Commodore - Fitting VR struts, brakes rack & pinion plus steering colum to my VN...

[bobmat111]

Please help.

I would like to know if I can fit 1993 VR Commodore struts and brakes
to my 1988 VN Calais. Iknow the plates at the top of the struts are different,
but I'm hoping that I'll only have to change the top plates. I intend to change
the brake booster and the rear brakes. my other question Is if I can change
the rack and pinion and steering colum from the VR to the Vn as I have wrecked
a 1993 VR Commodore and I still have all of the parts of the complete car.
My thanks for any help given...
bobmat111.

[immortality]

simple answer. NO. the VR has a wider wheel track. this is achieved in part by a different lower control arm/different HUB/strut design. the top of the strut (shock absorber shaft) has a different diameter.

the VR hub won't bolt onto a VN lower control arm.

you could drill new holes in the VN subframe (narrower) and then use the VR control arms but that will effect bump steer which would then require mods to your steering rack. that still doesn't solve the issue of the strut top (i suspect that possibly the adjustable Kmac strut tops that are used for the post VT models might work)

[_R_J_K_]

If you're "changing the brakes" and break booster because you think they are some kind of upgrade, they really aren't. As for the steering rack, a mate of mine has a VS rack in his VP now, mounting points were the same, but he had to swap the arms on the VS rack with the ones on the VP rack.

[bobmat111]

Thanks for your feedback, all help Is appreciated.
bobmat111.

[_R_J_K_]

Hmmm, after thinking a bit more about it, I am under the impression that the VP - VS rack has a square input shaft, whereas the VN has the spline type input shaft. So, that may not interchange.

[bobmat111]

Thanks for all of the help that you have supplied to me, as It Is appreciated very much.

Bob...

[Clunt]

ive seen it done, but its more effort than you would possibly think. its a MAJOR effort..

other than using up parts u have sitting around what is your goal? do u wanna improve handling, brakes, replace worn parts? sure we could find better ways to help u then doing the above.

[Clunt]

for interest u might wanna look at this. u can have a guess what the ***'s are
http://****************.com.au/showthread.php?t=8485252

[bobmat111]

for interest u might wanna look at this. u can have a guess what the ***'s are
http://****************.com.au/showthread.php?t=8485252

[B]Thanks for your suggestions...

I tried to get access to the link that you supplied
and it stated that that it was not avalid link.
Maybe you made a mistake with the address or link.
Thanks for all of the help that every one is trying
to give me.

Cheers, Bob...
bobmat111.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

You can get an isert for the struts that have the smaller diameter shaft that will fit the VN strut tops. This requires some cutting and welding though. The longer lower control arms are another issue. You may be able to fill in the holes on the K frame and redrill them a bit further in, I don't know if you will get them in far enough as they are about 40mm longer than the earlier ones.

I also believe there are strut tops with the larger hole to accomodate the VR strut, it is only 2mm different, so you may even be able to find some with a fair bit of material in the inner bearing race to be able to drill them out.

[bobmat111]

Another Question,

If I was to fit the complete VR front crossmember but using the VN struts bolted up to It,
would this solve my problems as I have all of these parts and I am thinking about the wider track.
I also plan on fitting the rear diff assembly to my VN so that the over all track is wider.
I have looked up the differences of the track width between the VN to VR and the track
is wider on the VR, not by a lot but it is wider.
I still plan on using the VR steering colum and rack and pinion as well as I am thinking
about using the VR dash.
I am going to see how much and the availability of a VR Calais wiring loom and indicator-cruise
control switch.
If any one can help me with any information on my thoughts about the modifications that I am
thinking of, this would be very much appreciated, thanks fella's.

Thanks, Bob...
bobmat111.

[wortus]

Another Question,

If I was to fit the complete VR front crossmember but using the VN struts bolted up to It,
would this solve my problems as I have all of these parts and I am thinking about the wider track.
I also plan on fitting the rear diff assembly to my VN so that the over all track is wider.
I have looked up the differences of the track width between the VN to VR and the track
is wider on the VR, not by a lot but it is wider.
I still plan on using the VR steering colum and rack and pinion as well as I am thinking
about using the VR dash.
I am going to see how much and the availability of a VR Calais wiring loom and indicator-cruise
control switch.
If any one can help me with any information on my thoughts about the modifications that I am
thinking of, this would be very much appreciated, thanks fella's.

Thanks, Bob...
bobmat111.

You'd need to use the VN lower arms as well because they connect up differently to the bottom of the strut. You might as a consequence put a fair bit more negative camber on the wheels and you may not beable to compensate with standard VN bearing plates.
Have you thought about replacing the strut towers in the VN with VR ones I am sure any good panel beater can do that for you?
Otherwise you could see if there is a disc rotor and hub available that would suit the VN giving an increase in track.
Another thing to consider is the overall geometry when you turn the corners, go over bumps etc. As a general rule the length of the rack should be the same as the distance between the pivots of the lower arms. The lower arms and rack ends need to move at the same time on different arcs without causing any interference that could pull on the wheel.