VE Sportwagon Suspension Query??

[Benny J]

Hey guys....

Sorry if this is a common question....i used the search option but couldnt find what i was after.

I need some guidance with lowering my 2010 sportwagon.

I am looking to lower my car and at this stage want to use springs only at this stage and will replace shocks etc at a later date.

At this stage i am looking at Superlow springs which i have been told will lower the car by 40mm?? Does this sound right?

I have also been quoted about $700-$800 fitted....apparently the fitting is a bit of a root around hence the (what seems) high FITTED cost.

I was also hoping there was someone else who has done this mod and could give me some idea on what the ride was like afterwards? Did you notice a huge change in ride quality or did it remain the same?

Any advice would be really appreciated!!

Cheers

Benny J

[kuzman89]

hey mate, I was quoted $220 for fitting and $50 for wheel alignment, seeing as you can buy SSL springs all round for about $220 on ebay, I'd say thats a mega rip off.

[TinSnips]

That's still a bit high for just springs. Pedders price is around 600 normally and less at some other places with king springs. I'd be shopping around.

If you're not going too low, the shocks will be alright, but you might notice some more bounce, particularly in the back of the wagon as the shocks will struggle a bit to counter the higher spring rates of the new springs. Nothing too drastic, just not optimal.

It's always advisable to go for a shot body shock absorber but not essential if only lowering a moderate amount. You may want to go for some shorter bump stops at minimum at some point though.

[azzss]

Mate, i've got pedders sportsrider springs in mine, lowered it about 25-30mm left the shocks alone and to be honest the ride is better than it was with the stock (fe2) springs. IMO looks,rides and handles good gets over normal speed humps no dramas the only other thing i'll do is replace the shocks when these ones start thumping. BTW i'm running the standard wheels (19's).
Cheers.

[wez84]

Who is doing it for you? VE's are just as easy as any other commodore.
From what iv found is the back will be a bit bouncy with standard shocks but its not that bad.
The front will still ride fine for everyday driving.
Mine is lowered 2" with king springs im happy with how it sits the wagon might be different im pretty sure they have a heavier rear spring.

[Benny J]

Who is doing it for you? VE's are just as easy as any other commodore.
From what iv found is the back will be a bit bouncy with standard shocks but its not that bad.
The front will still ride fine for everyday driving.
Mine is lowered 2" with king springs im happy with how it sits the wagon might be different im pretty sure they have a heavier rear spring.

Thanks guys...

Did you do yours yourself Wes?? I was toying with the idea of doing it myself...was quoted about $300 for the springs so it would be a big saving.

Were they super lows or ultra lows that you went with?

[VooDooWagon]

Benny here is a pic of my wagon. I have King SL in the rear and King SSL in the front. The rear dropped 35mm and the front dropped 25mm. I do have Monroe short body shocks as well.

It's a nice practical height and it doesn't scrape or rub anywhere.

[wez84]

Thanks guys...

Did you do yours yourself Wes?? I was toying with the idea of doing it myself...was quoted about $300 for the springs so it would be a big saving.

Were they super lows or ultra lows that you went with?

Yeah mate only took a couple of hours while haven some beers one afternoon
the springs i went with are super low heres the king spring numbers for super low to suit your wagon
Front KHFL-150SSL
Rear KHRL-152SLHD

[UFO]

a) $700-800 is too much. Pedders will do it for about $600, fitted, wheels realigned... the lot.

b) the wagons have rake (front lower than rear) on them that is much more noticable when the car is lowered, so you need to drop the rear one step more than the front to even out the lines- otherwise the arse sticks up too high.

c) standard shocks are perfectly fine with slightly lowered suspension. people who tell you that you hit bumpstops or otherwise adversely affect ride quality using standard shocks arent being 100% accurate with you.

d) springs will settle in. when you first get them installed, the car will sit a tad higher than what it will be in a few months. not a lot (half cm or so), but noticable.

when I got mine done, i aimed to simply have the tyre rubber line up evenly with the wheel arch. didnt want the 'tubbed' look where the wheel sits within the arch, and didnt want to be able to see suspension components in having the car sit too high. the sportsryders from pedders have been perfect. ride is good, no squeaks or rattles, not once have I bottomed out or hit bumpstops on shocks, and I'm not the only one on here who would reccomend them 150%. but at $600 or so.... max.

[Benny J]

WOW....thanks heaps guys!!

Voodoo...yours sits really nice. But after reading what UFO wrote i am a bit confused. UFO stated that the front is lower than the rear but you have lowered the rear more than the front and it looks quite even??

UFO...did you get mixed up?? Is it the other way around...as in rear lower than the front?

Dont mean to question you...just want some clarification before i order...

[TinSnips]

Wagons and utes are very bum-high from factory - the rear springs are different to the sedan counterparts - aftermarket springs have higher spring rates and a bigger drop, due to the fact that the standard springs are way higher than the standard springs on the sedans. Voodoo's car still has a very slight rake to it (looks great, incidentally!) but nowhere near as harsh as from factory.

[Benny J]

Thanks TS...

So based on this info i would need to lower the back more than the front?? Or are you saying that the extra ride height in the ass (from factory) is already allowed for but the aftermarket springs manufacturers?

[TinSnips]

It's allowed for - the aftermarket springs are level - it's the factory ones that aren't. I'm assuming voodoo has gone for the two different sized springs to keep the gap from tyre to arch even front to back (which makes sense) - SSL at the back will have the car level, but the rear guards will sit a little lower over the rear tyres - if that makes sense.

[UFO]

yep, tinny's right. one step lower at rear.

looking at voodoo's pic above, no way in hell lower springs werent put in the back. 150% no way. maybe the people who lowered it have done sportwagons in the past and know to 'tuck it in' at the rear automatically without asking owner. or maybe they got sick of people taking it back and getting it redone. when mine was first done, they put same height springs in front and rear (lowering it the same all the way around), and the arse was up a tad higher than the front. still looked "ok"... but not as it sould be. 1 step lower at rear is definitely required.

voodoo's wagon looks perfect... one step lower at the rear. the bodylines make it look like its still higher, but its an optical illusion. look at the wheel arches carefully. the rear wheels tuck in ever so slightly into the rear guards... the way a sportwagon should look. click on my link below. the pics were taken when I first brought it home (and has since settled in a little lower). actually, I think I should pull my finger out and get some more recent ones done (gives me an excuse to give her a good detail- which I havent done in ages).

[VooDooWagon]

Yeah mate only took a couple of hours while haven some beers one afternoon
the springs i went with are super low heres the king spring numbers for super low to suit your wagon
Front KHFL-150SSL
Rear KHRL-152SLHD

These are the part #'s I have in my wagon. But the rears aren't heavy duty.

[Benny J]

Gee im confused....so Voodoo has SL in the Arse and SSL at the front...but everyone else reckons to go the opposite way??

[VooDooWagon]

Gee im confused....so Voodoo has SL in the Arse and SSL at the front...but everyone else reckons to go the opposite way??

Ring King Springs direct and they will put your mind at ease.

That is what they recommended and Protek Tyres who fitted them also recommended them.

[wez84]

Ok with the king spring numbers the wagons have different numbers to sedans have a look on the king spring site it will show you the part numbers for 2" lowered. I think VooDoo has sedan springs in his.

[Benny J]

Thanks again fellas!!

These are the numbers i have found based on what has been stated above:

Rear - KHRL-152SSLHD+
Front - KHFL-150SL+

Would this be correct?? Ultra Low in the bum and super lows up front...

[wez84]

If it was up to me I would have mine sit like VooDoo's in which case the numbers would be
KHFL-150ssl front
KHRL-152sl rear or KHRL-152SLHD which will sit a little higher and firmer

[SWAGGN]

hey man i lowered my sportwagon with the lowest spring made for them , its caalled a sp4 its a kingspring ultra low that has been reset by kingspring, i also changed my shocks to monroe sport shock, the car rides like its standard, smooth as even with a car load, i had to roll the guards to get the 22s not scrubbing ,

[loku16]

My advise would be to hold off, save a bit more and get the H&R coil overs! OR do both shocks and springs at the same time!! When I got my car lowered by replacing just the springs, the rear was bouncing all over the place. It got it done by Walinshaw and I believe they use the King springs.Then I got Bilstein shocks and H&R springs. Then it looked like the rear was sagging. They modified the shocks and the springs sat a little higher and now it looks great. I have 275 at the back and it doesn't scrub although the car is not as low as everyone likes. It wasn't practical for me because two kids and an adult in the back with a boot full of bags made the car scrub going over humps and dips.