VS Suspension.

[scvs6]

Hey guys, sorry about almost writing a complete book but I really need some help/advice.

I believe that my VS has SSL springs (2 inches lower then standard). I know i'm going to regret this, but i'm thinking of raising it back up 1 inch. Reason is that it is pretty uncomfortable to drive the way it is, and at times it is hard to keep it driving in a straight line without it trying to shoot off to the left or right.

A couple of months ago, I took the car to pedders and they done a shocker test which it failed. So I got them to replace all springs and shockers and also put an adjustable pan hard rod in, but to me it didn't really make any difference to the ride quality. I paid around $1200 to get the job done, I then took the car to get 4 brand new tyres fitted and a wheel alignment done. But unfortunately its still not very nice to drive.

The front tyres at the moment feel rough when you run your hand around the tread in the direction that the wheel would be turning forward. Tyres are Kumho KU31.

Could something else be wrong under the car to make it ride/drive the way it is?

The rear bump stops are damaged which makes me think that the diff is hitting them.

At the moment, I can't really spend any money on getting more springs because I am doing an engine conversion and have spent all my money getting the engine and parts for it.

If I get raised springs then I have wasted the $1200 getting the SSL springs and shockers fitted. The other thing is changing the rear end to IRS, but I don't want to do that and then i'm still not happy with it.

My WH Statesman has SSSL springs in it and it rides like a dream and it also has bigger wheels on it with cheaper tyres.

Could anyone be able to help me with what options I have. I don't want stupid answers like "Buy second hand stand springs and then chop them a little bit", I don't support chopping springs and anything else to make the car unroadworthy.

Option 1.
Buy SL springs and shockers and see if that changes the comfort/ride quality of the car.

Option 2.
Buy a second hand IRS VS rear end and new rear springs and shockers and see how that is.

Option 3.
Find a mechanic that can/will check the whole car to see why its hard to control at times, check if the sway bars, radius rods are bent, check why the tyres are wearing the way they are and go from there.

Also take this into account, I do long trips in this car (500kms a week, sometimes more), and some of the roads have massive pot holes, rough surfaces, etc.

It's also made rattles come into the car (like behind the dash) that I will probably never be able to fix

[Brett_jjj]

Lowering a car way down and firming up the ride definitely knocks the crap out of most cars,causing rattles and squeaks etc like you mentioned.Not to mention the damage from scraping up driveways etc.Thats the reason I use FE2 springs,they lower it enough to make it handle better,but they dont sacrifice all of the comfort.I have just fitted brand new genuine FE2 springs to the front of my VS,but I cant get genuine FE2 rears as holden dont make them any more,so I have looked at kings springs and have found the ones I need that are similar to the FE2.They are KHRL 20-HD+ for the rears,the fronts are KHFL 47SL+ for V6,or KHFL 48HD+ for V8.

[scvs6]

Lowering a car and firming up the ride definitely knocks the crap out of most cars,causing rattles and squeaks etc like you mentioned.Not to mention the damage from scraping up drivways etc.Thats the reason I use FE2 springs,they lower it enough to make it handle better,but they dont sacrifice all of the comfort.I have just fitted brand new genuine FE2 springs to my VS,but I cant get genuine FE2 rears as holden dont make them any more,so I have looked at kings springs and have found the ones I need that are similar to the FE2.They are KHRL 20-HD+

Brett_jjj, do you have a pic of your car so I can see how it sits? I think that getting FE2 springs or similar would be the best way to go. Would I be able to use the shortened shockers that are on the car now or would I have to replace them as well?

[Brett_jjj]

When I changed from the STD suspension to the FE2 setup.I kept having problems with the rear springs falling out when the car was jacked up.Ive since fitted shorter shocks that suit the lower springs to stop this from happening,so yes, you should still be able to use your lowered shocks with FE2 height springs.I have monroe GT sports shocks on the rear.Theyve made a huge difference now that I have shocks on the car that actually suit the suspension height.

[scvs6]

When I changed from the STD suspension to the FE2 setup.I kept having problems with the rear springs falling out when the car was jacked up.Ive since fitted shorter shocks that suit the lower springs to stop this from happening,so yes, you should still be able to use your lowered shocks with FE2 height springs.I have monroe GT sports shocks on the rear.Theyve made a huge difference now that I have shocks on the car that actually suit the suspension height.

Yeah when I first lowered my car, I left the standard shockers in it and it kept bottoming out and the rear springs kept falling out when I lifted it up on a hoist. I put the shortened shockers in and its all good now. I thought pedders comfort gas and sports ryder was supposed to be good, and it is in my statesman, but it's not the case with my VS. I might get prices on just springs from a couple of places. I'm just not too happy that I spent all that money to get the suspension done again and it's still the same as it was before.