Looking to change suspension on Calais.. do I go Pedders?

[96 Calais]

Going to change suspension next week, I've been asking around a few places about getting superlows with shocks & camber kit to suit.. most places are quoting me around $1500 with some plate in the rear to set it up properly.

I rang Pedders and their quote was about $1800 for all round superlows, shocks, camber, bushes and a bunch of other stuff which I have no idea what they were, a bunch of other items they install to make it ride better and garentee tyres wont scrub.

Would it be worth paying a bit more for the extra's pedders throw in and a written garentee tyres wont scrub?

anyone have an unbiased opinion about the Pedders SportsRyder system?

Im also in South Adelaide if anyone's got a recommended place togo through

I understand the legal requirement is 100mm min from the lowest point in your car?
would superlow's make it become illegal?
if so would this effect my insurance, if something happened it would make my claim invalid due to being 'defectable' ?

[96 Calais]

my cat is already sitting 115mm off the ground.. if i take it down with superlows (50mm?) then wouldnt that leave the cat hanging 65mm off the ground? thats pretty fkn low and would scrap on just about everything??
(currently have standard suspension)

[nathanVY]

100mm from the lowest point of your car, it all depends on your exhaust really - my car is only on Lovells Lows in the back but the mufflers hang down and its technically illegal - but i'm getting this fixed and getting the rear lowered to SL height.

List the items pedders are quoting you for here see what everyone thinks. Pedders are known for overquoting. Any modifications to your car will most likely give the insurance company a way out of paying the claim - so definitely speak to your insurance company - if they know about all modifications to your car (your premiums may change) then you should be ok. Thats just what I've read about though so please do your own research.

Your tyres won't scrub on superlows (depending on wheel size), I have 17s on superlows never had any issues. Actually i had one there was a little hose hitting the tyre when I turned... (drain pipe or something) snipped it off and it's all good

[96 Calais]

2x VRon Bearing Plate,
2x Comm. Strut BRG,
1x Sports Ryder Coil Spring RH,
1x Sports Ryder Coil Spring LH,
2x Sports Ryder Coil Spring,
1x Fitting,
1x Fnt Whl Allignment,
1x R GSR Sealed Strut,
1x L GSR Sealed Strut,
2x Gas Sports Ryder,

$1500 was the quote!

that drops it to Se2 height so camber kit wont be needed!

but I might need new engine mounts to as paceys-cat seems to be really low on the ground! I suppose be best todo this before suspension as it might change the front end height?

[nathanVY]

my cat is already sitting 1150mm off the ground..

Wow is it on your roof or something? lol. Pedders quote is just shocks struts and springs with a wheel alignment + 2x VRon Bearing Plate, 2x Comm. Strut BRG - which is a good idea.

If your exhaust already hangs low then chances are lowering it will only make things worse - Take it to a good exhaust place with a STEEP driveway (They have to make it close to the body then haha) get them to take a look see what they can do a bit of fixing up get it nice and close to the body.

Lows in the Front and Superlows in the Rear is usually a good combo (though I haven't tried it myself), You get to keep a bit more of your front suspension/strut height and the car sits level (with the same size springs the engine weight brings the front down a bit more).

[96 Calais]

oopsy 115mm :P

having the exhaust adjusted closer to the body sounds expensive.. just spent $1200 on it
doesn't look like theres much more room to put it closer looking at it, see how i go having the mounts looked at

anyways, back to the question about pedders..

[glenn l]

nothing wrong with pedders products except there polyurethane bushes, just there price isnt the greatest.

[nathanVY]

oopsy 115mm :P

having the exhaust adjusted closer to the body sounds expensive.. just spent $1200 on it
doesn't look like theres much more room to put it closer looking at it, see how i go having the mounts looked at

anyways, back to the question about pedders..

If you just had a custom exhaust made and it hangs too low then you should go and complain and make them fix it, so many exhaust workshops do a slack job. I'll post a pic of mine so you can see.

[wraith]

Interesting. I have super front ultra rear and my car is easily above legal height. How low is that exhaust sounds like they have put huge rubbers or something.

[Jesterarts]

^^^ VR Exec is live axle isn't it?

Live axle will sit higher that IRS if you put "ultra lows" in both.

There are 2 things you need to consider when lowering to remain legal.

1. 100mm ground clearance plus brow height if applicable in your state.
2. You need to retain 2/3 suspension travel. Now obviously this is fairly tricky to check on the side of the road, if you get a yellow sticker for it on the road side then the pits will probably look at it.

In regards to Pedders, great product 9 times out of 10 but their "service" is WAAAAAY overpriced!

When I wanted them to put big bore shocks in my VX when I had it, the shocks where like 300 and they wanted 150 to put them in, for a job that takes about 15min.

[wraith]

Yeah I know there will be a difference in heights between live axle and IRS but you would think when it comes to a cat the height of the front rather then rears will come into play more. Which of course should be the same in both models.

[Jesterarts]

Different engines too, that could influence cat position on the exhaust. You've got the Buick in your VR and since he's got a calais he'll have the ecotec. Or maybe as you mentioned the rubbers they put on his exhaust are stretched or oversized.

[wraith]

Yeah that's true but even so the floor pans are the same between them so there is really no good reason why his exhaust should be so low.

[Krilnik]

Interesting. I have super front ultra rear and my car is easily above legal height. How low is that exhaust sounds like they have put huge rubbers or something.

What size rims do you have?