I finally finished the SV6 Wagon suspension revision in time for a good midnight road test! As I mentioned previously in the thread, the rationale behind the modifications was a cost effective and moderate visual and handling improvement.
Retaining the stock FE2 shocks, I fitted King 151 SL's in the front and 152 RLHD's in the rear lowering the car 25mm, front ride height 377mm, rear 380mm. Thanks to Smitty's rear sway bar knowledge with wagons, I changed the rear sway bar from 12mm to 16mm and increased the wheel offset 12mm, widening the track 24mm. Tyres are a new set of Bridgestone RE003's in stock SV6 size 245/45x18.
The ride feels much the same as stock FE2 and only marginally firmer and rides bumps much the same with good comfortability. Most noticeable difference and a good handling improvement once I got into back blocks in the 100kmph zone, was the reduction of body roll and much sharper turn in and steering response, car feels more like a stock Redline cornering and direction change although the V6 steering is a bit on the light side.
Visually the car looks as it should, doesn't look lowered but doesn't look too high or overdone, like trying to make an SV6 look like a SSV Redline with the wrong engine. Cost wise, a set of springs, sway bar that's a base model VE V6 sedan bar worth little, it's a pretty cheap exercise to make some good visual and handling improvements retaining the car's practicality without the need to spend a heap of money!
The other modification I'll do soon is V8 (SS) brakes, same calipers with the larger 321/324mm rotors and V8 caliper brackets. I've done this mod several times and really sharpens up the vehicle retardation under brakes with a much better pedal feel over the smaller rotor V6 brakes.
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