Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Omegadoha, Desert Member on 26 June 2009, 11:50:56

Title: Shock absorbers and struts.
Post by: Omegadoha, Desert Member on 26 June 2009, 11:50:56
I have a squeaking noise coming from the front of the car which I was told is down to the shock abosrbers and struts. On the Omega do you have to replace the entire strut assembly or can you just replace the shock absorbers? And should you also do the shock mounts as well?
Many thanks
Title: Re: Shock absorbers and struts.
Post by: feeutfo on 26 June 2009, 12:13:40
personally would just change the shocks, GM seem fairly priced. Springs from vx are a rip off, try kyb.(Kayaba i beleive) But fit both sides or youll get different performance from different age and wear levels.(always fit suspension parts in pairs as they say) Youll need spring compressors or removal could well take head off and re fitting will be impossible, but you knew all that. :-)
Title: Re: Shock absorbers and struts.
Post by: Omegadoha, Desert Member on 26 June 2009, 12:21:02
Thanks very much for the reply.  :y What is meant by the spring compressors, where do they go?
Title: Re: Shock absorbers and struts.
Post by: kcl on 26 June 2009, 12:26:17
In front the strut is a solid unit, you can not replace the insides of it as in e.g. Toyota's. Spring compressor is used to compress the front springs to be able to dismantle the strut.
Title: Re: Shock absorbers and struts.
Post by: Ghost on 26 June 2009, 12:37:31
I would say tha the squeaking nois is comeing from worn rubber componants and not the shocks.
are the shocks knackerd at the front ie to soft ?
wouldnt hurt to look into it.
Title: Re: Shock absorbers and struts.
Post by: Omegadoha, Desert Member on 26 June 2009, 12:45:24
I pressed down on the front and it does bounce a couple of times before settling down. The roads are pretty bad in places so might be worth changing them. Because of the heat here you could well be right stating that rubber components have gone.
Title: Re: Shock absorbers and struts.
Post by: Ghost on 26 June 2009, 12:47:35
Quote
I pressed down on the front and it does bounce a couple of times before settling down. The roads are pretty bad in places so might be worth changing them. Because of the heat here you could well be right stating that rubber components have gone.
its always possible and sounds like the shocks are to soft so it is better to replace them.
Title: Re: Shock absorbers and struts.
Post by: Kumamoto on 26 June 2009, 12:56:15
I had a squeaking at the front driver side and i always thought it was a broken spring. It was later diagonised as worn track rod!!
Title: Re: Shock absorbers and struts.
Post by: feeutfo on 26 June 2009, 13:46:41
yes should have said, its always possible of course but would think it unusual for the shock itself to squeak. Suggest a good check over and wiggle of other parts with the shock removed prior to fitting the new ones, although this will not totally recreate the conditions accurately as it will be unloaded.

Re spring compresors. The problem is the spring is longer than its fixed position in the shock, it is "loaded" when fitted and so if you where to simply remove the lower top nut(the one under the nut you see in the engine bay, the shock and spring can be removed as one unit) that holds the spring in place the spring will fly out. So needs to be compressed prior to fitting and removal.

On re fitting a shock its important to re create the camber setting correctly. Assuming yours is correct to start with you can measure the gap between rim and shock body before removal, i used an 11 mill socket as a feeler gauge as its diameter was closest fit, this will help gauge the correct setting when re fitting it is fiddley though.... There is another diy method with a spirit level but ive not used that.



Title: Re: Shock absorbers and struts.
Post by: winkrain on 21 October 2011, 12:17:56
sorry for posting in this old thread, i know its kinda awkward to post but i am searching for the right answer regarding with my problem in front shock absorber. my shock absorber was been damaged and i need to replace it. so what is the easiest way to do the replacement?
Title: Re: Shock absorbers and struts.
Post by: hotel21 on 21 October 2011, 18:19:06
Please
Do not feed the troll.

Locking.