Is Changing shocks when lowering a must?

[VPplayer]

Hi guys, i bought some superlow springs for my VN.
Went to change them today, took the oldys out and out the superlows in but by the looks of it i need smaller shockys.
Is there any way to do them with the stock ones?

Cheers

[azza77]

From what ive heard, correct me if im wrong, but when you throw on some lower springs rule of thumb is to replace the shocks aswell as stock's wont last to long at all. Best bet would be to line up some new shocks champ. In regards to the shock being to big, not too sure.

[VPplayer]

Ok thanks, i have been looking into getting some gas shocks for awhile now. Just thought i can put the springs in now and buy the shocks when i get payed insted... spred out the work :P

[TVR-190]

You should as it can be dangerous and if you use incorrect shocks you run the risk of a spring coming out if you hit a bump

[Morton]

If you want it to handle, you need stiffer/lower shocks to go with the springs. If you just want it slammed, don't bother.

Probably not a bad idea to stick lowered shocks in the back though, or you could lose a spring next time you jump a rail crossing.

[Grennan]

Its pretty much a must for the rear otherwise you might find one side of the car is lower than the other and the car behind you has a spring lodged in their grill.

Fronts arent needed.

HOWEVER, on a VN/P...it might be a good idea to change them while youve got the car up in the air.

[VPplayer]

Ok thanks for the info, i have some shocks lined up and getting ready to pick up on tuesday.
Now im not trying to sound like a tight arse but do you also need shortend shocks on the front? just curious.

Cheers

[levymetal]

Fronts arent needed.

do you also need shortend shocks on the front?

no you don't need to do the fronts. it will just handle better if you do

[VPplayer]

ok thanks for the help guys, very helpfull

[Kodie]

just curious, if you need em in the back incase of springs popping out, why not the front too?

[_R_J_K_]

just curious, if you need em in the back incase of springs popping out, why not the front too?

Because the struts sit inside of the springs. The spring seats are also a little different, the bottom seat is attached to the strut.

[spirto]

Do lowering correctly to have both ride and height confort.

You should get short shocks for both front and back, this topic has been asked a zillion times on here.
There are no short cuts... or cheat ways to do this correctly.

If you cut springs you end up with no suspension travel.

Front springs are held into their place by the shocker, "it cages them in" so if your putting shorter springs just spend the money and get the shorter stroke shocks.

Rear springs can just bounce out, when you go over a pot hole etc. so again shorter is the recommended way.

If you go too short and have independant rear you will also need camber kit for the wish bones, otherwise your going to scrub out tyres or crack the diff cradle.

Taking a short cut sounds great, makes the car look great with minimum expences, but then you will spend lots more fixing all the items that died from the stress.

[Morton]

Do lowering correctly to have both ride and height confort.

You should get short shocks for both front and back, this topic has been asked a zillion times on here.
There are no short cuts... or cheat ways to do this correctly.

If you cut springs you end up with no suspension travel.

Front springs are held into their place by the shocker, "it cages them in" so if your putting shorter springs just spend the money and get the shorter stroke shocks.

Rear springs can just bounce out, when you go over a pot hole etc. so again shorter is the recommended way.

If you go too short and have independant rear you will also need camber kit for the wish bones, otherwise your going to scrub out tyres or crack the diff cradle.

Taking a short cut sounds great, makes the car look great with minimum expences, but then you will spend lots more fixing all the items that died from the stress.

I'm not entirely sure you got all of that right Just putting it out there.

[VPplayer]

Well i lost my licence today for 6 months so i have alot my time to fix up the VN
Im getting some new shocks tomorrow for the rear but i am going to give the stock front shocks a try with the superlows, if i dont like the feel then ill buy some shocks for the front also.

[bardy]

You should as it can be dangerous and if you use incorrect shocks you run the risk of a spring coming out if you hit a bump

is this a big risk even with a minimal lower such as Kings Lows?

[Morton]

There is no risk with Lows. Lows can't dislodge at full extension - in fact they're about the same as FE2 which was optioned with stock shocks. So you'll be fine

[CommoNdoreVN]

i put ultralows on my VN, and got some shorter sports shocks to go with it.
as for the front, i still have stocks in there. they sit fine, but will probably need to be replaced soonish as they are working harder.
so fronts are optional, i would have done it if i had the money. and definitely all at the same time.
only problem i have with them is that reasonably fast turning can result in small bounces through the corner, due to the spongy fronts.
otherwise they are all good.

[sniperknight]

hey all, just fitted super lows to my wagon on sunday, aswell as adjustable panhard rod and new KYB shocks all round. though today have found that the rear is still "bouncy"...i dont know why, they are all new springs and shocks and i have this problem. any ideas? only thing i can think of is these rear shocks are dodgy.

[CommoNdoreVN]

your rear shocks are definitely not dodgy. happened to mine as well.
when the kings are brand new they are stiff as hell, and therefore dont have as much give. they need a month or two to settle, the will loosen up and your car will probably sit a bit lower than when you put them in.
if they are not new, it may be because you are not used to them. if the shocks are new they will not be the problem.

[sniperknight]

well thats what i thought initially....they gunna need to time to settle....but then my fronts are already noticably stiffer which is good.....im guessing because of the weight up the front of the car is because of that?

so by what you have said, after a month or 2 the springs should have compressed a little more and then be a stiffer ride?

[CommoNdoreVN]

im not sure about stiffer ride, maybe more comfortable. i might be saying that because i went from a VN on stock springs (may as well have been a bloody lift kit) to ultralows, and now im used to the ride. in saying that it differs for everyone. just let them settle and see how they go.

[Morton]

well thats what i thought initially....they gunna need to time to settle....but then my fronts are already noticably stiffer which is good.....im guessing because of the weight up the front of the car is because of that?

so by what you have said, after a month or 2 the springs should have compressed a little more and then be a stiffer ride?

Stiffness depends less on the height of the spring, and more on the design of the spring - spring rate and taper.

You probably have progressive rate springs, which most people are sold. They allow a little comfort at the ends, and are stiffer once compressed somewhat. You can buy linear springs with a higher spring rate, which are harder to compress from the get-go.

[maldotcom2]

The lower your springs, the less chance you're going to hit bumps hard enough to dislodge a spring anyway. I have super lows and use a shock that can also be used for standard height setup. The springs can fall out at full extension, but who has the arse end up that high anyway?

[_R_J_K_]

If you go too short and have independant rear you will also need camber kit for the wish bones, otherwise your going to scrub out tyres or crack the diff cradle.

Huh? How do you crack the diff cradle from not having a camber kit?

[ephect]

The lower your springs, the less chance you're going to hit bumps hard enough to dislodge a spring anyway. I have super lows and use a shock that can also be used for standard height setup. The springs can fall out at full extension, but who has the arse end up that high anyway?

its not hitting bumps hard enough its hitting railroad tracks or potholes that sometimes cant be avoided or arent seen until too late. its happened to a car in front of me once, spring when scrub luckily for me.

using a standard shock in a lowered car, yes it can be done, but ur shock is not operating in the range it was designed for so u get a less the average quality ride, and the shock will prematurely fail. When its failed u have less dampening/rebound effect and more chance a spring dislodging coz the shocks screwed..

make sense?

Huh? How do you crack the diff cradle from not having a camber kit?

you cant, you only crack them when its too low and u mang it, puts major stress on the cradle and over time it cracks along the weakest points