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[markomega25]

Hi, and thanks to all for the warm welcome.

Vauxhall dealer failed mine on Mot for Wishbones & Centres and rear Exhaust, but I was certainly not going to pay their prices. Have bought bits (Walker Exhausts) wishbones and droplinks from Autovaux (£367) and local garage are going to fit them for me hopefully this Thursday (7th Feb 08) once they have had a look.

Anyone know how much they might charge for fitting this lot?

Mechanic said over phone that he thinks the last ime he did the Wishbones he had to drop the subframe, but the brilliant how to guide on here doesn't mention this. Should I dig my heels in and tell mechanic it can be done without dropping the subframe?

Any advice welcome and thanks in advance.

[Andy B]

Hi, and thanks to all for the warm welcome.

Vauxhall dealer failed mine on Mot for Wishbones & Centres and rear Exhaust, but I was certainly not going to pay their prices. Have bought bits (Walker Exhausts) wishbones and droplinks from Autovaux (£367) and local garage are going to fit them for me hopefully this Thursday (7th Feb 08) once they have had a look.

Anyone know how much they might charge for fitting this lot?

Mechanic said over phone that he thinks the last ime he did the Wishbones he had to drop the subframe, but the brilliant how to guide on here doesn't mention this. Should I dig my heels in and tell mechanic it can be done without dropping the subframe?

Any advice welcome and thanks in advance.

Unless he is a mechanic you'd not want to upset I think I'd be finding another garage. I think I paid an indepent about £40 (cash in hand  ) to fit both my wishbones, although they're not too difficult to do. I can't really think why he might want to drop the subframe just for wishbones. :-?

[markomega25]

Me neither, Haynes manual basically says jack up unbolt and refit. I will see what he says when I take it round. I am a bit stuck for time really need the car for friday and the garage in question have been pretty good in the past.

Thanks Andy B

[hotel21]

Droplinks are 10 minutes a side to a qualified mechanic.

However, as said, wishbones are basically an unbolt and refit process.  No need to drop the subframe.  Just make sure the weight is back on the wheels before you finally tighten up the bushes, otherwise you will be replacing them again in a few thousand miles....    

[Marks DTM Calib]

Hi, and thanks to all for the warm welcome.

Vauxhall dealer failed mine on Mot for Wishbones & Centres and rear Exhaust, but I was certainly not going to pay their prices. Have bought bits (Walker Exhausts) wishbones and droplinks from Autovaux (£367) and local garage are going to fit them for me hopefully this Thursday (7th Feb 08) once they have had a look.

Anyone know how much they might charge for fitting this lot?

Mechanic said over phone that he thinks the last ime he did the Wishbones he had to drop the subframe, but the brilliant how to guide on here doesn't mention this. Should I dig my heels in and tell mechanic it can be done without dropping the subframe?

Any advice welcome and thanks in advance.

Autovaux strike again!

Could of got a genuine system on trade club and Lemforder wishbones for that price.

I wont comment on Walkers exhaust!

[Jay w]

Hi, and thanks to all for the warm welcome.

Vauxhall dealer failed mine on Mot for Wishbones & Centres and rear Exhaust, but I was certainly not going to pay their prices. Have bought bits (Walker Exhausts) wishbones and droplinks from Autovaux (£367) and local garage are going to fit them for me hopefully this Thursday (7th Feb 08) once they have had a look.

Anyone know how much they might charge for fitting this lot?

Mechanic said over phone that he thinks the last ime he did the Wishbones he had to drop the subframe, but the brilliant how to guide on here doesn't mention this. Should I dig my heels in and tell mechanic it can be done without dropping the subframe?

Any advice welcome and thanks in advance.

Autovaux strike again!

Could of got a genuine system on trade club and Lemforder wishbones for that price.

I wont comment on Walkers exhaust!

an exhaust should be no more than an hour, the only issue arrives when the cat to centre section bolts snap/round off.

wishbone and drop link, a couple of hours at the most, budget on a labour rate of £35/40 per hour and that should give you a ball park....

be interesting to hear how this goes

[Marks DTM Calib]

The secret to the bolts I find is to get them red hot.....and then hit them with rustflash!

And when re-fitting use genuine or stainless bolts.

[Andy B]

I can't understand why Vauxhall didn't thread the main exhaust rather than the down pipe. That way it wouldn't matter if the bolt sheared, you're replacing the exhaust anyway. :-/

[Marks DTM Calib]

I can't understand why Vauxhall didn't thread the main exhaust rather than the down pipe. That way it wouldn't matter if the bolt sheared, you're replacing the exhaust anyway. :-/

My thoughts to.....never worked that one out.

Knowing what German designers are like it will be a case of 'it voz not in zee spec'

[bigdods]

IIRC my local garage hit me for about £150 to supply and fit both front wishbones (genuine vx parts)... or was it £200 ? certainly no more than that.

[Andy B]

IIRC my local garage hit me for about £150 to supply and fit both front wishbones (genuine vx parts)... or was it £200 ? certainly no more than that.

Unlikey to be genuine Vx at that price. IIRC Vx's are about that each.

edit .... Just found the reciept.


90576788 Left control arm. List price - £184  Net £119.60
90576789 right control arm           ------ " --------
Total £239.20 + VAT(41.86 = Total £281.06

They were bought via a staff rates on 11/02/06

[markomega25]

Thanks.

Marks DTM, unfortunatley I dont have a trade card and could not see a way of getting hold of one quickly. Reports on Walkers were good from another other site! Will let you know how I get on.

Main dealer wanted £236 EACH for wishbones and quoted £777 for supply and fitting!! They wanted £596 for exhausts! Incidently they also said cam covers leaking (£500) but on checking I cant see any leak - but will pull plug caps and thoroughly check at the weekend.

So fitting at around £40 an hour and 3 hours - £120, which is what I saved by going for the Walkers (exhaust not crisps  ).

Luckily there is a main dealer 1 mile away from local garage, so if they have probs with the exhaust bolts shearing spares are not to far away. My delivery from Autovaux has apparently arrived - hooray - I asked for a fitting kit - so will check when I get home if bolts are included!

[bigdods]

IIRC my local garage hit me for about £150 to supply and fit both front wishbones (genuine vx parts)... or was it £200 ? certainly no more than that.

Unlikey to be genuine Vx at that price. IIRC Vx's are about that each.

edit .... Just found the reciept.


90576788 Left control arm. List price - £184  Net £119.60
90576789 right control arm           ------ " --------
Total £239.20 + VAT(41.86 = Total £281.06

They were bought via a staff rates on 11/02/06

I was clearly thinking about a different job there then.... oops. Just checked the receipt £345 inc vat to supply and fit, so I guess they didnt use genuine Vx parts grrr. Lesson learned, now I need to get myself a TC card and supply my own parts in future. I didnt mean to mislead, Im just a bit stupid sometimes  

[JasonH]

If the exhaust bolts shear I suspect the garage will just drill them out (doesn't have to be too precise) and fit a slightly longer nut with a bolt.

I have two of the four like that! If they shear in the future it won't matter because both ends will fall out....

Wishbones should be at worst 1 hour a side, could be 20 mins.

Droplinks should be 10 mins a side.

But with all three jobs the problem is seized nuts and bolts which could extend the time a bit.

With the wishbones you REALLY need to get the front geometry checked afterwards. The easy way to do the wishbones is to unbolt the front strut but that will ruin the camber setting.

Regarding exhausts if you want a perfect Omega (and there are quite a few perfectionists on this forum) genuine is the way to go, but you have to get them on Trade Club or they're silly prices. However I think a couple of people have found pattern exhausts to solve a problem (like MoT failure) and not be too bad.

[ians]

If the exhaust bolts shear I suspect the garage will just drill them out (doesn't have to be too precise) and fit a slightly longer nut with a bolt.

I have two of the four like that! If they shear in the future it won't matter because both ends will fall out....

Wishbones should be at worst 1 hour a side, could be 20 mins.

Droplinks should be 10 mins a side.

But with all three jobs the problem is seized nuts and bolts which could extend the time a bit.

With the wishbones you REALLY need to get the front geometry checked afterwards. The easy way to do the wishbones is to unbolt the front strut but that will ruin the camber setting.

Regarding exhausts if you want a perfect Omega (and there are quite a few perfectionists on this forum) genuine is the way to go, but you have to get them on Trade Club or they're silly prices. However I think a couple of people have found pattern exhausts to solve a problem (like MoT failure) and not be too bad.

I agree with this.  Nothing complex with any of the jobs but I had a wishbone pinch bolt/nut which was a real barsteward to get off - needed a hardened socket on a breaker bar.  I've since discovered PlusGas which may have helped.

I have had a KwikFit exhaust on my 2.5 for 3 1/2 years now and its been fine.   Having said that the original (I assume) had previously lasted 6 years, so worth the cost (which would have been the same parts only as I paid KF, I now know ) if you are planning on keeping the car long term.