Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Omega 37 on 27 August 2010, 20:07:51
-
I have replaced steering idler on passenger side, drop links, wishbones with gm parts. A trip to wim & damm car still wont go in a straight line.
I have been looking for more bits to replace & noticed a steering idler thing on the drivers side with a huge plastic cap on it!!!!!
Could that be worn, the car was banged on that wheel caus the tyre was damaged & steeering wheel was wonky when i bought the car.
cheers
Paul :(
-
Pitman arm on driver`s side, very rarely known to fail
-
Thanks, could it fail if the wheel whacked a kerb?
-
I have replaced steering idler on passenger side, drop links, wishbones with gm parts. A trip to wim & damm car still wont go in a straight line.
I have been looking for more bits to replace & noticed a steering idler thing on the drivers side with a huge plastic cap on it!!!!!
Could that be worn, the car was banged on that wheel caus the tyre was damaged & steeering wheel was wonky when i bought the car.
cheers
Paul :(
Have you tried another wheel (spare) ? Clarify what you mean by wonky steering wheel. :-?
-
Depends on the impact, but unlikely. Checking for play is the same as the check done on the idler arm
-
The steering wheel was about 30 deg clockwise when driving in a straight line and there was a small tear in the drivers side front tyres side wall.
-
The steering wheel was about 30 deg clockwise when driving in a straight line and there was a small tear in the drivers side front tyres side wall.
Was the steering wheel centred after your trip to WIM ? I hardly think driving against the kerb would'nt damage the Pitman arm unless at speed . It could easily damage the rim that's why I asked if you had tried another wheel.
What did WIM say about the wonky steering wheel ?
-
I had them aligned at a place in northampton the wheel was only about 5 deg out after that.
I then replaced the idler because it was clonking when I drove over speed bumps.
Also done the wishbones etc so had to do the tracking again. Wheel still in the same position after wim visit.
cheers
Paul
-
You can pop the steering wheel off and align again with the wheels straight ahead. Also check that the retaining nut is torqued down properly.
I would also check the condition of the brake discs and pads, if there is any binding this will affect your steering.
-
You can pop the steering wheel off and align again with the wheels straight ahead. Also check that the retaining nut is torqued down properly.
I would also check the condition of the brake discs and pads, if there is any binding this will affect your steering.
This is a very bad idea on an Omega. The pitman arm must be straight ahead when the steering wheel is straight ahead otherwise the steering geometry will be all wrong and the internal damping in the steering box will be nonexistant around the straight ahead position.
In fact, it would be worthwhile checking that such a bodge hasn't been carried out in the past. :y
Kevin
-
yes maybe that could be the prob.
front GM discs & pads were also done at same time as the suspension bits.
steering wheel points slightly to the right but car pulls to the left & follows the camber of the road too much. Felt better after wim visit but getting worse every day. wim visit was only 3 weeks ago. now nearly back to where I was b4 wim visit...... help :D
-
Have you done all the suspension work since you had the alignment done?
-
You can pop the steering wheel off and align again with the wheels straight ahead. Also check that the retaining nut is torqued down properly.
I would also check the condition of the brake discs and pads, if there is any binding this will affect your steering.
This is a very bad idea on an Omega. The pitman arm must be straight ahead when the steering wheel is straight ahead otherwise the steering geometry will be all wrong and the internal damping in the steering box will be nonexistant around the straight ahead position.
In fact, it would be worthwhile checking that such a bodge hasn't been carried out in the past. :y
Kevin
Thanks for the correction Kevin, I am struggling to come up with ideas. I also suspected that something had been done prior to Omega37 getting this car.
I don't understand why WIM did'nt correct this.
-
suspension work was done after the first alignment. after it was done took the car to wim.
shame love the car but want it to go in a straight line!!!
-
I don't understand why WIM did'nt correct this.
neither can I!
car cost £1600 spent that again trying to get it to go in a straight line & it still wont :'(
-
I would take it back and tell them your not happy with it.
I have never used WIM but from the reports here they do a good job.
If they can't get your car steering straight I would at least expect them to tell you why.
-
I have had this problem on my old Mondeo... Sadly in that case, it resulted in a new Steering Box... That jumped after I had hit a particularly nasty pot hole on a fast roundabout...
-
In fact, it would be worthwhile checking that such a bodge hasn't been carried out in the past. :y
Kevin
I saw this in TIS 2000 and wondered if it could be relevant, if the column has been removed and refitted in the past.
Steering poor self alignment
Complaint:
hard to operate.
Self alignment of steering(increased steering effort) impeded.
Cause:
Twisted installed steering column.
Remedy:
Loosen fastening screws of steering column. The steering column must contact the column tube bracket and breakaway sled. Fasten the screws at the column tube bracket first.
Just a thought. :-/
-
thanks kneepad I was starting to think about the steering rack.
The wife's punto has a worn rack, will fail mot next year. 4 years old 30k!!!!!
Took my parents to the airport in their mig (same age & mileage 2.2 as mine) It pulls to the left abit like mine but it feels firmer like a new car. Can only be springs/dampers.
How long do dampers last? do they wear or just fail when they eventually leak???? :D
-
How long do dampers last? do they wear or just fail when they eventually leak???? :D
Sorry, No idea on this. Hopefully someone else can throw some light on it. :-X