[ragrim]

Ok ive finally gotten a worthy pay rise so its time to do some work to my stock VS. im in dire need of new front shocks cause it feels like im driving a jumping castle at times.

Ive been to singhs and repco to get a quote, waiting on singhs to call me back with a price but i got a quote from repco for new srpings and shocks (may aswell lower it while im at it)

i got quoted....

Front strust/shocks $168 each
Rear shocks $157 pair
Front springs $182
Rear springs $173

total $848

So im wondering, how reasonable is this price? could anyone suggest somewhere cheaper thats located in gold coast or brisbane area?

Also im going to get a new exhaust system after this so id liek to find somewhere that has a competative price, if anyone can help me out id be very gratefull.

Thanks in advance.

[r_i_d_a_h]

ebay king springs are much cheaper than that.

theres a few guys on this forum that can do it for $120 per pair

[VLDavo]

thats not to bad price but the springs are abit expensive

also with the exzaust shouldnt cost anyhting more then 350 - 400 for a cat back

[sganro]

As VLDave has said, $350 is about what you will pay for a 2.5" cat back exhaust. A few people on these forums have picked up second hand ones from a wreckers for about $40 or even less, so it might be worth looking into that to save you some money.

[ragrim]

ill start ringing some wreckers tomorrow see whats around.

Whats a reasonable price on extractors for my V6 ecotec? cause if im gonna do my exhaust im gonna do it all. ill also get CAI and high flow air filter to make sure the engine can inhale and exhale nicely.

[gslrallysport]

Originally Posted by ragrim

i got quoted....

Front strust/shocks $168 each
Rear shocks $157 pair
Front springs $182
Rear springs $173

total $848

So im wondering, how reasonable is this price? could anyone suggest somewhere cheaper thats located in gold coast or brisbane area?

Hi mate,

What parts were those prices for? IE. what brand? Monroe, KYB, Gabriel?

Have a look here:
Commodore Lowering Kits!

You've got the option of Sports low (30mm) or super low (50-60mm), but if you just wanted normal height sports springs then they are also the same price.

Pickup on the Northside of Brisbane, or else I can courier to the Goldy for $11.

Cheers,
Greg

[ragrim]

im guessing the springs were repco no names, doesnt say on the quote, but the strut and shocks were GT Gas Reflex whatever the hell that is.

Do those kits you got have the strut? or just the shock that goes in it, sorry im a bit of a newbie on some things but as im told i need a new strut for lowered springs/shockies. if i wasnt lowering them i could just get an insert for the strut, or so im told, i have no idea lol

[gslrallysport]

GT Gas is Monroe's generic cheap sh!tty shock absorber. The cardboard box they come is is worth more...

The front don't need to be different if its lowered, as the spring can't go anywhere. Nobody makes a shortened from shock anyway, so it doesn't matter whether its the full strut or insert. From memory on the VS its the full strut. The rear is a complete shortened shock, as the rear does need to be shortened for a lowered spring, otherwise the spring can fall out (uncaptive).

[ragrim]

cool thanks for the reply, its hard to know who is telling me facts. half the people i know say i need shortened shocks for the front, the other half say no you dont, then some say i need a new strut, then the others say i just need the insert.

either way, will them kits you have contain everything i need to lower it? like, im not gonna get it all and be like damn, i did need a new strut?

ive done a bit more research on prices and yours look very competative, youll probably be hearing from me again in a week or so

[Grennan]

VS parts are pretty common, so you should be in with a bit of luck at your local wreckers if you look about and have a keen eye. Obviously you need to know what your looking for so its sometimes good to take a mate along.

By the sounds of it you wanna lower the car first, so repco is a pretty good start they can order in springs from most companies including king springs, also try pedders they also sell springs and shocks, but obviously selling their own brand, and they know what they are talking about (generally speaking, each shop is different haha) Depending on whether its IRS and how low you go, the parts list will change. For something like superlows that will drop you about 6 centimeters or so, youll need 2* front springs 2* rear springs rear shocks, fronts are optional, they may be worth changing if yours are a bit worse for wear, and if youre getting some bad camber on the inside of the tyres, you might want to invest in a camber kit (FOR IRS ONLY) ( i think thats it)

Exhuasts, depending on what you want prices vary. Catback which is your basic Catalytic converter back to exhaust tip exhuast, and can vary from 250-400 dollars, depending what brand you go, what tip you buy, what shop you go to. Full exhuasts from headers/extractors back to tip costs a bit extra and your looking at the 900-1100 mark. Just a tad bit of advice, seriously consider looking around wreckers, but if you dont know what your looking for or cant find something you like, always check the for sale section of this forum. I picked my exhuast up off a member here, Redback Catback with a twin 3" chrome tip for 150 bucks, probally worth close to 350-400 bucks. Ebay is also an option, youll find they have bits going on there pretty cheap.

If your going catback, you may also be able to use VN-VR cat back exhuasts (PLEASE SOMEONE CORRECT ME ON THIS IF IM WRONG) so that does widen up the search. Just find out whether or not the car is IRS or not, and make sure you get IRS exhuast (if the car is IRS) and vice versa.

Heres a little list of prices compiled by a Victorian member a while ago, so you may find prices have dropped a little.

List Of Exhaust Quotes no it's not another exhaust question:)

As with most parts its always good to shop around and go into shops in person sometimes helps.

[ragrim]

my dad has a VN SS 5.0ltr and he just got a new cat back, i had a brief look but couldnt tell if they would be similar, someone told me they might be, i dont have IRS btw. when my dad had a look he said they look similar but looks like his cat is a bit further back on the VN than mine.

Thanks again for all the advice, helps alot to have a bit of info.. when it comes to cars im not a complete nub but theres some areas im not 100% sure on, IE: suspension.

[Grennan]

If you dont have IRS, you wont need a camber kit, however you might need an adjustable panhard rod. Apparently the diff can become off center and in some cases cause the tyre to scrub against the guard. Im on superlows i havent experienced that problem yet, but every scenario is different.

[Thomas1]

Originally Posted by Grennan

Heres a little list of prices compiled by a Victorian member a while ago, so you may find prices have dropped a little.

List Of Exhaust Quotes no it's not another exhaust question:)

That list looks familiar

[Thomas1]

Originally Posted by Grennan

If you dont have IRS, you wont need a camber kit, however you might need an adjustable panhard rod. Apparently the diff can become off center and in some cases cause the tyre to scrub against the guard. Im on superlows i havent experienced that problem yet, but every scenario is different.

I'm also on superlows (lovells) and haven't needed and adjustable panhard rod. I think if you start to go lower then 50-60mm you will need one

[ragrim]

ive read a bit about wether i need an adjustable panhard or not, havnt seen anything that says i definatly have to have it or definatly dont, so i think just incase ill get it anyway, it cant hurt if i dont need it, plus its not like its overly expensive anyway.

i do have another question though cause i havnt decided how low i wanna go, atm my suspension is damn soft and its like riding on a cloud and i love it, problem with that is when im driving like a hoon on windy country roads the body roll is crazy bad and the handling is **** poor at best, i wanna tighten the ride for better handling but i dont wanna sacrifice my smooth ride completely as im not a fan of feeling every bump in the road.

curious to hear some experiances about people who went from a stock VS suspension to low or super low, how it handled and how it felt on the bumps.

[Grennan]

I went from stock VR suspension which is NON IRS and probally pretty close if not the same as what you have now with 15 inch rims, onto superlows from King Springs (Lows just arent worth the time and money) and it is very different. Yes there was a noticable difference in comfort, i then made it worse by chucking 17s on the car. I wouldnt go back though.

[Thomas1]

Originally Posted by ragrim

ive read a bit about wether i need an adjustable panhard or not, havnt seen anything that says i definatly have to have it or definatly dont, so i think just incase ill get it anyway, it cant hurt if i dont need it, plus its not like its overly expensive anyway.

i do have another question though cause i havnt decided how low i wanna go, atm my suspension is damn soft and its like riding on a cloud and i love it, problem with that is when im driving like a hoon on windy country roads the body roll is crazy bad and the handling is **** poor at best, i wanna tighten the ride for better handling but i dont wanna sacrifice my smooth ride completely as im not a fan of feeling every bump in the road.

curious to hear some experiances about people who went from a stock VS suspension to low or super low, how it handled and how it felt on the bumps.

I wouldn't get the adjustable panhard rod. Wait until you lower it, and then see if you need one

If you want it low, you have to sacrifice ride quality. You get used to it being stiff, and once you drive a car with 'normal' suspension again.....well it doesn't feel quite right.

The ride is stiff, yet it is also sharp and responsive. You will just have to remember where all of the big bumps are on the roads you travel daily, and slow down/avoid them

[Grennan]

Speed bumps become your mortal enemy.

[Thomas1]

Originally Posted by Grennan

Speed bumps become your mortal enemy.

Yep. My car has the battle scars to prove it

[DannyboyDS]

heheh, i got FE2 front and rear with king springs for about $300 total.

[Grennan]

Yeah i dont pay for anything from King Springs. I got everything from their head office on the Gold Coast and shipped to Melbourne for absolutely nothing.

[Swordsy]

I've got superlows on mine. If you get mags with a bigger offset(like mine) you need to roll your guards and put in the adjustable panhard rod. I still need to get one, i'm sick of it scrubbing!