :y

Cool. I'd love to hear from anyone who's done it :y
Title: Re: Suspension strut question
Post by: Andy B on 07 August 2008, 13:19:04
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So what can I do about it?  :'( :-/

Replace it! :D :D :D IIRC it's not too bad a job to do :y :y

Cool. I'd love to hear from anyone who's done it :y

You need coil spring compressors to remove the spring when the strut is off. IIRC the 2 bolts at the bottom of the strut that fasten it to the hub & the nut at the top inside the engine bay. Have a look at a Haynes manual ...... it's really quite straight forward but it was a year ago since I did Annette's & I'm getting old  ;D  :y
Title: Re: Suspension strut question
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 07 August 2008, 13:20:34
So the strut and uncompressed spring all come off as one unit, and that's quite easy?

I guess you're right, just remove droplink, remove it from the wishbone, and remove it from the top?

In which case, I wonder if it's worth doing the springs at the same time  ::)
Title: Re: Suspension strut question
Post by: HerefordElite on 07 August 2008, 13:26:22
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So the strut and uncompressed spring all come off as one unit, and that's quite easy?

I guess you're right, just remove droplink, remove it from the wishbone, and remove it from the top?

In which case, I wonder if it's worth doing the springs at the same time  ::)

Might as well put some Bilstein struts on while its in bits - the wobbly bearing is an insert in the strut mount i take it? how to remove this?
Title: Re: Suspension strut question
Post by: TheBoy on 07 August 2008, 13:39:56
Pretty certain bearing can be changed without spring compressors, as it sits above the top spring plate...
Title: Re: Suspension strut question
Post by: jonathanh on 07 August 2008, 13:40:54
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So the strut and uncompressed spring all come off as one unit, and that's quite easy?

I guess you're right, just remove droplink, remove it from the wishbone, and remove it from the top?

In which case, I wonder if it's worth doing the springs at the same time  ::)

Hmm I'm not sure, if you are seeing the top of the strut move around in the engine bay then the problem is the bush at the top of the strut.  You do not need sring comressors etc to sort that.  just drop the strut doen and replace the bush


Title: Re: Suspension strut question
Post by: TheBoy on 07 August 2008, 13:41:16
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So what can I do about it?  :'( :-/

Replace it! :D :D :D IIRC it's not too bad a job to do :y :y

Cool. I'd love to hear from anyone who's done it :y
You must have changed shocks before?

Whip strut out - 2 bolts at bottom (that set camber) and nut at top.

Will need camber resetting after.  WIM is the place ;)
Title: Re: Suspension strut question
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 07 August 2008, 13:49:20
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Quote
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So what can I do about it?  :'( :-/

Replace it! :D :D :D IIRC it's not too bad a job to do :y :y

Cool. I'd love to hear from anyone who's done it :y
You must have changed shocks before?

Whip strut out - 2 bolts at bottom (that set camber) and nut at top.

Will need camber resetting after.  WIM is the place ;)

Believe it or not - never changed shocks before  :-[

I think best bet might be to replace anything suspect, and then get it Wim'd!

Title: Re: Suspension strut question
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 07 August 2008, 14:37:17
You need to compress the spring to remove the support bearing assembly and bush
Title: Re: Suspension strut question
Post by: TheBoy on 07 August 2008, 14:46:44
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You need to compress the spring to remove the support bearing assembly and bush
I stand corrected - I was trying to remember the exactly sequence of the components...
Title: Re: Suspension strut question
Post by: Andy B on 07 August 2008, 15:45:12
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So the strut and uncompressed spring all come off as one unit, and that's quite easy?  .......

NO. The strut and COMPRESSED spring come off as a unit. You use the spring compressors when it's off the car.
Title: Re: Suspension strut question
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 07 August 2008, 15:49:38
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So the strut and uncompressed spring all come off as one unit, and that's quite easy?  .......

NO. The strut and COMPRESSED spring come off as a unit. You use the spring compressors when it's off the car.

Isn't it only compressed when the spring compressor is compressing it?  ::) ::) ;D
Title: Re: Suspension strut question
Post by: TheBoy on 07 August 2008, 16:03:15
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Quote
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So the strut and uncompressed spring all come off as one unit, and that's quite easy?  .......

NO. The strut and COMPRESSED spring come off as a unit. You use the spring compressors when it's off the car.

Isn't it only compressed when the spring compressor is compressing it?  ::) ::) ;D
No, its only uncompressed when the spring is removed completely
Title: Re: Suspension strut question
Post by: jonathanh on 07 August 2008, 16:05:23
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Quote
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So the strut and uncompressed spring all come off as one unit, and that's quite easy?  .......

NO. The strut and COMPRESSED spring come off as a unit. You use the spring compressors when it's off the car.

Isn't it only compressed when the spring compressor is compressing it?  ::) ::) ;D
No because when the spring is in the strut it is already compressed.  Difficult to describe but the strut has a top and bottom spring cup.  You need to compress the print to get the pressure off the top cup to bolt the top cup on.  This 'unit' is the monuted on the lwer arm by two bolts and into the body of the car by a bush assembly and a retaining nut in the engine bay.  If the retaining nut and bush in the engine bay is flating around then I think you have a poblem on the bush mounting the strut to the body.  
Title: Re: Suspension strut question
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 07 August 2008, 16:06:55
No, its compressed when on the car and/or fitted to the strutt, you then compress it (further) to remove it before re-fitting in its still (futher) compressed state before releasing to a compressed state and fitting back on the car where it is again further compressed.
Title: Re: Suspension strut question
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 07 August 2008, 16:06:59
Thanks chaps I understand now :y

Anyone know the P/N for the bush?
Title: Re: Suspension strut question
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 07 August 2008, 16:07:30
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No, its compressed when on the car and/or fitted to the strutt, you then compress it (further) to remove it before re-fitting in its still (futher) compressed state before releasing to a compressed state and fitting back on the car where it is again further compressed.

Makes perfect sense :y