VL commodore suspension question

[broadtail]

Hi to all, I'm new to this and I'm a VL commodore owner with a couple of questions to throw in the ring for comment -- I'm broadtail and would like to know 1] my vl has 15" wheels and I would like to know if vp commodore mags, also 15" would fit my vl. 2] my son inlaw and friends gave this vl a bit of a ruff time, and I have taken over the car and would like to fix it up some-what as I had to sell my Ford to help my wife's cancer treatment, don't laugh yes a Ford, but I have a certain respect for both cars as they both have their good and bad sides, mind you its the fist time I've owned a holden and must admit the vl is more than I expected and economical, anyway I want to fix a suspension alignment problem, which apparently requires a new set of struts, which, I have had trouble finding undamaged or bent sets, anyone out-there know if struts from any other model commodore can? be used in a vl. would appreciate any help cheers broadtail

[mag]

Hi to all, I'm new to this and I'm a VL commodore owner with a couple of questions to throw in the ring for comment -- I'm broadtail and would like to know 1] my vl has 15" wheels and I would like to know if vp commodore mags, also 15" would fit my vl. 2] my son inlaw and friends gave this vl a bit of a ruff time, and I have taken over the car and would like to fix it up some-what as I had to sell my Ford to help my wife's cancer treatment, don't laugh yes a Ford, but I have a certain respect for both cars as they both have their good and bad sides, mind you its the fist time I've owned a holden and must admit the vl is more than I expected and economical, anyway I want to fix a suspension alignment problem, which apparently requires a new set of struts, which, I have had trouble finding undamaged or bent sets, anyone out-there know if struts from any other model commodore can? be used in a vl. would appreciate any help cheers broadtail

Not sure on that 1, but I know the springs from VB-VP are the same..

[broadtail]

thanks Mag, I believe that there's various componants that were used but as I stated my first holden , so I've a lot to learn. broadtail51

[kalais6]

The VP rims will definately fit as all Commodores share same bolt pattern etc so that wont be a worry. Buying new struts might not be as expensive as you think either so price em up.

[broadtail]

thanks kalais6, was told by GMH agent struts no longer available. broadtail51

[broadtail]

any one able to help with this one?

[Bax]

Front or rears, You should be able to get them new from a tyre/mechanical, or suspension place for rather cheap.

If all else fails, the site shop may be able to help, or ebay if your desperate.

I'll give you the word of advice in saying don't go to Holden for parts, they charge an arm and a leg, as good as genuine is, its not worth the cost sometimes. If its an engine component, try Nissan aswell when getting quotes.

Repco are good too.

[broadtail]

many thanks Bax, I've actually learnt that gmh is last on my list unless no alternative.

[broadtail]

Hey Guys , I still have had no answer on whether the strut assembly [ not the inserts ]from previous commodore models or after vl will fit a vl commodore as the assemblies are not being sold any longer and most wreckers have damaged ones , any Help is appreciated

[Bax]

I honestly couldn't tell you, keep an eye out on here and calaisturbo.com.au

Somebody would have secondhand shocks for sure, with the amount of people that lower their cars. I had some a few weeks back but I binned them instantly.

[broadtail]

I honestly couldn't tell you, keep an eye out on here and calaisturbo.com.au

Somebody would have secondhand shocks for sure, with the amount of people that lower their cars. I had some a few weeks back but I binned them instantly.

I can get the shocks no probs its the strut assembly itself I am trying to find. thanks Bax

[broadtail]

Hey Guys , I still have had no answer on whether the strut assembly [ not the inserts ]from previous commodore models or after vl will fit a vl commodore as the assemblies are not being sold any longer and most wreckers have damaged ones , any Help is appreciated

Anybody in the know??

[ucwepn]

just ring around some suspension places they can be very helpful with advice and questions. I have a feeling they would be the same because they take the same springs and shocks but they may be different. Better to find out from the experts and be sure about it. Yes all commodore rims fit all commodores but the offset on VS or VT onwards is different although they will still fit it will make the car "tramline" or "bump steer" more than the correct offset would. Although with 15 inch wheels you prolly wont get that.

[broadtail]

just ring around some suspension places they can be very helpful with advice and questions. I have a feeling they would be the same because they take the same springs and shocks but they may be different. Better to find out from the experts and be sure about it. Yes all commodore rims fit all commodores but the offset on VS or VT onwards is different although they will still fit it will make the car "tramline" or "bump steer" more than the correct offset would. Although with 15 inch wheels you prolly wont get that.

Many thanks ucwepn, I've rung around , spoken with mechanic, also mechanic who does suspension alignment, they are all looking at the problem but no-one has a definite answer. I feel like
maybe no-one has had to change the strut assemblies before?
I mean the shock inserts have been changed at least 3 times that I'm aware of while my son inlaw owned the VL .
but the alignment problem still exists, cann't hurt to change the strut assemblies, which still leaves me finding undamaged struts or use struts from another model commodore if compatible, so I've come full circle, WILL strut assemblies from another model commodore fit and be compatible with the VL ?????

[broadtail]

Many thanks ucwepn, I've rung around , spoken with mechanic, also mechanic who does suspension alignment, they are all looking at the problem but no-one has a definite answer. I feel like
maybe no-one has had to change the strut assemblies before?
I mean the shock inserts have been changed at least 3 times that I'm aware of while my son inlaw owned the VL .
but the alignment problem still exists, cann't hurt to change the strut assemblies, which still leaves me finding undamaged struts or use struts from another model commodore if compatible, so I've come full circle, WILL strut assemblies from another model commodore fit and be compatible with the VL ?????

I still live in hope some-one has a magical answer, maybe I should ask whether anyone in a diferent model commodore VB-VK and used VL struts and if they were compatible.

[abcent]

anything from a VB VC VH or VL i know will be the same strut. VN - VP i think are the same but couldnt be 100%.

should be able to pick up a decent secondhand pair pretty easy. Also is the car lowered?? if so how? if the springs were cut then that would actually be your most likely problem so replace them. Good idea to replace the strut tops with Nolathine ones (red) whilst you have em out (if it doesnt have em already).

could be so many things causing your alignment problem though, could be Z bar bushes, sway bar bushes (or the swaybar itself), ball joints, worn steering rack, worn tie rod ends etc etc etc....best to get it fully checked out by a suspension specialist or mechanical workshop.

cheers

[calais_hero]

i dunno if this would work but yeah, i took the whole strut assembly out of vn commodore and placed then in my vk as i couldnt replace just the shock so it should work have alook at the suspension and see if it looks the same as another old skool commo.

[broadtail]

anything from a VB VC VH or VL i know will be the same strut. VN - VP i think are the same but couldnt be 100%.

should be able to pick up a decent secondhand pair pretty easy. Also is the car lowered?? if so how? if the springs were cut then that would actually be your most likely problem so replace them. Good idea to replace the strut tops with Nolathine ones (red) whilst you have em out (if it doesnt have em already).

could be so many things causing your alignment problem though, could be Z bar bushes, sway bar bushes (or the swaybar itself), ball joints, worn steering rack, worn tie rod ends etc etc etc....best to get it fully checked out by a suspension specialist or mechanical workshop.

cheers

Cheers Abcent, best news I've had all day, son inlaw & his mates cut rear springs to lower the rear, I did not even consider that the front may be lowered, maybe that why shocks have been replaced so many times, maybe bottoming out and a good way to bend shock shafts, steering rack [ not bad but] is being replaced in next few weeks as will tie rods, you refer to the strut tops with Nolathine, excuse my ignorance is that the same as the bearing assembly plate or are they just stops to prevent shocks from bottoming out.

[bangers]

VN struts will definately fit. Sorry for the late reply but have been working. Just go to a wreckers and ask for VL or VN struts as they are exactly the same. Just like the VL V8 and turbo brake discs are the same as the VN too.

[broadtail]

i dunno if this would work but yeah, i took the whole strut assembly out of vn commodore and placed then in my vk as i couldnt replace just the shock so it should work have alook at the suspension and see if it looks the same as another old skool commo.

Cheers Calais_hero, thanks for your input things seem brighter at the moment as the strut assembly I've found in excellent condition are actually out of a VK but before handing out cash I would like to know if it will work inthe first place, things look promising but I'll listen to any comments offered.

[BigDaz]

The VP rims will definately fit as all Commodores share same bolt pattern etc so that wont be a worry. Buying new struts might not be as expensive as you think either so price em up.

yeh they have the same bolt pattern but we tried to put my stock VL 15's on a VR and they went on but they rubbed against the brakes, wheels wouldnt turn so the later hubs might be a little bigger or have a spacer or sumthing, just some warning there for ya

*EDIT: just thinkin about that, thats earlier wheels on later model, ur doin the oppisite so u'll be ok. As i had VS rims on my vl and they were fine my bad

[broadtail]

VN struts will definately fit. Sorry for the late reply but have been working. Just go to a wreckers and ask for VL or VN struts as they are exactly the same. Just like the VL V8 and turbo brake discs are the same as the VN too.

Thanks to bangers, they say better late than never, welcomed news knowing this widens the pool to get a good set of struts, great input

[broadtail]

yeh they have the same bolt pattern but we tried to put my stock VL 15's on a VR and they went on but they rubbed against the brakes, wheels wouldnt turn so the later hubs might be a little bigger or have a spacer or sumthing, just some warning there for ya

*EDIT: just thinkin about that, thats earlier wheels on later model, ur doin the oppisite so u'll be ok. As i had VS rims on my vl and they were fine my bad

Thanks , got my eyes on a set of VP commodore CSR alloy rims with new tyres at a great price but not sure if they would fit with no problems, so if you tried VS on your VL ,,, maybe fine. cheers

[broadtail]

anything from a VB VC VH or VL i know will be the same strut. VN - VP i think are the same but couldnt be 100%.

should be able to pick up a decent secondhand pair pretty easy. Also is the car lowered?? if so how? if the springs were cut then that would actually be your most likely problem so replace them. Good idea to replace the strut tops with Nolathine ones (red) whilst you have em out (if it doesnt have em already).

could be so many things causing your alignment problem though, could be Z bar bushes, sway bar bushes (or the swaybar itself), ball joints, worn steering rack, worn tie rod ends etc etc etc....best to get it fully checked out by a suspension specialist or mechanical workshop.

cheers

waiting on Milkman, who is wrecking a VL, maybe I see a set of struts.

[abcent]

Cheers Abcent, best news I've had all day, son inlaw & his mates cut rear springs to lower the rear, I did not even consider that the front may be lowered, maybe that why shocks have been replaced so many times, maybe bottoming out and a good way to bend shock shafts, steering rack [ not bad but] is being replaced in next few weeks as will tie rods, you refer to the strut tops with Nolathine, excuse my ignorance is that the same as the bearing assembly plate or are they just stops to prevent shocks from bottoming out.

yeah the bearing plate assembly, stock ones are rubber, better ones are the Nolathane. And chances are if the front is lowered with cut springs it probably wont even have any bump stops left so might need some new ones of those too. (unsure where you'd get those though sorry).

good luck