Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Ziad on 05 October 2009, 02:56:50

Title: Advice required
Post by: Ziad on 05 October 2009, 02:56:50
Now guys, it may have been asked before, but I would appreciate a little bit of insight here. Below are the symptoms:

I've noticed that the car pulls to either direction since a week or two. Sometimes it pulls to the right, sometimes to the left and sometimes it's just fine. There's definitely vibration through the steering column at speeds above 130 - 140 kph. Whenever I brake, the car again pulls either to the right or to the left. Now, she's started to wear the front tyres on the outside (both right and left!).

What could this be according to you guys?

Cheers,
Z
Title: Re: Advice required
Post by: Jamieo on 05 October 2009, 04:16:25
That is definately a sign that your front wishbone bushes are gone. You will need complete new wishbones unless you have access to a press to press out the old bushes and press in new ones.
Title: Re: Advice required
Post by: feeutfo on 05 October 2009, 05:37:19
Def sounds like wishbone bushes, as said. I think Entwood on here had outside edge ware when his went.

When you fit new ones remember to torque the bolts correctly with the car on the ground, suspension loaded. Its a bugger with access and a long handled torque wrench under the car but it is possible. I did my bolts up loosely fists, reversed the car gently up and down the drive a bit and then torqued them up. Hth :-)
Title: Re: Advice required
Post by: Omegatoy on 05 October 2009, 09:16:51
well the symptoms dont sound like wishbones to me? its to varied, reckon its more likey to be play in the steering idler to be honest?
Title: Re: Advice required
Post by: feeutfo on 05 October 2009, 10:12:58
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well the symptoms dont sound like wishbones to me? its to varied, reckon its more likey to be play in the steering idler to be honest?

Also worth a check.... As are all othe components.

Must admit i was suprised with Entwoods symptoms, but was diagnosed by WIM, and cured the problem. Assuming i remember it correctly of course.....?
Title: Re: Advice required
Post by: Entwood on 05 October 2009, 10:21:13
Mine was outer edges and all sorted by wishbone changes ...

full details in this thread

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1242682251

HTH
Title: Re: Advice required
Post by: Ziad on 05 October 2009, 21:37:52
Thanks for the advice guys. I'll be taking the car to the guy who usually repairs the mig and have him check the wishbones and steering idler. Will post up the results when it's done  :y
Title: Re: Advice required
Post by: Turk on 05 October 2009, 22:36:13
Usually inside wear is due to camber being out (eg worn wishbone front bushes).
Outside edge is usually tracking.
Title: Re: Advice required
Post by: rustym95 on 05 October 2009, 23:07:58
it could allso be the steering pin, think im going to get mine done as its abit lose and dose the same thing, my bushe's are new.
Title: Re: Advice required
Post by: Ziad on 07 October 2009, 00:42:44
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it could allso be the steering pin, think im going to get mine done as its abit lose and dose the same thing, my bushe's are new.

Your surely mean the steering idler R?  :-/
Title: Re: Advice required
Post by: rustym95 on 07 October 2009, 04:10:39
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it could allso be the steering pin, think im going to get mine done as its abit lose and dose the same thing, my bushe's are new.

Your surely mean the steering idler R?  :-/
nope half moon with pin, snaps in a crash so you dont get spiked after the air bag go's., I can see it when push back the rubber inside.
Title: Re: Advice required
Post by: Ziad on 07 October 2009, 04:49:25
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it could allso be the steering pin, think im going to get mine done as its abit lose and dose the same thing, my bushe's are new.

Your surely mean the steering idler R?  :-/
nope half moon with pin, snaps in a crash so you dont get spiked after the air bag go's., I can see it when push back the rubber inside.

Alright mate. Anyway, the whole rather suspension will be checked and whatever needs to be changed will  ;) :y

Thanks for the info  :y
Title: Re: Advice required
Post by: Andy H on 07 October 2009, 08:34:02
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it could allso be the steering pin, think im going to get mine done as its abit lose and dose the same thing, my bushe's are new.

Your surely mean the steering idler R?  :-/
nope half moon with pin, snaps in a crash so you dont get spiked after the air bag go's., I can see it when push back the rubber inside.
Are you referring to the shear pin in the energy absorbing collapsible steering column? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steering#Safety
Title: Re: Advice required
Post by: Ziad on 09 October 2009, 11:57:43
Just something I wanted to ask again guys. If i am to  check for play in the track rod / steering idler and droplinks, can i do so with the car on the ground? I actually have access to a shop where the car stays on the ground and I can go underneath  :-/

Also, what would be the correct camber / toe settings for the mig??
Title: Re: Advice required
Post by: Turk on 09 October 2009, 21:11:48
Jack up passenger side front and get someone to wiggle the wheel by holding the tyre in the 3 and 9 o'clock positions whilst you watch the Steering Idler. Any vertical movement means it needs to be replaced.
Title: Re: Advice required
Post by: Ziad on 10 October 2009, 05:56:22
Thanks T.

Could someone tell me what would be the correct camber / toe settings for the mig please??  ;)
Title: Re: Advice required
Post by: Kaycee on 10 October 2009, 07:00:12
negative -1.0
Title: Re: Advice required
Post by: Kaycee on 10 October 2009, 07:01:42
thats degrees by the way anywere between -40min to -1.10
Title: Re: Advice required
Post by: remraf on 11 October 2009, 22:52:32
Hopefully I'm in the right board/thread for a steering problem on my Elite. We've had both front wishbones changed due to 'clunking/juddering' but that has now revealed a 'knocking' sound from the drivers side at the front, been told its possibly the steering box? Does this sound right? is there any adjustment or is it a replace job? read on this thread about worn steering idlers? - no idea what they are or if they could be my problem - any thoughts?  Thanks.
Title: Re: Advice required
Post by: Turk on 12 October 2009, 01:08:50
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Hopefully I'm in the right board/thread for a steering problem on my Elite. We've had both front wishbones changed due to 'clunking/juddering' but that has now revealed a 'knocking' sound from the drivers side at the front, been told its possibly the steering box? Does this sound right? is there any adjustment or is it a replace job? read on this thread about worn steering idlers? - no idea what they are or if they could be my problem - any thoughts?  Thanks.

Unlikely to be steering box.
If the knock or clunk is most noticable at low speeds then I'd check the drop links. If it is the drop link, they're cheap as chips so you may as well do both.

If it is the steering box (doubtfull), I have a re-con'd box on my "spares" car. It's done less than 2k miles. I changed it as I had a steering issue.
Didn't solve my issue, so that was a total waste of time.  :-[

As I said, unlikely to be the steering box but if you need one, let me know. :y
Title: Re: Advice required
Post by: remraf on 13 October 2009, 20:54:07
Thanks Turk, our man with a van who's looked after our cars for years is coming on Friday, so'll mention the drop links to him if he's not already sussed it, hopefully not the box, but noted your offer - thanks :)
Title: Re: Advice required
Post by: remraf on 10 November 2009, 21:08:40
Success - knocking sound gone! changed the drop link on the passenger side and adjusted the steering slack so no correcting when in a straight line, but I think it's a tad to tight as the geometry now doesn't pull the car to straight ahead on gentle bends so I'll be getting him to slacken it off a little. :y
Title: Re: Advice required
Post by: TheBoy on 10 November 2009, 21:09:43
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Success - knocking sound gone! changed the drop link on the passenger side and adjusted the steering slack so no correcting when in a straight line, but I think it's a tad to tight as the geometry now doesn't pull the car to straight ahead on gentle bends so I'll be getting him to slacken it off a little. :y
Should really replace suspension components in pairs, so consider doing other side :y
Title: Re: Advice required
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 10 November 2009, 21:13:19
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Success - knocking sound gone! changed the drop link on the passenger side and adjusted the steering slack so no correcting when in a straight line, but I think it's a tad to tight as the geometry now doesn't pull the car to straight ahead on gentle bends so I'll be getting him to slacken it off a little. :y

Thats a very iffy approach...no more than 1/4 turn on that little bugger!
Title: Re: Advice required
Post by: remraf on 10 November 2009, 23:51:20
Thanks for the advice, tried to get the drop link of the drivers side (I think attached to the steering box) but completely seized on, broke two pullers trying to free the taper fit.

Thats a very iffy approach...no more than 1/4 turn on that little bugger!

Not to sure how I know where I now am with the 1/4 turn now it's been adjusted - is there any advice on how you know its adjusted correctly, or is it just on how the steering feels?  :-/

Thanks
Title: Re: Advice required
Post by: Ziad on 12 November 2009, 22:09:02
Thanks to everyone for the precious advice. I changed the most of the rather front suspension (droplinks, wishbones, steering idler, tie rods and other odds and sods), fitted some new Pontenza's and did the geometry thingy ... now the mig's back to what it needs to be  :y

Thanks again guys  :y :y :y