Lowering on a budget

[Calais3800]

Hey guys im gonna lowa me calais soon as am after sum quick advice. I've done a few in the past so the operation is no problem. But im not sure how low can go before u require short throw shocks!?

Also more in depth will the stock mc'pherson struts be ok to retain and will i need a sway bar or will i get away without one?

I am doing this on a relitive buget so im thinking second hand springs from wreckrs. has anyone had any probs wiff S/H springs and recomend any brands? your input would be most valuable.

also can anyone recomend a good entry level performance shock? I"ve used monroe in past seems ok. I've been told Pedders r a rip off???

And lastly i once herd sum places can simply remove your stock spring and re-coil them with heat for not much at all, is this worthwhile?

[greenfoam]

You can use standard shockers with fe2, shorter ones with superlows. Any lower than superlows and you go backwards in handling anyway so it's not worth worrying about ultras unless you are a show pony

[Calais3800]

how low is FE2? and how low r supalows? i recall its 2" FE2 and 3"supalow,but im not sure. does anyone make a 2 1/2" lower spring? and would that extra 1/2" require shorties?

[1991_Vn2nV]

FE2 is found in SS VN's and a few others. Check the ride height of a stock VN SS and see what you think. Superlow is not much lower.

You will only require shorter shocks on the rear, not the front if you go Superlows or even Ultralows.

Monroe shocks are fine to use, they are a good brand.

Stock sway bars and struts are fine as well if all you want to do is lower the car.

Brands I would reccomend are King Springs or Lovells for that little extra. I have both and I would have to say King Springs are a much better ride, Lovells give better handling though.

[immortality]

you will probably need an adjustable panhard rod if you go more than the low spring (which i beleive are 35-40mm) cause if you have big rims they will rub on the gaurds at the back on the drivers side

[1991_Vn2nV]

you will probably need an adjustable panhard rod if you go more than the low spring (which i beleive are 35-40mm) cause if you have big rims they will rub on the gaurds at the back on the drivers side

Should be right with superlows but ultralows will be a different story and will scrape with 215's or 225's on the rear... I use a whiteline premium on car adjustable one. Its a great product, but weighs like 4x that of the stock one and is much larger also.

[Emackulation]

My nolothane adjustable panhard rod weight about the same as a stock one I think.

[immortality]

i've got s1 VT SS rims with 235/45 bags and they rub without the adjustable panhard rod

[Calais3800]

ThankYoU - 1991VN2NV,Immortality,Mack and Greenfoam!!! ( i think i got everybody,hehe)

Goal - Lower my stock calais (on stock 15" calais rims)

MY understanding so far -

Cheap lowering = FE2 springs only (no change in shokers required)

Option 2 = Get some king/lovells springs ( i understand there cheaper than pedders and do same job!?) . Also if i go lowa dan 2" i will require short throws on rear only.

ALso when i get big rims in future say prolly 17"s with 225 rear 215 front, i will need to get a aftermarket rear panhadrod and adjust it so the rear drivers wheel wont rub? R they hard to put in guys? thanks for all your help!

[1991_Vn2nV]

They arent too hard to do if you can get your car up to get underneath

King Springs and Lovells springs are better than Pedders Springs. No Bull hehe

King Springs you can pick up for around $220 a set if you shop around, Lovells a tad extra.

[fu2]

i think that one of the sponser is having a sale on king springs at the moment

here u go found the page
http://forums.justcommodores.com.au/...ad.php?t=42339

[VN Commy]

Mines sitting on ultra lows with 225 tyres and it's got quite a bit of clearance with the standard panhard rod. Ultras are the goods for handling IMO.

[scared_]

i've got my vp on peders lowered springs, not sure how low tho, same as FE2 im think. i had 15's on it and recently put 17's on her, 235, it rubed on the drivers side and had to get adjustable panhard rod. for anyone who dosent know, when you lower the car the panhard is moved to a different angle which moves the diff across which causes the rubbing.

[Calais3800]

can u get king or lovells at 2 1/2" ??? this would seem the perfect middle ground....would u still need short throws but??

[SweetWagon]

scared_, if you dont mind me asking why is your commodore a 3.9L??

[1991_Vn2nV]

can u get king or lovells at 2 1/2" ??? this would seem the perfect middle ground....would u still need short throws but??

Short shocks for the rear yes you would. But yeah you could Lovells at 2 1/2", just check at the place you are buying the springs what options they have.

[Emackulation]

Installing the rears is a peice of nice mud cake, but installing the fronts can prove to be a bit more challenging for the average joe. You should be able to pick up pairs of springs for under $200.

[Calais3800]

kool, thanks guys. I will be sure to buy some spring commpressors this time round! lol, my falcon ute took me almost 2 day to lower. Repco had a sale lowerd kings springs from $144 a pair last month. i might wait for another sale. maybe bursons or supacheap.............

[1991_Vn2nV]

$144 for a pair isnt cheap.

Normal prices are $130 a pair, and if you shop around $220 for a set is quite possible. One of the sponsors on here is selling full sets for $190 as mentioned already.

[Calais3800]

im in frankston Melbourne that sponser waz in quensland! also i dont have a credit card so ebay is out. ive rung all the wreckers around here none of them have any lowered spring, not even a woodgrain s/wheel! so anoying! so looks like im gonna have to fork out for sum new ones....sigh

[1991_Vn2nV]

I personally would not get secondhand springs anyway...

Im sure the sponsor can send the springs via postage?

[90VN55]

here is a how-to done by VP_Luke telling you how to change front springs/shocks.

How To: Change Springs/Shock

do what that says and its not that hard

[guss]

I can get king springs for:
front - $100 (pair) ultralows/superlows
rear - $100 (pair) ultralows/superlows

shocks are KYB japanese company, which arnt too bad for what i expected.

$125 a pair for front and rear

the lot $450.

[Calais3800]

kool, does anyone know a place in frankston or dandenong the sell em cheap?

[fazz1977]

Calais3800, Did you try Kumbak on Govenor Rd Braeside? They have heaps of stuff.