Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: teddy on 10 December 2009, 20:11:04

Title: Omega pulls to the right under braking.........
Post by: teddy on 10 December 2009, 20:11:04
Hi, I am new here and need a bit of help or advice.
My Omega is a CDX 2.5 V6 model with one big problem. Under medium to heaving braking the car pulls very hard to the right.
Brake calipers have been checked and they passed an MOT so the braking force is the same on both sides.
All brake pipes checked. Tyres good.
Suspension bushes checked again after the MOT, all okay.
No damge under the car, no bent parts, chassie, etc.
No warning lights ABS all okay.
Two garages have looked at the car now but they can not find fault with the car but agree something is very wrong......
Any ideas? It is that bad its not safe to drive and feels like someone is pushing the front of the car about 2 foot to the right when you brake............
Title: Re: Omega pulls to the right under braking.........
Post by: holtender on 10 December 2009, 20:12:28
Have you checked the Wishbones?
Title: Re: Omega pulls to the right under braking.........
Post by: teddy on 10 December 2009, 20:18:47
Yes the wishbones have been looked at and the strange thing is it passed an MOT with the problem. The garage that did the MOT is known to be very strict and my idea was that they would find the fault..........
The car has not been crashed or even kerbed.
Title: Re: Omega pulls to the right under braking.........
Post by: holtender on 10 December 2009, 20:21:33
I would still suggest you have a problem with the Wishbones and you need to have them checked over again.
Title: Re: Omega pulls to the right under braking.........
Post by: teddy on 10 December 2009, 20:29:02
I have been to the garage, this is the third one including the MOT testing station, today with the car and after 2 hours still no joy. Even looked at the car myself while it was up in the air with several of the mechanics and everything looks good. Bushes all good, no cracking, etc. No damge to the wishbones.
Title: Re: Omega pulls to the right under braking.........
Post by: Lazydocker on 10 December 2009, 20:32:20
Wishbone front bush... Get a lever bar in there and I'll bet my 1p that there's play in them :y :y
Title: Re: Omega pulls to the right under braking.........
Post by: holtender on 10 December 2009, 20:34:26
Don't worry mate, we will get this sorted I'm sure, there are some very good brains active on here!
Title: Re: Omega pulls to the right under braking.........
Post by: sexydaz on 10 December 2009, 20:43:13
just a quick 2 penneth,when you brake and it shoots right to me says faulty bush or n/s brake defective(contaminated) just a thought
Title: Re: Omega pulls to the right under braking.........
Post by: hotel21 on 10 December 2009, 20:47:25
Quote
just a quick 2 penneth,when you brake and it shoots right to me says faulty bush or n/s brake defective(contaminated) just a thought

Ensure tyre pressures are spot on the same across the axle.  Would also suggest changing tyres/wheels front to rear to eliminate any possibility of heavy and uneven tyre wear influencing the effect.

Check the wheel bearings for excess free play when swapping the wheels around.

Check the steering idler for excess play at the same time - and the track rods....

Go back to an MOT testing garage and ask them to put it on the rollers to check and ensure that there is no brake imbalance.

If both brakes operate clean and clear then that points to wishbone bushes.....  ;)
Title: Re: Omega pulls to the right under braking.........
Post by: teddy on 10 December 2009, 20:49:56
Thanks for all the help.
What do you guys reckon. Bleeding the front brakes and checking the bushes again? How tight should they be? How much play?
Title: Re: Omega pulls to the right under braking.........
Post by: hotel21 on 10 December 2009, 20:50:41
A note to add, if swapping the tyres/wheels around, ensure that the tread rotation pattern marches the direction of travel!  Indicator on the sidewalls....
Title: Re: Omega pulls to the right under braking.........
Post by: hotel21 on 10 December 2009, 20:51:27
Quote
Thanks for all the help.
What do you guys reckon. Bleeding the front brakes and checking the bushes again? How tight should they be? How much play?
Have a wee read of post number 8....   ;)
Title: Re: Omega pulls to the right under braking.........
Post by: Lazydocker on 10 December 2009, 20:52:34
Quote
Thanks for all the help.
What do you guys reckon. Bleeding the front brakes and checking the bushes again? How tight should they be? How much play?

Check the front bushes of the wishbones... Still where my 1p goes :y :y :y

It's not unheard of for a garage to miss the play in them ::) ::)
Title: Re: Omega pulls to the right under braking.........
Post by: damage consultant on 10 December 2009, 20:54:16
bent or warped wishbone(s)
bushes not worn enough for a mot fail.
track rod ends starting to wear again not worn enough for mot fail
Title: Re: Omega pulls to the right under braking.........
Post by: teddy on 10 December 2009, 20:54:51
Will update this post after I have been to the garage again!
Watch this space..................
Title: Re: Omega pulls to the right under braking.........
Post by: feeutfo on 10 December 2009, 21:19:14
just to add to points already made, failed wishbone bushes. If they are original, bound to have gone by now, if they have been replaced, what with? There are numerous cheap makes that are known to fail early, some within a couple of months.

Avoid buypartsbuy and firstline items for a start off. Best of luck with it, oh and welcome by the way. :-)
Title: Re: Omega pulls to the right under braking.........
Post by: Neil (Cardiff) on 11 December 2009, 00:57:19
I had an old Princess with a similar (ish!) problem. Does the steering seem to shake or shudder (like, but not because, the wheels are out of balance) at any time?

I would check the brake pad wear and make sure its the same on both driver and passenger sides. If they are even and you get no shuddering then it all points away from the braking system.

Also does the car drift badly to right when your not braking?
Title: Re: Omega pulls to the right under braking.........
Post by: Neil (Cardiff) on 11 December 2009, 00:59:17
Just to add - I don't think the MOT is anything to really rely on to be honest. I changed the brake pads the day after an MOT once and they crumbled apart in my hand! And I imagine everyone has a story like that  :y
Title: Re: Omega pulls to the right under braking.........
Post by: feeutfo on 11 December 2009, 01:12:09
13 cars attended the wim open day. 2 where able to complete a full set up as the other 11 had faults with springs steering idler or, mostly, wishbone bushes.
All had a valid mot.

Strange they are not so keen to spot faults when your paying for the set up.  :-X
Title: Re: Omega pulls to the right under braking.........
Post by: Entwood on 11 December 2009, 10:26:11
Quote
13 cars attended the wim open day. 2 where able to complete a full set up as the other 11 had faults with springs steering idler or, mostly, wishbone bushes.
All had a valid mot.

Strange they are not so keen to spot faults when your paying for the set up.  :-X

I would disagree there ... I went to WIM to have a set up .. pre booked ... they checked the car first and told me they would not do the setup as the wishbones needed replacing.

Once the car was back on the gound I went to "settle up" and was told that there was no charge "we don't charge for doing nothing" were the exact words.

I was given some advice on changeing the wishbones and left.

Changed the wishbones (with a free "chat" with WIM when I had a problem .. solved with their help) and took it back to have the full setup. Not only did they do the setup BUT, with a tad of banter thrown in, actually checked the wishbone work for free first. The comment made being that is was far easier for them to do that with the car in the air than for me lying on the floor !!

All-in-all I found them excellent and honest. not the closest place to get to for me .. but certainly the only place I'd go to now.

Just my views ... nowt else   :y :y
Title: Re: Omega pulls to the right under braking.........
Post by: Pitchfork on 11 December 2009, 13:23:31
Pulls to the right?
Is it being driven by a Tory? ;D
Title: Re: Omega pulls to the right under braking.........
Post by: teddy on 11 December 2009, 13:26:09
Sorry I missing telling you guys this bit!
The car failed the MOT as a wishbone bush had gone bad this was replaced at the MOT station then it passed. The garage today took off the wishbone and the replacement bush had been cut to make fitting easier...............
A new bush has now been ordered and I should have the car back tomorrow.
Just goes to show that even 'proper' MOT garages cut corners and other things  :o and I will be on the phone to them later today for 'a little chat'...................I am thinking of reporting them due to all the hassel, time and money this has cost me.
Title: Re: Omega pulls to the right under braking.........
Post by: Lazydocker on 11 December 2009, 15:57:46
Quote
Sorry I missing telling you guys this bit!
The car failed the MOT as a wishbone bush had gone bad this was replaced at the MOT station then it passed. The garage today took off the wishbone and the replacement bush had been cut to make fitting easier...............
A new bush has now been ordered and I should have the car back tomorrow.
Just goes to show that even 'proper' MOT garages cut corners and other things  :o and I will be on the phone to them later today for 'a little chat'...................I am thinking of reporting them due to all the hassel, time and money this has cost me.
:o :o :o :o :o

Never mind a little chat.... I'd be demanding my money back ::) ::) ;) ;)
Title: Re: Omega pulls to the right under braking.........
Post by: Richard A on 11 December 2009, 18:13:11
My car passed the MOT test with the 'wishbones shot'.
Wishbones first problem to check, second - get a full 'geometry' check as well, WIM are very good, worth the trip.
regards
richard a
Title: Re: Omega pulls to the right under braking.........
Post by: teddy on 13 December 2009, 20:04:07
Well all you folks that voted for the bushes on the wishbones, well done!  ;D

New bushes now fitted and the old bus is back to normal.

My plan to let the MOT station find the problem kinda backfired. They found the fault alright but 'Mr Cut Corners' who replaced the bush made the problem worse.
Joking aside, if there had been on coming traffic it could have been the end of Omega and maybe me................... :o
Title: Re: Omega pulls to the right under braking.........
Post by: sexydaz on 13 December 2009, 20:19:56
so the mot place failed it on a part and then they replaced that part and knacked it up mmmmmmmm tweedle dee and tweedle dum mot,s at your service :)
Title: Re: Omega pulls to the right under braking.........
Post by: feeutfo on 14 December 2009, 00:18:58
what a load of crap. They cut the bush to make fitting easier? Did i read that correctly?

So did they replace an individual bush? Or complete wishbone on one side? What bush was fitted? Or what wishbone was fitted?

There is no point fitting a single bush to one wishbone, and suspension parts should always be changed in pairs, ie both sides. Although not necessary to pass the mot, but you will notice differant behaviour from the suspension if only one wishbone is changed.
Title: Re: Omega pulls to the right under braking.........
Post by: feeutfo on 14 December 2009, 00:21:08
also, ask them what torque procedure they followed to tighten the bolts. I bet they cocked that up as well, meaning early failure.