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Thread: How can you make a VL actually handle?

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    Default How can you make a VL actually handle?

    or will they never, no matter what you do?

    all the front bushes have been replaced with nolathane, I'm yet to do the rears.

    what springs would people suggest in a WAGON, to make it handle?

    does anyone know of a good website that can be used to calculate spring rates based on a vehicles weight, and weight distrobution?

    and does anyone make actual sports/performance springs that will fit the VL's?

    thanks!

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    vnv8driver is offline Banned
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    New adjustable strut tops, new stiffer springs, new shocks (if the springs are lowered make sure the shocks are as well) and a strut brace under the hood.

    Will make it feel better than new.

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    Quote Originally Posted by vnv8driver View Post
    New adjustable strut tops, new stiffer springs, new shocks (if the springs are lowered make sure the shocks are as well) and a strut brace under the hood.

    Will make it feel better than new.
    yes, but what performace springs are there?

    apparently the STANDARD pedders shocks are pretty hard, so there sports shocks I assume may be a good place to look for shocks.

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    there are heaps of shocks and springs available for different applications fora vl, if you can give a better description of your vl setup what you want your vl to do I'm sure some body will offer some suggestions, I will start with you need minimum sized tyre width of 205+, so something like 205/60/15etc...
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    Quote Originally Posted by jatsvl View Post
    there are heaps of shocks and springs available for different applications fora vl, if you can give a better description of your vl setup what you want your vl to do I'm sure some body will offer some suggestions, I will start with you need minimum sized tyre width of 205+, so something like 205/60/15etc...
    I want it to handle around bends, I live in the hills, I don't want to die.

    I have 205/65? 15's, I think. they're really too big, stupid tyre place are a bunch of idiots.

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    i wouldn't say 65 is to big, they will have a bit more roll in them when cornering, at the moment it sounds like you have a standard setup so they look the part, lower profile now would look a bit silly, if your going to lower the car then go lower profile tyres 55/60's
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    Quote Originally Posted by jatsvl View Post
    i wouldn't say 65 is to big, they will have a bit more roll in them when cornering, at the moment it sounds like you have a standard setup so they look the part, lower profile now would look a bit silly, if your going to lower the car then go lower profile tyres 55/60's
    the tyres are a fair bit larger than stock rolling diameter.

    I don't care what it looks like, but the tyres are larger than stock, which throws the speedo off, and decreases torque (while increasing the theoritical top speed, which it'll never get to anyway)

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    Ok a stupid question , what would be the better bushes to use ,URETHANE (the blue ones) or . . . . NOLATHANE (the red ones)

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    Quote Originally Posted by TheyDontWantMusic View Post
    or will they never, no matter what you do?

    all the front bushes have been replaced with nolathane, I'm yet to do the rears.

    what springs would people suggest in a WAGON, to make it handle?

    does anyone know of a good website that can be used to calculate spring rates based on a vehicles weight, and weight distrobution?

    and does anyone make actual sports/performance springs that will fit the VL's?

    thanks!
    Call Quadrant Bilstein in Berwick (Victoria). They have decades of experience setting up Commodore suspensions right back to the start. I run them in my VP and am exceptionally happy.

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    Quote Originally Posted by maxpower QLD View Post
    Ok a stupid question , what would be the better bushes to use ,URETHANE (the blue ones) or . . . . NOLATHANE (the red ones)

    Cheers
    the names are just play on words, they are all polyurethane.

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    Nolethane is harder and gives a stiffer ride but isnt recommended on things such as strut tops etc as the metal separates from the polyurethane, rubber on the other hand is durable, lasts forever but gives a softer ride not so good for high speed cornering.

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    Quote Originally Posted by vnv8driver View Post
    Nolethane is harder and gives a stiffer ride but isnt recommended on things such as strut tops etc as the metal separates from the polyurethane, rubber on the other hand is durable, lasts forever but gives a softer ride not so good for high speed cornering.
    rubber doesn't last forever, and Nolathane is simply a brand name.

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    Oh ok cool .
    Quote Originally Posted by VS Omega View Post
    "gonna beat you to the next set of lightes uleh"

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    Quote Originally Posted by TheyDontWantMusic View Post
    rubber doesn't last forever, and Nolathane is simply a brand name.

    You would get 20 years worth of life out of rubber and only 1 year out of polyurethane. Rubber is the way to go

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    Quote Originally Posted by vnv8driver View Post
    You would get 20 years worth of life out of rubber and only 1 year out of polyurethane. Rubber is the way to go
    lol, what are you on about?

    polyurethane bushes generally come with a 2 year guarantee.

    you don't do that on a product that will fail in 12 months

    replacing bushes with standard rubber ones is pointless.

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    How can you actually make a VL handle? Bolt in a R32 GTR driveline
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    Quote Originally Posted by vnv8driver View Post
    Nolethane is harder and gives a stiffer ride but isnt recommended on things such as strut tops etc as the metal separates from the polyurethane, rubber on the other hand is durable, lasts forever but gives a softer ride not so good for high speed cornering.
    Ok then lets say hypotheticly that the Nolathane brand is harder and gives a stiffer ride , would that mean that they will wear out quicker then the URETHANE ones ?

    The reason i ask , i want bushes that will give good handling & performance with out having to replace them every 6/12 months . I plan on upgrading the suspention myself becouse there is no real place here that specialise in suspention products unles i get it done in brisbane which is like 2hr drive from here .
    Quote Originally Posted by VS Omega View Post
    "gonna beat you to the next set of lightes uleh"

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    Quote Originally Posted by STEALTHY™ View Post
    How can you actually make a VL handle? Bolt in a R32 GTR driveline
    lol and a big NISMO sticker on the back window (joke)
    Quote Originally Posted by VS Omega View Post
    "gonna beat you to the next set of lightes uleh"

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    polyurethane separates from metal surfaces, it doesnt bond well but performs better it can also split prematurely.

    you guys no idea how many customers i had to change the nolethane caster bar rubbers, sometimes they last ONE DAY, real good stuff...

    The strut tops have been known to stuff up when you go the polyurethane but ive never seen it myself, the guys i heard it off know what there on about.

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    TheyDontWantMusic

    Upgrading the handling is much more than just bushes, springs and shocks. It's a balance of all the suspension components to give you the level of handling you want.

    Chief components which would need to be upgraded would be all bushes, front and rear, shocks, front and rear, firmer and lower springs, to reduce body roll, increased tyre width with the proper rim width to complement your tyre choice, and matching sway bars to suit your new suspension settings. Unless you are really trick at doing your own thing, suspension specialists as already suggested, are the place to go to discuss your needs.

    Your tyres have too high a profile, not only throwing out your speedo and gearing, but also allowing excessive tyre side-wall flex under cornering. Definitely not what you are after.

    Give the pro's a go - they might surprise you with their advice. Unfortunately, they might also shock you with their price.

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    Quote Originally Posted by vnv8driver View Post
    polyurethane separates from metal surfaces, it doesnt bond well but performs better it can also split prematurely.

    you guys no idea how many customers i had to change the nolethane caster bar rubbers, sometimes they last ONE DAY, real good stuff...

    The strut tops have been known to stuff up when you go the polyurethane but ive never seen it myself, the guys i heard it off know what there on about.
    I've had urethane bushes in the VN for nearly 3 years now and they're still in excellent condition. I can get photo's if you want.

    The improvement over rubber is worth it even if they do only last 2 years.

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    ya i had nolathane bushes in my torana, they wear out pretty fast but faster if you are harder on em, but it was like on rails hehe (til they started to wear lol)
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