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[SOPRANO999]

Here goes

Had my car for a few months now and know when its wet to take care however I have an issue with the rear end 'drifting' worse on one side than the other.

I do find i have to take extra care when its wet despite the car being heavy - and thats driving normally and sensibly. The back end seems very light however I almost came a cropper this morning so need some advice.

The rear right end seems to kick out and slide far too easy at very low speeds with even light touch of the accelerator - more so than the other side i.e. if making a left turn.

Its not my imagination and both sides have the same tyres fitted (dont seem to be premium brands).

Been scratching my head as to why one side is a bit more prone than the other - especially at low speed. Tyre pressures are the same , nuts are all tight.

Getting to the stage where I am considering getting rid of it unless i can come up with a solution any ideas

[Kevin Wood]

Well, something's certainly wrong, as a properly set up Omega is pretty firmly planted, even in the wet.

I would start with the basics - tyre pressure and condition on both ends. Sounds like you've eliminated that. Try reducing the pressure at the rear a little (no less than 30 PSI, though).  What brand of tyres do you have on it? Some just don't agree with the Omega.

Next, check all suspension bushes - front wishbone bushes can give the sensation of the rear end "giving" if they are shot, and if they haven't had attention in the last 3 years or so they probably will be. Replace the front bush with a poly bush and the rear with a genuine GM replacement. Rear subframe "donut" bushes are likely to be past their best, too, if they haven't been recently changed. Also worth checking the triangular central rear subframe bushes in front of the diff.

Once that's all known to be OK, get a proper 4 wheel alignment done and check that the thrust angle ends up close to zero, and the front camber wants to be no more than about -1^o10' - -1^o15'.

[05omegav6]

Failed rear diff blocks gave a very similar sensation on my estate...

[SOPRANO999]

Well, something's certainly wrong, as a properly set up Omega is pretty firmly planted, even in the wet.

I would start with the basics - tyre pressure and condition on both ends. Sounds like you've eliminated that. Try reducing the pressure at the rear a little (no less than 30 PSI, though).  What brand of tyres do you have on it? Some just don't agree with the Omega.

Next, check all suspension bushes - front wishbone bushes can give the sensation of the rear end "giving" if they are shot, and if they haven't had attention in the last 3 years or so they probably will be. Replace the front bush with a poly bush and the rear with a genuine GM replacement. Rear subframe "donut" bushes are likely to be past their best, too, if they haven't been recently changed. Also worth checking the triangular central rear subframe bushes in front of the diff.

Once that's all known to be OK, get a proper 4 wheel alignment done and check that the thrust angle ends up close to zero, and the front camber wants to be no more than about -1^o10' - -1^o15'.

Thanks mate - its due an MOT in a few weeks so ill get it all checked asap. Tyres are cheap ones that were on when I got it- loads of tread but not a known brand name. Ive owned BMW's and Lexus in the past and know how to drive rwd but its all over the place! the rear right wheel spins when pulling from wet worse than the left - im like a granddad crawling round roundabouts and corners in the wet!! lol

Ill get searching now - and let u know how I get on- cheers 

[SOPRANO999]

Failed rear diff blocks gave a very similar sensation on my estate...

Hi Taxi Al - excuse my lack of technical knowledge  - I know what the diff is but what is the diff block ?? lol

[05omegav6]

Two oppsing great lumps of rubber that hold the back of the rear subframe off the floor... usually fail as a direct result of jacking the car by the diff

[SOPRANO999]

Two oppsing great lumps of rubber that hold the back of the rear subframe off the floor... usually fail as a direct result of jacking the car by the diff

Brilliant! ill have a peek 

[SOPRANO999]

Been away for a couple of weeks but turns out i have a leaky shocker on that very side - however still handles like a figure skater on wet roads 

getting the shocks changed next week and tempted to bin-off the cheapo 'Autogrip' tyres currently adorning the rear as they sound like bargain basement jobbies and may not be helping either!

Ill keep you posted to see if it helps- all rear bushes appeared to be in good order!

[RossPhim]

When I picked up my current mota, which is FWD, it has those Autogrip 'things' wrapping the rear wheels, and in slightly damp conditions, the rear of the car wanted to overtake the front. 
They were utter 'pish' as we say up here! 
Ditch the Autogrips, before they ditch you! 

[biggriffin]

When I picked up my current mota, which is FWD, it has those Autogrip 'things' wrapping the rear wheels, and in slightly damp conditions, the rear of the car wanted to overtake the front. 
They were utter 'pish' as we say up here! 
Ditch the Autogrips, before they ditch you! 

Got them on my estate,they grip fine in all weathers, try driving to the conditions,and not like Russel mikola,McRae,

[RossPhim]

When I picked up my current mota, which is FWD, it has those Autogrip 'things' wrapping the rear wheels, and in slightly damp conditions, the rear of the car wanted to overtake the front. 
They were utter 'pish' as we say up here! 
Ditch the Autogrips, before they ditch you! 

Got them on my estate,they grip fine in all weathers, try driving to the conditions,and not like Russel mikola,McRae,

I was driving to the conditions, and they were crap, really crap!

[chrisgixer]

When I picked up my current mota, which is FWD, it has those Autogrip 'things' wrapping the rear wheels, and in slightly damp conditions, the rear of the car wanted to overtake the front. 
They were utter 'pish' as we say up here! 
Ditch the Autogrips, before they ditch you! 

Got them on my estate,they grip fine in all weathers, try driving to the conditions,and not like Russel mikola,McRae,

There really is something in the water up in Northants isn't there!

Thing is that's the trouble with the Autoshits. They are so appalling that no conditions exist that suit them. Other than burning in a skip of course. Does Bg drive in a burning skip I wonder ?

Ordinarily most cheap tyres work to a certain level in the dry, then get caught out when it rains as there is shuch a vast difference in wet and dry performance people don't expect the grip to tail off so badly when it rains.
 But with the Autoshits they don't work in the dry either. Unless tip toeing round everything that smells like a corner of course, and on the brakes....and on acceleration actually.

In fact what conditions would these be Bg?


Absolutely THE worst tire on the market.

[05omegav6]

They do have one redeeming feature...

They never wear out...

[dbug]

When I picked up my current mota, which is FWD, it has those Autogrip 'things' wrapping the rear wheels, and in slightly damp conditions, the rear of the car wanted to overtake the front. 
They were utter 'pish' as we say up here! 
Ditch the Autogrips, before they ditch you! 

Got them on my estate,they grip fine in all weathers, try driving to the conditions,and not like Russel mikola,McRae,

There really is something in the water up in Northants isn't there!

Thing is that's the trouble with the Autoshits. They are so appalling that no conditions exist that suit them. Other than burning in a skip of course. Does Bg drive in a burning skip I wonder ?

Ordinarily most cheap tyres work to a certain level in the dry, then get caught out when it rains as there is shuch a vast difference in wet and dry performance people don't expect the grip to tail off so badly when it rains.
 But with the Autoshits they don't work in the dry either. Unless tip toeing round everything that smells like a corner of course, and on the brakes....and on acceleration actually.

In fact what conditions would these be Bg?


Absolutely THE worst tire on the market.

Since when did Huntingdon move to Northants 

[biggriffin]

When I picked up my current mota, which is FWD, it has those Autogrip 'things' wrapping the rear wheels, and in slightly damp conditions, the rear of the car wanted to overtake the front. 
They were utter 'pish' as we say up here! 
Ditch the Autogrips, before they ditch you! 

Got them on my estate,they grip fine in all weathers, try driving to the conditions,and not like Russel mikola,McRae,

There really is something in the water up in Northants isn't there!

Thing is that's the trouble with the Autoshits. They are so appalling that no conditions exist that suit them. Other than burning in a skip of course. Does Bg drive in a burning skip I wonder ?

Ordinarily most cheap tyres work to a certain level in the dry, then get caught out when it rains as there is shuch a vast difference in wet and dry performance people don't expect the grip to tail off so badly when it rains.
 But with the Autoshits they don't work in the dry either. Unless tip toeing round everything that smells like a corner of course, and on the brakes....and on acceleration actually.

In fact what conditions would these be Bg?


Absolutely THE worst tire on the market.

Since when did Huntingdon move to Northants 

Nice to see you back sir..