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Hi all, just had a visit to Wim with my daughter's car.

I expected Tony to have had a run of Omega's after our knowledge day but no - only one member had turned up with some uprated (BMW spec?) bushes for Tony to fit. By all accounts, the job was a bit of a nightmare taking over 3 hours to fit! I know that he now has uprated bushes but the labour involved makes it an expensive job.

Which means, there are still lots of Omegas out there (including mine) which still require new bushes.

I will now go for a new pair of wishbones, but iirc the stealers charge a ridiculous price for them (part of general chat during our knowledge day).
I spotted this on a thread the other day.........
 Re: Omega unteven tyre wear, and cambelt changes ?
Reply #8 - Yesterday at 12:00    For straight replacement - new GM wishbones £25 a side. It's not worth the aggro of changing just the bushes at that price...

http://www.vauxcentre.co.uk/index.php?option=Prod_detail&product_id=485975&image...

Are these really GM parts or at least a good alternative? Seems a bit too cheap to me.

I would appreciate some input from those who have changed wishbones and some feedback as to how good they are.

(I have tried searching the forum but it is difficult to pin down this info)

[Dazzler]

They are not genuine, only an aftermarket product, to which most are around the £25 figure  

[markey mark]

i have fitted many pattern wishbones and never had any problems !  

[feeutfo]

Where to start? Well i was at the knowledge day, and still have every intention of 2 tyres and a Geometry set up at wim. But i have to sort wishbones first obviously. I need a kick up the arse as its dragging on. I have the bmw bushes.

The problem is, for me at least, 2 to 3 hours of labour to change the bushes in the wishbones  costs more than a set of genuine lemforder wishbones from autovox at 120 plus delivery. Yes we are getting better bushes, but at the end of the day i can do the job with stock bushes on the drive for less. Therefor the job now is to find an easy cheaper way of pressing the bushes,

1. Take the car to a garage or wim, removethe wishbones  press the bushes refit. A bit risky, if for what ever reason the bones cant be rebuilt and put back on the car,eg if the press brakes or the bush or wishbones are damaged, dont fit, or whatever. And cost as above.
2 as 1 but find an old pair of bones, as back up just in case. At least you will have something to fit to the car if it goes wrong. Still pricey.
3 find an old pair of bones, deliver them and bushes to a press owner and pick up later when done, then fit on your drive. History of bones is unknown.but should be cheaper?
4 buy a new pair of cheap bones £50 jobs, press new bushes into them and then fit on drive.

Once done visit wim.
For me 4 sounds favourite.
Opinions please. Cheers.

[HerefordElite]

Where to start? Well i was at the knowledge day, and still have every intention of 2 tyres and a Geometry set up at wim. But i have to sort wishbones first obviously. I need a kick up the arse as its dragging on. I have the bmw bushes.

The problem is, for me at least, 2 to 3 hours of labour to change the bushes in the wishbones  costs more than a set of genuine lemforder wishbones from autovox at 120 plus delivery. Yes we are getting better bushes, but at the end of the day i can do the job with stock bushes on the drive for less. Therefor the job now is to find an easy cheaper way of pressing the bushes,

1. Take the car to a garage or wim, removethe wishbones  press the bushes refit. A bit risky, if for what ever reason the bones cant be rebuilt and put back on the car,eg if the press brakes or the bush or wishbones are damaged, dont fit, or whatever. And cost as above.
2 as 1 but find an old pair of bones, as back up just in case. At least you will have something to fit to the car if it goes wrong. Still pricey.
3 find an old pair of bones, deliver them and bushes to a press owner and pick up later when done, then fit on your drive. History of bones is unknown.but should be cheaper?
4 buy a new pair of cheap bones £50 jobs, press new bushes into them and then fit on drive.

Once done visit wim.
For me 4 sounds favourite.
Opinions please. Cheers.

recently changed my bones for £50 egay specials and quality seems reasonable therefore option 4 seems favorite

how much are the BMW bushes?

[feeutfo]

Where to start? Well i was at the knowledge day, and still have every intention of 2 tyres and a Geometry set up at wim. But i have to sort wishbones first obviously. I need a kick up the arse as its dragging on. I have the bmw bushes.

The problem is, for me at least, 2 to 3 hours of labour to change the bushes in the wishbones  costs more than a set of genuine lemforder wishbones from autovox at 120 plus delivery. Yes we are getting better bushes, but at the end of the day i can do the job with stock bushes on the drive for less. Therefor the job now is to find an easy cheaper way of pressing the bushes,

1. Take the car to a garage or wim, removethe wishbones  press the bushes refit. A bit risky, if for what ever reason the bones cant be rebuilt and put back on the car,eg if the press brakes or the bush or wishbones are damaged, dont fit, or whatever. And cost as above.
2 as 1 but find an old pair of bones, as back up just in case. At least you will have something to fit to the car if it goes wrong. Still pricey.
3 find an old pair of bones, deliver them and bushes to a press owner and pick up later when done, then fit on your drive. History of bones is unknown.but should be cheaper?
4 buy a new pair of cheap bones £50 jobs, press new bushes into them and then fit on drive.

Once done visit wim.
For me 4 sounds favourite.
Opinions please. Cheers.

recently changed my bones for £50 egay specials and quality seems reasonable therefore option 4 seems favorite

how much are the BMW bushes?

Iirc 33 quid for a set for the car.

[johnnycboy]

Hi all, just had a visit to Wim with my daughter's car.

I expected Tony to have had a run of Omega's after our knowledge day but no - only one member had turned up with some uprated (BMW spec?) bushes for Tony to fit. By all accounts, the job was a bit of a nightmare taking over 3 hours to fit! I know that he now has uprated bushes but the labour involved makes it an expensive job.

Which means, there are still lots of Omegas out there (including mine) which still require new bushes.

I will now go for a new pair of wishbones, but iirc the stealers charge a ridiculous price for them (part of general chat during our knowledge day).
I spotted this on a thread the other day.........
 Re: Omega unteven tyre wear, and cambelt changes ?
Reply #8 - Yesterday at 12:00    For straight replacement - new GM wishbones £25 a side. It's not worth the aggro of changing just the bushes at that price...

http://www.vauxcentre.co.uk/index.php?option=Prod_detail&product_id=485975&image...

Are these really GM parts or at least a good alternative? Seems a bit too cheap to me.

I would appreciate some input from those who have changed wishbones and some feedback as to how good they are.

(I have tried searching the forum but it is difficult to pin down this info)

they are the ones fitted to mine over a week ago.  no problems at all.  with the maths stealers want nearly 400 quid for both sides so you will get 8 sets for that.  even if you have to replace them every 12 months. not bad for the money

[Richard A]

I kept the old wishbones from my car after fitting a pair of none GM ones which cost £55 delivered.  That was back in April 2007, since then the car has covered another 32,000 miles and passed it's MOT in April 2008 without a problem. As I say the old ones are still in my garage, I was going to re-bush them, but I have to question is it really worth the time, trouble and money against £55
regards
richard a

[feeutfo]

Hi all, just had a visit to Wim with my daughter's car.

I expected Tony to have had a run of Omega's after our knowledge day but no - only one member had turned up with some uprated (BMW spec?) bushes for Tony to fit. By all accounts, the job was a bit of a nightmare taking over 3 hours to fit! I know that he now has uprated bushes but the labour involved makes it an expensive job.

Which means, there are still lots of Omegas out there (including mine) which still require new bushes.

I will now go for a new pair of wishbones, but iirc the stealers charge a ridiculous price for them (part of general chat during our knowledge day).
I spotted this on a thread the other day.........
 Re: Omega unteven tyre wear, and cambelt changes ?
Reply #8 - Yesterday at 12:00    For straight replacement - new GM wishbones £25 a side. It's not worth the aggro of changing just the bushes at that price...

http://www.vauxcentre.co.uk/index.php?option=Prod_detail&product_id=485975&image...

Are these really GM parts or at least a good alternative? Seems a bit too cheap to me.

I would appreciate some input from those who have changed wishbones and some feedback as to how good they are.

(I have tried searching the forum but it is difficult to pin down this info)

they are the ones fitted to mine over a week ago.  no problems at all.  with the maths stealers want nearly 400 quid for both sides so you will get 8 sets for that.  even if you have to replace them every 12 months. not bad for the money

Hi Johnny, hows K?H says Hi, are there any photos from the knowledge day?
You pay your money you make your choice. Personally, i want to find the cheapest easiest way that will hopefully last the rest of the life of the car.
Also,it is a flaw on the omega and we need to find the best solution. My car is 52 plate and 70k old. The bushes have gone. Age seems to be the issue not miles so much, as far as i can see. Also, and this is a personal thing, even when new bones are fitted i find the omega a bit vague at the front, i am hoping the bmw bushes will tighten things up further still.

[johnnycboy]

Hi all, just had a visit to Wim with my daughter's car.

I expected Tony to have had a run of Omega's after our knowledge day but no - only one member had turned up with some uprated (BMW spec?) bushes for Tony to fit. By all accounts, the job was a bit of a nightmare taking over 3 hours to fit! I know that he now has uprated bushes but the labour involved makes it an expensive job.

Which means, there are still lots of Omegas out there (including mine) which still require new bushes.

I will now go for a new pair of wishbones, but iirc the stealers charge a ridiculous price for them (part of general chat during our knowledge day).
I spotted this on a thread the other day.........
 Re: Omega unteven tyre wear, and cambelt changes ?
Reply #8 - Yesterday at 12:00    For straight replacement - new GM wishbones £25 a side. It's not worth the aggro of changing just the bushes at that price...

http://www.vauxcentre.co.uk/index.php?option=Prod_detail&product_id=485975&image...

Are these really GM parts or at least a good alternative? Seems a bit too cheap to me.

I would appreciate some input from those who have changed wishbones and some feedback as to how good they are.

(I have tried searching the forum but it is difficult to pin down this info)

they are the ones fitted to mine over a week ago.  no problems at all.  with the maths stealers want nearly 400 quid for both sides so you will get 8 sets for that.  even if you have to replace them every 12 months. not bad for the money

Hi Johnny, hows K?H says Hi, are there any photos from the knowledge day?
You pay your money you make your choice. Personally, i want to find the cheapest easiest way that will hopefully last the rest of the life of the car.
Also,it is a flaw on the omega and we need to find the best solution. My car is 52 plate and 70k old. The bushes have gone. Age seems to be the issue not miles so much, as far as i can see. Also, and this is a personal thing, even when new bones are fitted i find the omega a bit vague at the front, i am hoping the bmw bushes will tighten things up further still.

off subject

hi chris

k is fine, hope h is ok, as for the pictures i have looked but i can't find them, try pm'ing jimbob i know he took some that day.

with regards to wishbones, you have to way up the amount of labour compared to fitting new bones. like you say pays ya money takes your choice, you will have to let us know how they go.

[feeutfo]

I kept the old wishbones from my car after fitting a pair of none GM ones which cost £55 delivered.  That was back in April 2007, since then the car has covered another 32,000 miles and passed it's MOT in April 2008 without a problem. As I say the old ones are still in my garage, I was going to re-bush them, but I have to question is it really worth the time, trouble and money against £55
regards
richard a

A fair point, but
the  general feeling was that non genuine would not last indefinately, or the rest of the life of the car, so thats 110 at least plus the agro of doing the job twice, possible risk of shagging tyres and wayward handling to varying degrees as they ware out. Of 15 cars at wim 13 had shot bushes, 2/3 of those the owner was not aware and had a valid mot. But if yours last and your happy, fair enough.

[HerefordElite]

I kept the old wishbones from my car after fitting a pair of none GM ones which cost £55 delivered.  That was back in April 2007, since then the car has covered another 32,000 miles and passed it's MOT in April 2008 without a problem. As I say the old ones are still in my garage, I was going to re-bush them, but I have to question is it really worth the time, trouble and money against £55
regards
richard a

A fair point, but
the  general feeling was that non genuine would not last indefinately, or the rest of the life of the car, so thats 110 at least plus the agro of doing the job twice, possible risk of shagging tyres and wayward handling to varying degrees as they ware out. Of 15 cars at wim 13 had shot bushes, 2/3 of those the owner was not aware and had a valid mot. But if yours last and your happy, fair enough.

exactly Chris - the ebay bones are cheap and cheerful but the bushes ain't going to last for that money and as you also point out standard bushes are quite soft and a bit too flexible leading to vagueness and changes in geometry under extreme load ie high speed cornering & especialy under braking
i think your plan is sound and if i thought my 125k Mig wouldn't be rusted to bits in a year i'd probably be joining you

[Big_Roger]

Hi,
Like me, I think all of those with dodgy wishbone bushes came away from WIM intending to do something about it

My motor is in use every day, and major jobs like wishbones (unless an emergency) have to wait their turn, and be fitted in with use. At present I deemed a rusted out and leaking exhaust, and pinion oil seal replacement while exhaust was off, was more urgent than wishbones.

I have some replacement wishbones fron Auto Vaux, with Meyle bushes, ready to fit, and hope to be back at WIM mid September.

Roger

[feeutfo]

Hi,
Like me, I think all of those with dodgy wishbone bushes came away from WIM intending to do something about it

My motor is in use every day, and major jobs like wishbones (unless an emergency) have to wait their turn, and be fitted in with use. At present I deemed a rusted out and leaking exhaust, and pinion oil seal replacement while exhaust was off, was more urgent than wishbones.

I have some replacement wishbones fron Auto Vaux, with Meyle bushes, ready to fit, and hope to be back at WIM mid September.

Roger

Hi Roger, agree totally, never enough time and all that. So presumably youve had your wishbones pressed with the Meyle(BMW) bushes? How did you go about it? Local mech? Engineering firm?and how long/how much? Was 10 ton press enough? Etc
Cheers
Oh, just re read. Bushes ready to fit to bones? Or new  bushes in bones ready to fit to the car? Ta.

[Big_Roger]

Hi,
New wishbones complete from Auto Vaux are already fitted with Meyle bushes. (the ones Meyle list for the Omega)

I have also bought some Meyle bushes through Iggy 21 ready to fit in the wishbones that come off and keep for next time !!!

I am fortunate that before I retired I was the workshop foreman in factory plant electrical workshop, so I only have to drop in for a chat and cuppa with the lads, and hey presto (all 40 tons of it) no probs !!

Unfortunately, due to cutbacks they're not working weekends now, or they would even fit the new wishbones for me !!


Roger