Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: geoffr70 on 22 August 2010, 22:16:55

Title: Donut bushes
Post by: geoffr70 on 22 August 2010, 22:16:55
Did my donut bushes yesterday. Just thought I'd write a few little helpful hints incase anyone else has it planned in near future, and I can't reply to the section in maintenance guide.

Even though mine is the Elite, i didn't bother inflating the suspension, just used an axle stand and found there was enough clearance, imo, as I am young and fit and squeeze into tight holes for a living though!

When undoing the 18 mil bolt, support the arm with a scissor jack or another axle stand (not too much though - be careful not to take the weight off your first axle stand supporting the car, check and re-check), this is so you don't make the same mistake as me and have the bolt fly out at you when the last thread is released! :-/

I found my bushes came out quite easily, but then i noticed they weren't in that bad condition, but replaced them anyway as they were out.

I hammered a small gorilla bar in to the gap and levered them out a bit. Then i found it quite useful to place it in the gap but pointing to rear of car and lift with scissor jack, pushing out bush by levering against the arm itself, worked quite well. then i used a 3 ft breaker bar. I didn't need a special tool, but as i said, mine weren't in such a bad condition.

I got the bush to go in by using a scissor jack, but again be careful not to take the weight off your axle stand if you choose to do this. It wouldn't go fully home, but then once the car was lowered to ground it went fully in, so i rechecked the torque on the 18 mil bolt and that was that.

HTH

BTW, what are the flat round rubber/plastic discs on top of donut bush for and do they need replacing aswell? I didn't do mine. :-?
Title: Re: Donut bushes
Post by: feeutfo on 22 August 2010, 23:59:52
They are just a bump stop type affair to stop road noise transmitting to the chassis, no need to replace them.

Have found best insertion method for me is welt the bush in with a suitable bat as far as possible, then invert the triangular plate and use that with the centre bolt to force the bush in the rest of the way, then leave it for 10 mins to work in under load from the bolt/plate. Managed to get The Boys in right to the hilt with a bit of spit. Hopefully they will stay in fully.
Title: Re: Donut bushes
Post by: Kevin Wood on 23 August 2010, 09:39:48
Quote
Have found best insertion method for me is welt the bush in with a suitable bat as far as possible....

Cricket Bat?  ;)

Quote
Managed to get The Boys in right to the hilt with a bit of spit....

:-X




 ;)

Kevin
Title: Re: Donut bushes
Post by: Iain on 23 August 2010, 09:41:55
I still haven't done mine  :(

For me its just one of those jobs i dont wanna do!  ;D
Title: Re: Donut bushes
Post by: feeutfo on 23 August 2010, 21:45:29
Quote
Quote
Have found best insertion method for me is welt the bush in with a suitable bat as far as possible....

Cricket Bat?  ;)

Quote
Managed to get The Boys in right to the hilt with a bit of spit....

:-X




 ;)

Kevin
Tut tut Mr Wood.  ;D
Title: Re: Donut bushes
Post by: TheBoy on 23 August 2010, 21:48:11
Quote
They are just a bump stop type affair to stop road noise transmitting to the chassis, no need to replace them.

Have found best insertion method for me is welt the bush in with a suitable bat as far as possible, then invert the triangular plate and use that with the centre bolt to force the bush in the rest of the way, then leave it for 10 mins to work in under load from the bolt/plate. Managed to get The Boys in right to the hilt with a bit of spit. Hopefully they will stay in fully.

I have tried VERY hard to show any weaknesses in them, but the tyres seem to give up first....
Title: Re: Donut bushes
Post by: feeutfo on 23 August 2010, 22:30:13
Quote
Quote
They are just a bump stop type affair to stop road noise transmitting to the chassis, no need to replace them.

Have found best insertion method for me is welt the bush in with a suitable bat as far as possible, then invert the triangular plate and use that with the centre bolt to force the bush in the rest of the way, then leave it for 10 mins to work in under load from the bolt/plate. Managed to get The Boys in right to the hilt with a bit of spit. Hopefully they will stay in fully.

I have tried VERY hard to show any weaknesses in them, but the tyres seem to give up first....
May be a set of gm ones for sale soon then...
Title: Re: Donut bushes
Post by: geoffr70 on 23 August 2010, 22:38:04
Quote
I still haven't done mine  :(

For me its just one of those jobs i dont wanna do!  ;D

Judging by how mine went I'd much rather do this than cam cover gaskets :)