Vectra Front Shock Absorbers, None Currently Available.

My 2.2 Vectra Estate went in to the dealers for its first MOT the week
before last and failed with a leaking front shock absorber. Simple you may
think. No, there are apparently no replacement Vauxhall shock absorbers
around for the Vectra and the date I have been given for the estimated time
of delivery of the part is the 20th November, which is almost a month from
the MOT test. The dealer I use is White Rose Vauxhall at Liss in Hampshire
and I tend to believe what they tell me but has anybody else heard of this
shortage of front shock absorbers?

Regards.
Dave.

 

It would appear than vectra shocks aren't that easy to come by.

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VAUXHALL-VECT...ryZ10404QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

???

 

Thank you for the suggestion but unfortunately the one that is leaking is on
the nearside. In any case I do not think I could fit it myself. I have
been in touch with Customer Care at Vauxhall and a guy called Darren Headley
is 'on the case'. It may get resolved a bit faster but I find it very
strange that a three year old Vauxhall can be off the road for a month or
longer because of a defective shock absorber. One would expect a common
replacement part like a shockabsorber would be readily available.
Regards.
Dave.

 

You would. What I wouldn't expect is a 3 year old car to need one.
You'd be better (it'd be cheaper) to go aftermarket if you can and
they're easy to fit so just find one to fit it for you (or supply and
fit)

 

You will be replacing both, please.

Cheers

D

 

That is the advice I have received from the dealer and I will follow it. I
have a little more information since my first post. It appears my Vectra
Estate does not have the same shockabsorbers as the other models in the
range, they are unique and are not available from the independents. I still
think it bad that a three year old Vauxhall should be off the road for over
a month because of unavailability of spare parts. The MOT was on the 24th
October and the earliest ETA for the shocks is 22nd November. Vauxhall
Customer Care will offer me nothing but apologies.
The bit of light in this tale is that we have been using our 'free bus
passes' almost every day for shopping, visiting friends and other outings
where we would have used the car. Saving ourselves at least a couple of
tanks of petrol. Not many pensioners mention this little bit of 'bunce'
that Gordon gave us a couple of years back and we have promised ourselves to
use them more often when the car is fixed.
))

Regards.
Dave.