I have had the car since March and had a steering problem. The steering wheel was not in the straight ahead position. I noted it to the salesman who said it was not a problem he would rectify it however he did not. Under the warranty I had the Arms changed the front bearings replaced all to no avail, Lazer tracked umpteen times when the wheel is locked in the straight ahead position it goes to 10 to 4 Position it does not pull to the side though in the end my local tyre firm had an idea he had heard of it before and he set the wheel before tracking to 20 to 2 it is now perfect but surely it should not do this . However before this I did take it to my local dealership who said they could sort it no problem £60 they charged it was no better I complained about £60 for nothing and the said It could be your \"STEERING RACK\" worn £450 £200 to fit, straight away I turned on my heel and went they have a steering box and I found that the adjusting screw on the top of the box was loose I tightened it up and it was ok the wooly feeling in the steering as gone but I have still got the problem weith the position otherwise a lovely driving car
Thanks in anticipation to all you Omega Experts
Roberth (Bob)
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I smell a rat here.
The 'adjuster' on the steering box is to set the 'box endfloat. No way should it have been loose. It needs to be carefully set to give the appropriate endfloat (usually be measuring drag at the st. wheel with front wheels off the ground). The adjuster is then locked with a locknut.
Assuming the tracking has been properly set (big assumption these days!) then your story would seem to suggest that the chassis is not straight.
Get it set on a 'supertracker' optical tracker where front-rear alignment is also checked. It shouldn't be too dear - I can get it done for £14 'trade price'. This should show up a bent chassis and/or bent/damaged steering components.
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Thanks for that I will get it done straight away I did have it checked by a mechanic when I bought to se if it had any crash damage but he said it was ok. but thanks for taking the trouble to answer my query I am obliged
Bob
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Where in the UK are you? there is a great alignment place in Ibstock, Leics.
You could do with looking under the bonnet to see if the steering box moves when the steering is wiggles, (the mountings on BMWs can crack, maybe Omegas too?)
Also, what about the bushings on the control arms?
Is the car harsh over road humps, or drop kerbs?
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What's the place in Ibstock called?
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www.jefffowkes.co.uk/
Apparently the owner is an ex-racing driver and there are lots of trophies and newpaper clipping in the shop.
They seem to have decent equipment and talk 'shop' if you want.
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Hi Aprilia
Many thanks for your diagnosis I have had the car to a specialist tracker they have checked the car all under and all the components everything was ok except a slightly worn ball joint ("not picked up by Main dealer") and retracked the rear it is now perfect and running as straight as a die there was no damage anywhere underneath so I feel a lot better they also noted that my nearside tyre was more worn than the offside and said that could have made it camber sensitive what ever that means I have also replaced all the tyres they went on to say that it had been out of track and was wearing the tyres unevenly contributing to pulling to nearside
many thanks again
Bob Cave
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