lowering, best, cheapest way?

[ETH4N]

hey guys, im getting my VR Commodore, and wondering the easiest way to drop it on its guts, possibly done by myself?, ive heard some chop springs, some get super lows, basically im broke and want it dumped, lol, ideas?

[VZTHUNDER]

DO NOT chop springs
its illegal and will screw the handling up
get some super lows with short travel shocks
cant remember how much it costs but its a couple hundred bucks

[ETH4N]

can springs be installed alone?, or do i need a specialist?

[SweetWagon]

can springs be installed alone?, or do i need a specialist?

you dont NEED front shocks, you only need rear 'short' shocks so the springs dont fall out when its jacked up. is it IRS?

[VZTHUNDER]

the shocks help tho on the front.
if u have a spring compressor and the know how it can be done

[ETH4N]

no clue about IRS :S, dont even know what it is, lol sorry, umm is there anyone on here with the know how?>

[SweetWagon]

no clue about IRS :S, dont even know what it is, lol sorry, umm is there anyone on here with the know how?>

well IRS (independant rear suspension)... by the sounds of it you should really get a professional to do it, in which there is no cheap option.

[ETH4N]

is there any1 on here experienced?

[1991_Vn2nV]

Rear springs are fairly easy mate and if the car is just an Exec VR it wouldnt have IRS.

Front springs you will need a professional unless you have a spring compressor but I doubt you would.

[Grennan]

Ok, what kind of VR is it? If its an exec its more than likely non irs (i think the only VR that came with it was the acclaim but dont hold me to that). IRS is independant rear suspension. Go outside tomorrow in the light and look at your rear axel. does it look a little like this:

If it does its IRS. If its one single horizontal bar then its non irs. Another way to tell is to look at the exhaust, if the exhuast goes over the axel then its non irs.

Now that we have that out of the way... LOWERING!

Cutting springs is probally the cheapest way to do it, i wont lie. However, its dangerous and you will void your insurance... Plus why would you want to cut 13 year old springs? Get new ones.

You can pick brand new superlows thanks to King Springs for around 190 bucks a pair, if you go superlow you wont need front shocks (i dont have them) but you will need rear shocks which come in at varying prices from 100 bucks to bust.

Now if you looked around on the forum im sure you could find someone selling some springs so you may get lucky and get a bit of a bargain.

Ok INSTALATION. This gets a bit tricky, the rears are easy enough i believe there is (or atleast was) a how to in the how to section on how to do front and rears. The fronts are tricky, you will need a spring compressor to put them in i believe. If all else fails take it to pedders or something (take note you will need a wheel allignment after you put them in so you can always go to pedders and get it all done at once) I got quoted 150 bucks to put all my springs and shocks in.

Another thing to take note of is, camber kit/adjustable panhard rod (camber kit for IRS, panhard rod for NON IRS) Camber kit controls tyre wear and camber, adjustable panhard rod keeps your dif center.

I dont have an adjustable panhard rod... BUT it is on the list of things to get because one good wheel spin around a corner can chuck your diff off center.

Its 12:30 and ive been drinking so if theres mistakes and crap (which im sure there is) im blaming them on those factors

[SweetWagon]

You can pick brand new superlows thanks to King Springs for around 190 bucks a pair, if you go superlow you wont need front shocks (i dont have them) but you will need rear shocks which come in at varying prices from 100 bucks to bust.

$180 a pair!! you can usually get a set for around $220 mark

[ETH4N]

yeah i think it is the Exec series 2, ill check the IRS when i get it, what happens with cut rear springs?? why are they dangerous?>

[VZTHUNDER]

they have a flat end on either side which is designed so it can sit properly
if cut all of a sudden u dont have that flat surface
they are also designed to compress a certian ammount. if u cut them they will still try to compress the same ammount but then they cant. bang.
they also run the risk of falling out. if u cut your springs be very carefull how u drive

[ETH4N]

ah ok, i wont cut springs, ill just go the lowest set of springs available, i see a VT wagon get around, it is dumped off its tits, someone said it has no springs in it, sittin on the bump stops, what kinda damage is gettin done there??

[Grennan]

$180 a pair!! you can usually get a set for around $220 mark

I was told they were going for around 180ish at repco a pair, i may have been told wrong/read wrong. I got mine for free so i dont know personally.

[Morton]

If you're feeling cheap, do a wreckers hunt. Got my fronts and rears purchased and installed (shocks + springs) for $400.

[minux]

Oh god, threads like this scare me. People, stop looking for cheap and easy ways of modifying your car. Do it correctly so that people aren't put in danger by your stupid actions.

[VZTHUNDER]

id strongly advise against using no springs
every bump will be felt

[r_i_d_a_h]

the only real cheap best, safe, way is to go second hand springs, other than that your looking at around $600+ for the real deal, that includes new front and rear springs, new shocks all round and an adjustable panhard rod. seriously if your gunna be slack dont bother with lowering it. and if you wanna save $200+ install all of them yourself.

[dijm8]

sorry to hijack ur thread a bit but ive got my car lowered on supers, now i havent got the panhard rod n ive dun a fair bit a wheels spins :P wot happens if ur diff is thrown off center??

[Panama]

sorry to hijack ur thread a bit but ive got my car lowered on supers, now i havent got the panhard rod n ive dun a fair bit a wheels spins :P wot happens if ur diff is thrown off center??

your car will "crab"and one side of your tread will wear damn fast. it may also try to turn one way as if your front wheels arent aligned, and wil cause extra strain and wear to your steering components. better to get an adjustable panhard i think.

also if you cut springs, the heat from the grinder wil re-temper the steel, softening it and then you will have lower, weaker springs, and they will try to wear through the ontact surface if you lose that flat edge that was mentioned earlier. plus your ride will most certainly not sit level once youve put it all back together.

judging by the questions youve asked eth4n i would be finding an a mate who knows what they are doing to do the fronts for you. if you dont use spring compressors properly, then the force of the spring is potentially deadly.

[tri501]

when the live axle is lowered the standard panhard rod stays the same length. if you look really closely possibly get a tape measure you will notice one wheel is closer to the outside of the car than the other. with the adjustable panhard rod it can be wound back to the centre position. the lower you go the further across the diff moves.

[1991_Vn2nV]

sorry to hijack ur thread a bit but ive got my car lowered on supers, now i havent got the panhard rod n ive dun a fair bit a wheels spins :P wot happens if ur diff is thrown off center??

When you lower a live axel car you basically put it off centre straight away as the stanard panhard rod is not adjustable. Its not going to cause any damage other than perhaps tyre wear with tyre scrubbing depending on how low you go.

Im not sure what the "one wheel spin around one corner could throw your diff off centre" thing is all about though... Cause the diff is off centre as soon as its lowered and its not going to get better or worse no matter what you do. Its not much, maybe 10mm for every inch and a half or something (it gets worse the lower you go)

[Cobez]

Oh god, threads like this scare me. People, stop looking for cheap and easy ways of modifying your car. Do it correctly so that people aren't put in danger by your stupid actions.

for once i totally agree with you......

and if you are broke, then i wouldnt be worrying about car modification thats for sure.............



save your money and get it done right.........i spent $1800 on a full front and rear pedders sports ryder suspension kit (front spring and shocks) with strut brace..... all fitted.........dont be cheap with major car mods like that (unless your talking CAI and crappy little basic mods like that)

[Morton]

I'd still push the second-hand approach Can you honestly say that for $1000, the person who purchased what is now MY suspension, got any more than what I got for $400? Only difference is that I didn't have to wait for the springs to sag a bit ^^