VS Suspension Advice

[nathanVY]

Hey everyone. So the suspension in my VS is as all of them are old and worn. Its lowered on king super lows. The ride is ok as long as you don't go over any bumps lol.

What i'm wondering is where do I start? and what's the best bnag for your buck things to start with?

Initially I was thinking:

- Shortened Struts & Shocks
- Strut-top bearings / bushes ? (not sure about this)
- Whiteline / nolathane suspension kit (are these worth it?? I will be keeping the car for at least the next 3 years)]
- Whiteline upgraded swaybar link pin

The steering isn't bad, but it pulls to one side really easily and especially when braking. The steering wheel shakes/shudders a bit at higher speeds. This could be the brakes, so I'm doing all new brakes which I was going to do anyway. I'll see how it rides after that but if I could get some recommendations and/or prices that would be great!

Thanks in advance

[Rhin0o8]

Id suggest to start with "The Triangle" .
Radius Rod to Chassis Bushes - Radius Rod to Control arm - Control arm to Chassis

Then also the Link pins from your Sway bar to Strut.

May as well do your front brakes aswell

This will improve your ride and make it 1000 times better.

Ive just done this to a VS and it feels great

oh yeah IMO Noalathene is the way to go

[Jonnii]

MM would be good to do the strut top bearings. youll probly find when you take the strut apart they will go everywhere

[nathanVY]

Id suggest to start with "The Triangle" .
Radius Rod to Chassis Bushes - Radius Rod to Control arm - Control arm to Chassis

Then also the Link pins from your Sway bar to Strut.

May as well do your front brakes aswell

This will improve your ride and make it 1000 times better.

Ive just done this to a VS and it feels great

oh yeah IMO Noalathene is the way to go

Thanks mate! Exactly the kind of info I was after, cheers. Instead of the entire kit for the front I'll do the triangle and link pins. As well as my brakes all round. Then if i'm still not happy with it, in go the shortened shocks / strut bearings and bushes.

[dirt drifter]

you're on the right track with your shopping list, i would be adding decent sway bars as well. im running whiteline adjustable bars and bilstein shocks front and rear in mine and cant recommend them enough!

[nathanVY]

Hey can anyone tell me if the "triangle" bushes and link pins are easy to fit? can it be done in the drive with a jack / wheel stands?
Are there any how-tos on here? Help would be much appreciated.

Just looking to understand where each bush is and what it does, how to take it apart, etc.

[tezza]

With a lowered car, is it more prone to tramlining / pulling to one side (following the dips in the road) or is it more due to worn bushes?

My lowered ute has a similar problem. I dont want to get new struts and springs when I should be doing the front bushes first.

[nathanVY]

With a lowered car, is it more prone to tramlining / pulling to one side (following the dips in the road) or is it more due to worn bushes?

My lowered ute has a similar problem. I dont want to get new struts and springs when I should be doing the front bushes first.

Yeah ever since I lowered my car and put the wider (8") wheels on it, it's been pulling all over the place. but the pulling started when I put the wheels on which was before I lowered so that makes me think bushes first. I think if you struts / bearings are shot your wheel alignment will keep going out? correct me if i'm wrong.

The bushes are a good place to start, much cheaper than new struts, etc.

[Rhin0o8]

Hey can anyone tell me if the "triangle" bushes and link pins are easy to fit? can it be done in the drive with a jack / wheel stands?
Are there any how-tos on here? Help would be much appreciated.

Just looking to understand where each bush is and what it does, how to take it apart, etc.

The Link pins are a piece of cake and the easiest
can be done with a jack and chassis stands in your driveway.
next in line would be Radius rod bushes.( Front and Back )
In my opinion the Control arm to Chassis Bushes ( Control arm Innner's) are the hardest and need to be "pressed" out in a workshop. ( Best left to a place like Pedders )

best option is this : ( ofcourse it depends if you can do without the car for a day or maybe 2 days )

To get the Radius Rod and bushes off you need to drop the Control arm on the VS model. So best bet is to take out the Control arm completely
Take it the Pedders or Similar and they can "press" out both bushes and press in the "Inner" Bushes ( I got this done for $75 a pair )
It leaves you to get Nolathene Bushes for the Radius Rod to Control arm Bushes ( Control arm outer's )
And also the Radius Rod to Chassis ( Castor Bushes )

search up the Forums for How to's . I think there are plenty . try using the Keywords i have Bracketed maybe.
if not PM and id gladly try to help

its a daunting job for many . But I did My VT first so i have some knowledge going into doing the VS .. keyword "some"
im still learning but im pleased with my efforts of 2 cars that now drive a hell of a lot better.

Good luck and keeps us posted

[nathanVY]

fantastic post mate thanks! Ok link pins sounds good, do you reckon you can post photos of where each of the bushes are?
Ill probably understand straight away once I can see it.

[Rhin0o8]

fantastic post mate thanks! Ok link pins sounds good, do you reckon you can post photos of where each of the bushes are?
Ill probably understand straight away once I can see it.

Ok. youre going to have to excuse my crappy artwork here lol

The Link pins are pointed out by the arrows.
You will need an assorted amount of sockets and open ended/Ring spanners
also a Breaker bar is essential to get more leverage on the tough bolts

Link pins you will need an 12, 13 or 14mm spanner and you need to hold the actual rod with another spanner to stop it from free spinning as you try to undo it.

The Castor Bushes ( Radius Rod to Chassis ) is pointed out by the Circle
24mm socket and a Breaker bar needed by memory

Control arm outer's ( Radisu Rod to Control arm ) Pointed out by the Triangle. you will need a 30 Socket from the back I believe

Control arm to Chassis ( Control arm Inner's ) Pointed out by the Square. you will need a 17mm or 19mm Socket on the Front and with the Steering rack Boot in the way at the Back you will need the same 17mm or 19mm Ring Spanner to hold the Bolt from Free Spinning as you try to undo it .

When are you looking to do this job?

[nathanVY]

Ok. youre going to have to excuse my crappy artwork here lol

The Link pins are pointed out by the arrows.
You will need an assorted amount of sockets and open ended/Ring spanners
also a Breaker bar is essential to get more leverage on the tough bolts

Link pins you will need an 12, 13 or 14mm spanner and you need to hold the actual rod with another spanner to stop it from free spinning as you try to undo it.

The Castor Bushes ( Radius Rod to Chassis ) is pointed out by the Circle
24mm socket and a Breaker bar needed by memory

Control arm outer's ( Radisu Rod to Control arm ) Pointed out by the Triangle. you will need a 30 Socket from the back I believe

Control arm to Chassis ( Control arm Inner's ) Pointed out by the Square. you will need a 17mm or 19mm Socket on the Front and with the Steering rack Boot in the way at the Back you will need the same 17mm or 19mm Ring Spanner to hold the Bolt from Free Spinning as you try to undo it .

When are you looking to do this job?

Thanks! That is perfect! I'm looking at doing it in a few weeks, when I order the bushes. So that looks doable in my front yard The inner bushes are there any I would need to go get removed by a suspension shop (the actual bush taken out of the arm I mean) or can I just hack at it til it comes out.

[glenn l]

you can whack both the inner and the caster bash out of the arm with a hammer.

[Rhin0o8]

Thanks! That is perfect! I'm looking at doing it in a few weeks, when I order the bushes. So that looks doable in my front yard The inner bushes are there any I would need to go get removed by a suspension shop (the actual bush taken out of the arm I mean) or can I just hack at it til it comes out.

The "inner's" ( Control arm to Chassis ) technically can be knocked out by yourself, However damage can be done . There is a metal sleeve that stays in the actual arm which will get in the way of the new Bushes.

When i did mine, the bush actually fell out in my hand . it was totally stuffed lol. these are the ones I suggested to get pressed in by Pedders or a similar workshop.
we are talking about the ones marked out with the Square in the above picture.

The ones marked out with the Triangle you might as well get the Workshop guys to knock them out for you at the same time. as i said in my previous post I took both Control arms in . Got the Bushes taken out and New "inner's" pressed in . For $75

I fitted Noalthene to both the front and rear of the Radius Rod myself at home

[Rhin0o8]

Oh on a Side note . When you have the New "inner's" Bushes pressed into the arm and putting it back into the car ...

You will need to have the weight of the car and the suspension loaded at Ride height before you tighten the Control arm to Chassis
this is to remain even weight on the Bush all round and not stress one side of it and in a way squash it .
hope that makes sense lol

Good Luck

[nathanVY]

The "inner's" ( Control arm to Chassis ) technically can be knocked out by yourself, However damage can be done . There is a metal sleeve that stays in the actual arm which will get in the way of the new Bushes.

When i did mine, the bush actually fell out in my hand . it was totally stuffed lol. these are the ones I suggested to get pressed in by Pedders or a similar workshop.
we are talking about the ones marked out with the Square in the above picture.

The ones marked out with the Triangle you might as well get the Workshop guys to knock them out for you at the same time. as i said in my previous post I took both Control arms in . Got the Bushes taken out and New "inner's" pressed in . For $75

I fitted Noalthene to both the front and rear of the Radius Rod myself at home

Great, love the use of various shapes lol. $75 just for them to put the bushes in the arms, wow. Seems excessive.

Oh on a Side note . When you have the New "inner's" Bushes pressed into the arm and putting it back into the car ...

You will need to have the weight of the car and the suspension loaded at Ride height before you tighten the Control arm to Chassis
this is to remain even weight on the Bush all round and not stress one side of it and in a way squash it .
hope that makes sense lol

Good Luck

That will be fun getting under it to tight them up when the car is on SL's lol. So torque up all the bolts so it sits there let the car sit down to ride height then tighten up maxium

[Rhin0o8]

Great, love the use of various shapes lol. $75 just for them to put the bushes in the arms, wow. Seems excessive.

they are about $40-50 for the Bushes i think . and they press them in . Cant be done at home unless you make a custom press. $75 will get the job done.

That will be fun getting under it to tight them up when the car is on SL's lol. So torque up all the bolts so it sits there let the car sit down to ride height then tighten up maxium

You got ramps? drive up on ramps, that way the suspension is still under load and room for you to get under.

SAFETY is essential.

[RX25SE]

I agree with pressing in the bushes. Using a hammer may cause damage.

To press in and out the rubber front caster bushes, I use old wheel bearing shells and a long bolt with a heavy washer. You could go to a steel supply and get some short lenghts (60-70mm approx) of pipe in various diameters. This would do the same job.

One of the lower arm bushes (I think the rear caster bush??) has a taper or a step in it and must be removed and installed from the correct side.

+1 to safety.

[nathanVY]

No I don't have ramps, there wouldn't be much hope of getting the car on ramps anyway considering I couldn't get my last car (VR Exec) at standard height onto one because of the bumper. Safety is always a priority, no good if the car crushes my face! Just one more questions, so I'm replacing the "triangle" bushes and the link pins, what's left in the front end?

[glenn l]

sway bar d bushes and strut bearings and bearing plates.