What's the deal with shortened front shocks?

[jack.mc]

I've been told by a few people now that you cant purchase shorter shocks to go in the front struts, you need to replace the entire strut - true? Front struts are bloody expensive to replace... Thanks a lot, trying to work out this group buy...

[Doctor Sodways]

Hmmm, my mechanic got me shortened shocks all round, he recommended it cos i had FE2 stock, and was lookin at lowering, he wouldnt put my new springs in at the time though, he said it was too low so now i only have the rear lowered cos i got bored one day and did it. But yes, you can get shortened shocks for the front, and its just like replacing the shocker normally, annoying

[silver_bullet]

Hmmm, my mechanic got me shortened shocks all round, he recommended it cos i had FE2 stock, and was lookin at lowering, he wouldnt put my new springs in at the time though, he said it was too low so now i only have the rear lowered cos i got bored one day and did it. But yes, you can get shortened shocks for the front, and its just like replacing the shocker normally, annoying

so he didnt put lower springs on the front for u, he took out fe2 and kept standard spring??? lil confused. my mate said same thing to me about replacing the whole strut, thats why i sorta wanna find out wat the go is cuz macpherson struts aint cheap.

[ProMaX]

so do you HAVE to replace the entire strut is that just an option?

jack: whats ur msn?

[Doctor Sodways]

Nah, he wouldnt put the lovells springs in, he left the FE2 in, he said it was going to be stupidly low and i wouldnt last a week without defect. From what i remember its just an insert in the front, not an entire strut

[silver_bullet]

Nah, he wouldnt put the lovells springs in, he left the FE2 in, he said it was going to be stupidly low and i wouldnt last a week without defect. From what i remember its just an insert in the front, not an entire strut

an insert??? has anyone just left there fe2 in and put superlows in? u dont HAVE to replace struts rite??? wats it ride like with shorter struts an good ol' fe2, handling?

[Doctor Sodways]

Well, i had FE2 (standard for me) springs all round for about 2 weeks before i put the lovells in the rear, and the ride wasnt too bad, firm, handled well (probably helped by my 17s and 235 tyres) and very tolerable, i only put the lovells in cos its not low enough for my liking. And an insert is how it was described to me, someone who has replaced the front shocks themselves will be able to tell you more about them, but FE2 and short strokes is a good combination of ride height and handling

[jack.mc]

so do you HAVE to replace the entire strut is that just an option?

jack: whats ur msn?

This is what i'm trying to find out. On the monroe website, there is clearly a picture of a 'cartridge' to fit in the normal struts...

For my MSN click on the little MSN guy in the top right corner of my posts... i'm not on very often though...

[vt1538]

The vn vp take a cartridge to fit in the strut. The vr onwards are a one piece strut & shock.

[Doctor Sodways]

Yes, but the problem is, do you need a different strut to fit shortened cartidges. Im heading down to see my mechanic today to try and sort out whats in my car, and what needs to be done to get the shortened shocks in

[vt1538]

You cannot get a shortened strut for the vn vp as such. The tyres would rub against the bottom spring plate. The overall height of the shock cartridge is shortened to take the lower spring.

[jack.mc]

Monroe sell them as a sealed unit - you can get them, but they're much more expensive than a cartridge would be (160 for vn/vp at group buy prices)

[vt1538]

Gt gas cartridge for lowered part no# 25-3632
sensatrac cartridge for lowered part no#27-5632
These cartridges are sold in pairs.

[jack.mc]

yeah, thats what i thought, but the guy I'm organising the buy with says that part no# 25-3632 is $160 a pair, and is a full shortened strut. Do you have one of these parts on your car?

Clearly, the pic on the far right of this page is an insert for a strut... http://www.monroe.com.au/default.asp...e=POPUP&sid=10

I'll email the guy again now...

[jack.mc]

Ok, i think i've got it. American Autos (who know their stuff, charge fairly) sell that part for $189.95, and call it MONROE GAS STRUT INSERTS COMMODORE. So i guess the inserts are just bloody expensive. So they're $30 cheaper in the group buy... still seems like a big ripoff to me. I'm only geting low springs, so i prolly dont need to replace them - then again, when i DO need to, it'll be a pain taking the strut off again... what a dilemma!!

thanks for the help vt1538

[vt1538]

No dramas mate.
I couldnt understand how they classed it as a fully sealed strut for the VP either. The strut for the vn vp commodore is part of the wheel stub axle where the later models the stub axle is seperate.