Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Marc Taylor on 08 November 2010, 17:19:10

Title: Steering and Suspension trouble
Post by: Marc Taylor on 08 November 2010, 17:19:10
My offside front wheel is starting to wear on the inside so i am guessing something has perished somewhere. Hence the knocking noise im hearing lately too.  I am looking at wishbones and track rod ends, is there anything else that could have gone that may need replacing? If i was to change the bushes in the wish bones how many bushes are there to change and is it an easy job to do?  Many thanks
Title: Re: Steering and Suspension trouble
Post by: Varche on 08 November 2010, 17:35:45
There are a few things that you would be wise to check out. Once the work is done a trip to a proper suspension set up place like WIM would be in order. I believe OOF members get a discount.

You may be right with your assessment of the problem being wishbones. Another item that Knocks but wouldn't cause your tyres to wear are the drop links. Cheap and easy enough to replace. Here is an example off EBay picked at random.http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vauxhall-Omega-94-04-FRONT-ROLL-BAR-DROP-LINKS-RODS-x-2-/350411141595?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item519621b1db

If you do change your wishbones then follow the advise of the forum in one of the guides. Some wishbones are better quality than others. Lemforder being one of the better ones. Don't know about the bushes but I remember their being a poly bush thread recently.   
Title: Re: Steering and Suspension trouble
Post by: Kneepad on 08 November 2010, 17:40:55

Could be your wishbone bushes, much easier to change the wishbones they come complete with bushes.
Drop links can also cause the knocking as can the track rod balljoints, broken spring, idler arm.

Title: Re: Steering and Suspension trouble
Post by: Marc Taylor on 08 November 2010, 18:23:35
Drop links could be something to change while everything else is being don, i only noticed a knock recently but steering hasnt felt brill since i bought it so could possibly have original parts still there.  Changing the bushes i thought could be a quicker and cheaper fix for these as i know i have a snapped spring on the back and bought a full set of sec hand mv6 springs so planning to do all of this in one go.  WIM i think is a little too far for me to drive with a messed up steering set up, there is one closer to me called Elite but had mixed review on this place. 
Title: Re: Steering and Suspension trouble
Post by: Marc Taylor on 08 November 2010, 18:26:23
Hi Varche, you put that link for drop links in your last comment.  It is for a pair of link rods, would i need a pair for each side or just the one pair for the front end? Cheers
Title: Re: Steering and Suspension trouble
Post by: Kneepad on 08 November 2010, 18:29:19


Just one link rod for each side.   :y
Title: Re: Steering and Suspension trouble
Post by: Marc Taylor on 08 November 2010, 18:31:43
Thank you Kneepad.  If i was to change the bushes is it the same kind of bush for all parts of the wishbone or do they have individual bushes if that makes any sense. Would the original wishbone be OK to have bushes replaced or would the part itself have normally become weakened?
Title: Re: Steering and Suspension trouble
Post by: Kneepad on 08 November 2010, 18:48:47

There is a front and rear bush in each wishbone, they are not the same bushes but unless you have a 10 ton press you will not be able to change the rear bush, the front one can be replaced with a Polybush after cutting the old one out with a hacksaw. There is also the steering knuckle which would probably need replacing on the outer end of the wishbone.
That's why I said it is better to replace the wishbones and just as cheap.
Title: Re: Steering and Suspension trouble
Post by: Marc Taylor on 08 November 2010, 19:11:53
Om second thoughts Kneepad i think i'll take your advice  :y