Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: John_Clayton on 19 August 2011, 19:53:52

Title: Rear Shock Absorbers
Post by: John_Clayton on 19 August 2011, 19:53:52
One of my rear shockers has virtually seized up. You can hardly push that corner of the car down at all and the ride is very harsh. The other shocker is leaking so a new pair is on the cards. The faulty ones are the self-levelling type but I'll be replacing them with standard ones as self-levelling ones don't appear to be available and, even if they are, I'm told they're around £150 as opposed to £60 or so each.

Question - what do I need to do to stop the self-levelling air compressor working?

Second question - do I need to purchase any washers or other items to fit the new shockers?

PS. I'm now being asked whether I wish to disable parsing of ubbc tags and smileys. I know what smileys are but ubbc tags.........................??? Is it painful to parse them?
Title: Re: Rear Shock Absorbers
Post by: amba on 19 August 2011, 20:25:00
Mounting points are the same on S/L and standard shocks so no issues with fitting .

All you really need to do is remove the fuse that runs the S/L air compressor from memory I think it is #17 in the fuse but will check and confirm.

Only thing you do need to remember is the rear springs for the S/L set up are softer than stock springs so ride will be firmer than standard S/L system but not as firm as stock
Title: Re: Rear Shock Absorbers
Post by: amba on 19 August 2011, 20:41:48
Sorry for info about fuse..its #27..for S/L system.
Title: Re: Rear Shock Absorbers
Post by: Osprey on 19 August 2011, 22:02:37
Quote
One of my rear shockers has virtually seized up. You can hardly push that corner of the car down at all and the ride is very harsh. The other shocker is leaking so a new pair is on the cards. The faulty ones are the self-levelling type but I'll be replacing them with standard ones as self-levelling ones don't appear to be available and, even if they are, I'm told they're around £150 as opposed to £60 or so each.

Question - what do I need to do to stop the self-levelling air compressor working?

Second question - do I need to purchase any washers or other items to fit the new shockers?

PS. I'm now being asked whether I wish to disable parsing of ubbc tags and smileys. I know what smileys are but ubbc tags.........................??? Is it painful to parse them?

Assuming it's 72119085, £73.98 each +VAT from Vauxhall on TC.


Title: Re: Rear Shock Absorbers
Post by: John_Clayton on 22 August 2011, 11:32:17
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Sorry for info about fuse..its #27..for S/L system.

Thanks for the info. I haven't replaced the shocks yet but have removed the fuse. However, when I start the engine there's a continuous clicking sound, like a relay's being cycled on and off really fast. If I put the fuse back the noise stops but it's going to be a pain doing that every time I start the engine. I'll therefore try disconnecting the compressor's power lead if I can find it - unless anyone has another suggestion. 
Title: Re: Rear Shock Absorbers
Post by: RobG on 22 August 2011, 11:40:21
If you want to keep the S/L I`m selling a pair, fitted Sept. `09 so plenty of miles left in them
Title: Re: Rear Shock Absorbers
Post by: twiglet on 22 August 2011, 11:42:09
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If you want to keep the S/L I`m selling a pair, fitted Sept. `09 so plenty of miles left in them

I think the OP's car is an estate Rob.  :-/
Title: Re: Rear Shock Absorbers
Post by: RobG on 22 August 2011, 11:43:26
Didn`t notice "tourer" in his profile :-[ :-X
Title: Re: Rear Shock Absorbers
Post by: John_Clayton on 22 August 2011, 12:34:41
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If you want to keep the S/L I`m selling a pair, fitted Sept. `09 so plenty of miles left in them

Thanks for the offer but I've got new ones on order and, as twiglet says, mine's an estate. Actually I've just updated my profile as my current Omega is a 1998 model. The 1997 one caught fire a couple of years ago! 
Title: Re: Rear Shock Absorbers
Post by: Osprey on 22 August 2011, 15:17:09
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If you want to keep the S/L I`m selling a pair, fitted Sept. `09 so plenty of miles left in them

Thanks for the offer but I've got new ones on order and, as twiglet says, mine's an estate. Actually I've just updated my profile as my current Omega is a 1998 model. The 1997 one caught fire a couple of years ago! 

Sorry to hear that!  Out of curiosity, was it the power sounder near the driver's side wiper spindle?

Title: Re: Rear Shock Absorbers
Post by: John_Clayton on 23 August 2011, 12:41:55
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Quote
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If you want to keep the S/L I`m selling a pair, fitted Sept. `09 so plenty of miles left in them

Thanks for the offer but I've got new ones on order and, as twiglet says, mine's an estate. Actually I've just updated my profile as my current Omega is a 1998 model. The 1997 one caught fire a couple of years ago! 

Sorry to hear that!  Out of curiosity, was it the power sounder near the driver's side wiper spindle?

I never did discover exactly what the cause was. It seemed to have started near the fuel pipes where they join the manifiold. I'm going to try attaching a couple of photos (using photobucket) so you may be able to spot something I missed. Fingers crossed as I don't do this very often and will probably get it wrong!
 (http://<a href="http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f141/hollis583/?action=view&amp;current=Omegafire.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f141/hollis583/Omegafire.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>)<a href="http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f141/hollis583/?action=view&amp;current=Omegafire1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f141/hollis583/Omegafire1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>[img]
Title: Re: Rear Shock Absorbers
Post by: RobG on 23 August 2011, 12:44:16
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f141/hollis583/Omegafire1.jpg)
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f141/hollis583/Omegafire.jpg)
Title: Re: Rear Shock Absorbers
Post by: Lazydocker on 23 August 2011, 13:08:30
Doesn't look like a powersounder fire to me... I'd expect the scuttle to melt quickly :-/ :-/
Title: Re: Rear Shock Absorbers
Post by: Jimbob on 23 August 2011, 13:19:27
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Doesn't look like a powersounder fire to me... I'd expect the scuttle to melt quickly :-/ :-/

agreed, not sure what that ones caused by  :-/
Title: Re: Rear Shock Absorbers
Post by: Lazydocker on 23 August 2011, 14:00:17
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Doesn't look like a powersounder fire to me... I'd expect the scuttle to melt quickly :-/ :-/

agreed, not sure what that ones caused by  :-/

Tough one to guess... I wonder if there had been any work done recently before the fire?

If I had to speculate I'd be looking as a slight leak from one of the fuel lines onto the manifold :-/
Title: Re: Rear Shock Absorbers
Post by: twiglet on 23 August 2011, 14:39:31
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Quote
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Doesn't look like a powersounder fire to me... I'd expect the scuttle to melt quickly :-/ :-/

agreed, not sure what that ones caused by  :-/

Tough one to guess... I wonder if there had been any work done recently before the fire?

If I had to speculate I'd be looking as a slight leak from one of the fuel lines onto the manifold :-/

Looking at the flash burning to the sound deadening on the underside of the bonnet, I'd have to conclude a fuel leak from plenum end of the fuel lines...  :'(
Title: Re: Rear Shock Absorbers
Post by: John_Clayton on 25 August 2011, 12:05:36


Tough one to guess... I wonder if there had been any work done recently before the fire?

If I had to speculate I'd be looking as a slight leak from one of the fuel lines onto the manifold :-/[/quote]


Yes, I think it must have been fuel-related. I had in fact removed and completely rebuilt the engine not long before. I'd checked carefully and hadn't spotted any fuel leaks though.