The perfect ride height for a VK.

[seq4x4]

Im looking at a suspension overhaul for the VK. Its time to ditch the heat pressed set up iv been using for a month or so.

Iv got a grand. Im looking to do shocks, struts, springs. If its cheap enough, ill want to do the ball joints, get an adjustable panhard rod (for some reason my stock one keeps the diff centred when as low in the pic). And what ever is left, some bushes for the z bars or adjustable strut tops i guess?

Whats your opinions? Im thinking SL or UL. Heres a picgture of how it sits now, unlevel and still a little too high.

[Darren_L]

I think the back is about right, front could come down a bit more.
IMO, avoid going too low. It ends up looking like the car has been sat on, and it handles like a POS.

I've got lovell superlows in the front and rear (check the link in my signature for pics) To me, it's the ideal height. Gives the car a good stance, whilst still retaining good ground clearance and suspension travel.

Different brands rate their superlows differently, but a lot of them will provide a 'eyebrow height' which is essentially the measurement from the edge of the gaurd to the centre of the wheel. That will give you some sort of guide

[seq4x4]

Yours is a good height. But beileve it or not, the suspension set up in mine came out of a VH that sat level. So the rear would be Low to SL i currently have. I think i might fork out for the complete SL set up from monroe/king springs. Would only be $610 then and still get get the other stuff i need.

Cheers mate, been looking through the show your ride section for decent ride heights and didnt see yours.

[vkberlina]

Have a look at whitelines website, they have some very useful articles aboiut how to make a commodore handle and what is required.

scott

[TY318]

its funny with my vh my step brothers dad said it was lowered and when i pulled the springs out and shock they were all standard except for the rear shock they were monroe shocks

[180sc]

Get the kings and monroe package you mentioned in superlow then get adjustable strut tops and panard bar that should do your $1000 then buy all the bushes and joints you need as you can afford them once all that is done get yourself a 28mm front and 22mm rear swaybar and it should handle pretty good for an early girl. Avoid going the 30mm front bar as it tends to make the front ride very harsh. It will probably cost close to 2k in parts overall but if you pay someone to fit it all then you will be closer to the 3k mark.

[VBRED]

If you want it to handle you got fit big fat sway bars back and front. I have 30mm front and 22mm rear bars as well as the other gear and it goes around corners like it was on rails.

[ari666]

Get the kings and monroe package you mentioned in superlow then get adjustable strut tops and panard bar that should do your $1000

i got that setup, minus the adjustable strut tops. its (i believe) a brilliant setup. king sl's and replaced the swaybar links and sway bar to chassis bushes with superpro neo's and although it still suffers a bit of body roll, its quite a nice ride. also OP, there is NO WAY you can drop that far without the adjustable pan hard rod. not onlt does the exhaust get a beating from the rod, the passenger tyre sticks out about 15mm.

[seq4x4]

Ill go get the tape measure. Im dead certain its still the same. But god only knows how old the bushes are so i could have play. But im going to get the adjustable anyway as im going to be doing bushes afterwards and that would start pulling everything back to where it should. Cheers for all your info guys, going to be pricing up everything tonight and try wheesal some discounts lol.

SL she goes. Altho i would like lower but itll do for now hah.

[ari666]

Altho i would like lower

trust me man, you dont. you dont want lower than that.

when you are outside the car looking at it you will think "ooh yeah" but every single second you are driving that car you will curse every mofo'ing god there is and within 2 months itll be sold or returned to SL height

[seq4x4]

Oh true. Its not that comfterble to drive atm, but i think its due to old shocks and heat pressed springs.

[ari666]

what size wheels are on your pic? remember the wheels in my pic are 15's which always make a car look lower. as soon as you stick bigger wheels on you make the car look like its sitting higher.

trust me

stick a set of 15's on and see how you feel.

[seq4x4]

17s, with 235s. It looked higher before lowering it.

Stock height with 15 rears and 14 fronts:


Stock height with 17s:

[ari666]

yeah but now that its lowered, stick 15's on it...

they make it look lower

[seq4x4]

I might have to hunt down another pair of 15x7s then.

Just priced up shocks/shock inserts, springs, adjustable panhard and adjustable strut tops. $950, sound about average?

[180sc]

yeah you wont get much better unless you have someone getting you trade or better prices.

[codfishface]

Why buy an adjustable panhard rod?

You're going to adjust it once then forget about it.

Put the stock one in a decent workshop vice and bend it to suit.

Job done. $100 in your back pocket.

[VCchaser]

Hey mate, have Pedders set up front struts springs rear shocks and springs near new $300 in Eagleby 0422 822 546 if interested, cheers.

[Darren_L]

Why buy an adjustable panhard rod?

You're going to adjust it once then forget about it.

Put the stock one in a decent workshop vice and bend it to suit.

Job done. $100 in your back pocket.

a decent aftermarket panhard rod is worthwhile, apart from the adjustment and extra exhaust clearance it's a far more solid rod.
if you have stuffed rear control arm bushes it properly makes little difference. However if you have fitted, or plan on fitting solid nylothane bushes (in particular) to the rear control arms, the standard panhard rod flexes, giving awful bump steer in the rear. I was skeptical about replacing the standard panhard rod, but eventually did so out of desperation in the hope of getting rid the bump steer out of the rear of my car. I was even considering going back to rubber bushes in the rear control arms. Once I had replaced the rod, the difference was huge. A good aftermarket panhard rod weighs about twice the weight of the standard rod. The standard item is a featherweight, with rigid bushes it must flex over bumps, having a lateral 'spring' back effect on the rear axle. IMO it's worth the $100-150

[180sc]

i agree with darren the difference it made to mine was noticeable aswell.

[delcowizzid]

perfect height not a fan of 17's on early girls but these suit pretty well handles like its on rails

[VBRED]

I reckon that they look better with a little bit of rake that is the front 20-30mm lower then the rear.

[smajo]

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[VLC86]

perfect height not a fan of 17's on early girls but these suit pretty well handles like its on rails

I agree. that height there is absolutely perfect. i like cars to look even, and that sits just right on the road