Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Boiler Man on 28 September 2009, 21:04:07

Title: Serious inner front tyre wear?
Post by: Boiler Man on 28 September 2009, 21:04:07
Hi Guys

Wondered if someone could give me some advice.

My older Omega 99 2.0 Ltr Dti Estate has always worn the front tyres unevenly on the insides.

I have had tracking done in the past and it hasn't made the slightest differance.

Lately it has gone really bad and worn the insides completley and hardly wearing the outsides.

I've also just noticed a slight pull to the side on braking. :o

Obviosly there is something wrong. I've read a number of threads that seem to have conflicting advice.

Some say Wishbones and few say Front Spring Wear.

The car has done 200,000 miles. I've had the car since 80,000. I'm sure it could be a number of things. But where should I start? :-/

I dont want to spend a fortune on it due to the age and mileage. But it means the wife will be on shanky's pony until I can afford a replacment :( and be borrowing mine :'(
Title: Re: Serious inner front tyre wear?
Post by: Dazzler on 28 September 2009, 21:11:57
It needs a full geo set up done.
WIM is your friend about £60 if i remember correctly ;)
Title: Re: Serious inner front tyre wear?
Post by: Entwood on 28 September 2009, 21:12:07
When mine wore on the inner edges it was very badly worn wishbones, not too hard to replace, but then the geometry needs a proper set up. It is the camber that causes the inner edge wear.

HTH
Title: Re: Serious inner front tyre wear?
Post by: Boiler Man on 28 September 2009, 21:22:51
Quote
When mine wore on the inner edges it was very badly worn wishbones, not too hard to replace, but then the geometry needs a proper set up. It is the camber that causes the inner edge wear.

HTH

Was yours pulling on braking at all?
Title: Re: Serious inner front tyre wear?
Post by: Entwood on 28 September 2009, 21:27:07
More like "wandering" than pulling !!! 

I took it to WIM (tad far for you I know) to have a full geometry setup before fitting new tyres, they checked the car and said no setup and no tyres today ... you need new wishbones !!! They did not charge for that check or the advice. !!  I did the wishbones and took it back, they checked my work  :y :y did the setup  :y :y and sold me some tyres at very good prices.

The drive home was like being in a different car  ;) ;) ;) ;)
Title: Re: Serious inner front tyre wear?
Post by: TheBoy on 28 September 2009, 21:29:53
as others said, shoulder wear is camber. Tracking or 4 wheel alignment is a waste of cash
Title: Re: Serious inner front tyre wear?
Post by: Boiler Man on 28 September 2009, 21:31:19
Thanks for the advice.

I've had a look at the Wishbone Replacement Guide.

But is it obvious when you inspect them that the bushes are gone?
Title: Re: Serious inner front tyre wear?
Post by: Entwood on 28 September 2009, 21:34:36
It was obvious when the guy at WIM showed me !!! 

He put a tyre lever in where the rubber bushes are and pushed .... the whole thing moved with no efort at all, and bits of rubber fell out !!!

I guess that the amount of movement v amount of push is an acquired skill .. but it was pretty conclusive on mine !!

Maybe one of the more techie guys can give a better indication of how mauch movement is aceptable.
Title: Re: Serious inner front tyre wear?
Post by: Boiler Man on 28 September 2009, 21:35:44
Quote
as others said, shoulder wear is camber. Tracking or 4 wheel alignment is a waste of cash

Thanks The Boy :y

I'm sure after advice from you guys, it proberbly is camber, do you think it is more likely to be a parts replacement job rather than just adjustment? :-/

As Entwood says it's quite a trek for me, only to find I need new Wishbones or Springs.
Title: Re: Serious inner front tyre wear?
Post by: Entwood on 28 September 2009, 21:42:31
The way the camber is adjusted it can only go "off" if you sideswipe a kerb so hard you would have bent something IMHO !!!

My guess is wishbones replacement  :)

I got mine from AutoVaux .. cost £125 for both, new bolts and delivery.

:)
Title: Re: Serious inner front tyre wear?
Post by: Elite Pete on 28 September 2009, 21:45:57
Once you've had your wishbones fitted give Nigel Langs a try, they are very good :y

http://www.nigellangsgarage.co.uk/
Title: Re: Serious inner front tyre wear?
Post by: Boiler Man on 28 September 2009, 22:06:02
Cheers Guys :y

I'll have a go at doing them myself. What about going the way of new bushes? :-/

Thanks Pete, Bolton is a bit closer :)
Title: Re: Serious inner front tyre wear?
Post by: Agemo on 28 September 2009, 22:26:55
It is possible you just need new bushes, maybe even just one, but you still have the same job to do PLUS fitting the bushes with a ten tonne press, most of us stick new wishbones on. Not a bad job. It may also be worth comparing your camber with another, it could be that far out that it's obvious!
Title: Re: Serious inner front tyre wear?
Post by: eddie on 28 September 2009, 22:55:36
Take it to a different tyre place and have them check the tracking.
Its possible the muppet at the previous place set you up for toe out (as per front wheel drive) instead of toe in.
Happened to me once,the guy read of the specs for the car and ignored the 'toe in' part-he didnt know what it meant!

eddie
Title: Re: Serious inner front tyre wear?
Post by: Turk on 28 September 2009, 23:47:53
Quote
Cheers Guys :y

I'll have a go at doing them myself. What about going the way of new bushes? :-/

Thanks Pete, Bolton is a bit closer :)
http://www.powerflex.co.uk/

How I changed mine:
http://s696.photobucket.com/albums/vv327/Turkpix/?action=view&current=HowtofitFrontPoly-Bush.flv

Previous Poly-Bush thread:
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1252535002/13#13
Title: Re: Serious inner front tyre wear?
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 29 September 2009, 08:10:30
Quote
The way the camber is adjusted it can only go "off" if you sideswipe a kerb so hard you would have bent something IMHO !!!

My guess is wishbones replacement  :)

I got mine from AutoVaux .. cost £125 for both, new bolts and delivery.

:)

Nah.....it can go 'off' as the suspension ages and the springs weaken.
Title: Re: Serious inner front tyre wear?
Post by: markh1 on 29 September 2009, 08:57:16
I recently changed the front wishbones and droplinks and the passenger side wheel has got a bit too much camber. I am going to have it setup on Saturday, I will be interested to see how much difference it makes to the drive!
Title: Re: Serious inner front tyre wear?
Post by: Boiler Man on 29 September 2009, 09:41:30
Quote
Quote
The way the camber is adjusted it can only go "off" if you sideswipe a kerb so hard you would have bent something IMHO !!!


My guess is wishbones replacement  :)

I got mine from AutoVaux .. cost £125 for both, new bolts and delivery.

:)

Nah.....it can go 'off' as the suspension ages and the springs weaken.

So how could you find out if it's the Suspension or Springs Mark? :-/

and what can be done to correct it?
Title: Re: Serious inner front tyre wear?
Post by: Boiler Man on 01 October 2009, 17:33:05
Any chance Mark or someone, could advise on how to tell if the springs are shot? :-/ :-/
Title: Re: Serious inner front tyre wear?
Post by: duggs on 01 October 2009, 17:48:06
Spooky !

I had EXACTLY the same problem about 2 weeks ago.

WISHBONES had had it.
Title: Re: Serious inner front tyre wear?
Post by: seosamh on 02 October 2009, 17:24:43
exactly the same as mine, on the drivers side, the inner edge of tyre was down to the steel wire, rest of tyre had great tread on..wishbone bushes on that side were truly gone
Title: Re: Serious inner front tyre wear?
Post by: seosamh on 02 October 2009, 17:32:45
what is CAMBER ?
Title: Re: Serious inner front tyre wear?
Post by: Andy H on 02 October 2009, 17:51:45
Quote
what is CAMBER ?
It is a measure of whether the wheel leans in or out.

Positive camber is when the top of the wheel is further from the centreline of the car than the bottom.

Omega front wheels seem to have varying degrees of negative camber (which increases as the springs age and allow the car to settle and also as bushes wear).
Title: Re: Serious inner front tyre wear?
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 02 October 2009, 21:43:43
Quote
Any chance Mark or someone, could advise on how to tell if the springs are shot? :-/ :-/

Springs age......its a fact and no real issue.

But, as they age the ride height falls slightly and the suspension dynamics change....and hence the camber goes out.

get it set to -1deg 10' and all will be good again.  :y
Title: Re: Serious inner front tyre wear?
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 02 October 2009, 21:44:44
Quote
exactly the same as mine, on the drivers side, the inner edge of tyre was down to the steel wire, rest of tyre had great tread on..wishbone bushes on that side were truly gone

Which would knock the camber out.....again, it really needs checking an setting correctly  :y
Title: Re: Serious inner front tyre wear?
Post by: mic_k on 04 October 2009, 13:31:12
sorry guys for bump up but I dont want to start another thread with simmilar thing - cause mine starts to wear the passenger front tyre on the outside and pulling to that way all the time now ,slightly but pulling. its going even worse on bumpy road  - I can't manage to keep straigt direction -just playing from kerb to kerb  :( Its like finghting with mad cow  :o. are this wishbones as well ao something else like track rod ends? i tried to look there but there is no sign of any damage or wear except the tyre. suggestions?