Lowering & Mags

[rwaldram]

I've got a VL Calais that has been lowered slightly but i want it to sit lower, i've got big plans for it (see V8 Modifications forum) and i want to put 18" mags on it.... now according to most tyre/wheel dealers this cant be done, hence the ballooning & rolling of the guards.

However this still only covers the outside of the wheel, the inside is where it gets tricky. I know Lovells used to make springs especially for the VK/VL to combat this issue, they were conical springs where the support plate on the strut would be cut off and the narrow part of the spring would then allow the larger wheel/tyre combo to fit without scrubbing.

I would like to know if anyone knows if these are still available and if so where and how much, i've asked my local Autobarn but they just look at me with blank faces.

[DIXIE]

ive seen people chopping their springs and putting 19s on their vls... ive never heard of ur problem before...

[mathjo02]

if u put skiny tyre on u should not have a problem cause i have got my vl calais lowered on 18's it it does not scrap

[Jules86]

Mine are chopped and i have 16's on them, i scrape but you hardly even notice it on the tyres, its only when you hit the guards it stuffs up your tyre, roll back the edges in the tyre cavity thing.

[damankerrison09]

OMG.. I have the same issue Im trying to put VE SS 18's on my VL and they hit the bottom of the strut where the spring goes in i want them in by saturday for a cruis but there being ****s LOl

HELP~!

[john_mete]

ok soz for asking an off topic question in ur thread man, but just to save time i might aswell ask it in here.

so you guys are saying that 18inch rims are gunna scrape on a VL?

would 235/45 be alright on a VL?

[VL Berlina 5speed]

ok this thread is from 2005 so a big dig but ill help you out


i have 18s on my vl
235/40 r18, the car is lowerd on king spring lows, with no adjustable panhard rod and new shockers all round

only time i scrubbed was when i use to go throught the hills and driving a little happy,
this was only because i did not have the adjuastable panhard rod so as the car bogged down the left rear would rub on the inside of the wheel tub (shocker side)

it wasnt to low but it got rid of the guard gap, dont think ill go much lower as it will be impratical and stupid

[john_mete]

mate i love your vl and ur rims, what rims are they and how much? lol im being srs

[VL Berlina 5speed]

mate i love your vl and ur rims, what rims are they and how much? lol im being srs

sadly the car doesnt look like this any more
if you click the link in my sig below the 'Project VEE EEL' word that will show you my cars thread, second to last page has pics of it repainted now

the rims are HBD (holden by design) J series, there on the vy range
i payed $1350 brand new fitted balenced with tyres lock nuts, nuts and centre caps

[VL_5SPEED]

Ive got 235/45 18" scrubs like ****, adjustable pan hard rod aswell. But mine sits a lot lower then VL Berlina 5speeds. Scrubs out very bad at the front if I have any passengers.

[john_mete]

thanks vl berlina 5 speed, yeah and im not gunna lower my car, just gunna get the rims on.

[VL Berlina 5speed]

well it appears my car isnt so low anymore????? unlease the spring have reseted there self at the high when no interior or drive train was in
lets hope it goes back down

[Goon]

low profile tyers look like they way to go so she wont scrub out..

lol wanna go over the speed bump almost sideways do we haha that makes me laugh everytime i see it

dont forget u have the exhaust pipe under there too.

[john_mete]

lolz its a 4WD vl, nah jokz man i luv ur car.

[sed8]

legally you can go a 18 cause its 2 inchs bigger than the biggest wheel available on the model at the time, my mate has 19's on his and all is sweet with the use of std suspension components and then lowered, i found that vt onward wheels have a better wheel offset than the vl's and fit under the car without the need to roll the guards or use a panhard bar i have never had a tyre shop tell me you cant fit a certain wheel size guys have put 20's under the arse of these cars


shop around and ask those around you that have the tyre combo you wish to upgrade to

[nasty1]

my old vl calais had 20 inch lenso AGIS the tyres were 225 and it was dumpd on pedders sport ryder suspension with no adj panhard bar it rode good but scrapage with people in back