Installing springs in a VXII...?

[Packdaddy]

So i bought some Low King springs for the VXII and decided to install them myself.

Looked pretty simple, so I started on the rears. Jacked it up, put it on stands, undid the shocker, also undid the panard rod, put the spring compressors on (not easy as there's bugger all room) but couldn't compress the spring even close to getting it out.

So i undid the swaybar linkage, then jacked up the swingarm to compress the spring, put the spring compressors on and let the swingarm down again. It was slightly more compressed but still not even close to coming out. The only thing Left I can think of is to undo a CV joint to disconnect the axle, and hopefully the swingarm will drop enough to get it out. Is that right? is there no other way to get the stock springs out of a VXII?

Anyway, didn't have the tools to take the axle off so put it back together and started on the fronts. No worries, pulled the struts out, springs off, new springs on and reinstalled the struts. On the second one though, the ballrace in the top of the strut came out and ball bearings went everywhere! So i tried to find them all, clean the dirt off them and put them back in. It seems ok although i think there's 1 or 2 balls missing and it sounds slightly dirty in there! RRR...

Anyway the fronts back together and drives ok, occasionally makes some creaking noises at very slow speed though. I read somewhere you have to be sure to align the tops of the struts into the strut tower correctly... it just seemed to go straight in for me, is there a process i missed? Wondering if thats whats causing the creaking noise?

Cheers

[Packdaddy]

By the way the noise seems to be coming from the passenger side front strut, not the one i spilt the ball race from! So it doesn't seem to be the bearing

[MR_VX]

did you only put lowered springs in or shorter strust as well?
ive been told when lowering a (vx) you will have to put a 4 point camber kit in it to. just check! i havent got around to doing this yet! so good luck

[Packdaddy]

Well only the fronts are in so far!

But from what I read you only need shorter shockers on the rear with superlows or lower. Lows should be ok apparently.

[MR_VX]

fair enough, i was going to get this kit for my vx

VT COMMODORE ULTRA LOW KING SPRINGS & MONROE GT SHOCKS - eBay Shocks, Struts, Suspension, Steering, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 21-Feb-10 14:31:28 AEDST)

[Packdaddy]

Fair enough, thats pretty damn low though! Good luck.

Has anyone changed the springs before?

[Longman]

Hi Mate,

I have changed all 4 springs in my VT. On the rears I had to disconnect the drive shaft CV at the wheel end, the sway bar blocked it from dropping all the way but it was enough to get the springs out/in with some gentle caressing.

The fronts were straight forward as you mentioned. To be honest though mate, I would have bought a new set of top bearings, particularly if you've lost a few. Make sure to also check all the other components, sway bar links, caster bushings, D rubbers etc. Also, how old are your struts? have they been replaced before? Perhaps lower springs are putting some new stresses on older items and the groan you mention is their protest song. Also a wheel alignment is a must.

[neet_wagon]

Have you taken the handbrake off when trying to change the rears? The handbrake won't let the cradle go to its lowest point if its on.

Watched my mate with his HSV VQ trying to get his springs out for ages, before I stopped laughing and asked about the handbrake.

[BXHD]

yeah i was going to say take the handbrake off.. if that hasnt already been tried

[Packdaddy]

Dammit! Didn't realise the handbrake would do that, and yes it was on the whole time. It was booked in to get the wheel alignment today, so I just got them t put the springs in the back, $60 wasn't too bad I thought. Also told the workshop to check over the struts, make sure I'd tightened everything properly.

The struts and shocks are all original as far as I can tell, the car has 95000k on it now. So I guess that could be it? I figure I'll look at new bearings for the struts but it should be rebuildable anyway right?

[BXHD]

haha yeah it drops a fair bit when u take the handbrake off

[acarmody]

Sure does. I nearly shat a brick when the guys at Bob Jane showed me. I thought my car nearly slipped of the hydraulic jack.

[Packdaddy]

Ahh spewing when the answer is so simple! Oh well.

Its done now, quite happy with the height too, much neater but will be able to tow no worries and the ride is still comfy!

Aany clues on the bearing thing?

[jazza15]

The bearing fell to pieces, meaning it is stuffed, buy a new one, do both sides as well as your strut mounts.
The way to tell if your strut mounts are gone is, the sleeve (where the strut shaft goes through) should be below the level of the outer part of the strut mount, if it is above, then it is worn and needs replacing. (this should definitely be done if you can see cracks forming around the sleeve when you flex it with a screw driver.
As for the camber kit, you need a 2 point kit.
I have a 4 point kit and just added the toe adjusters, like in your VX II and was told by pedders that a 4 point kit is an overkill and i need to make it a 2 point kit so that the bushes don't wear too quickly.
The camber kit will adjust camber, while the toe adjusters will adjust... well you know.

[Packdaddy]

Yeah you're right, I'll change the bearings when i get round to it.
This sleeve you're talking about - is it the soft rubbery sort of cone shaped thing? It seemed to be alright if so...
And how much is a 2 point camber kit worth? Whats the different between that and a four point kit?

[jazza15]

Holden Commodore VR-VT,VX-VZ Strut Mount & Bearing Kit - eBay, Other, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 21-Feb-10 22:08:30 AEDST)
if you are going to do it, buy this, I wish I got mine this cheap when I did it. From Holden or any other retailer, you are looking at $150+. One thing to look at is that they superseeded the bearing due to these premature failure problems. The old one has 'Germany' engraved in it, while the new one does not. I don't know the real difference between the two, but if you look into it, they have different part numbers. If you aren't worried about it, just go for these.

As for the mounts, you can see that inner section, then a smooth gap before the outer part, that's what I'm talking about. If it's worn, this inner section will be above the level of the outer part. The outer part doesn't wear, by that I mean those rectangular notches won't wear.

[alexlove]

hahaha same thing happened to me, but i relised straight away that the handbrake was on when my springs wouldnt come out

[Nanos]

im a little confused because the VX is IRS in the rear so there is no panhard rod. this was only for the solid axles found in vs and older.

when i did mine i just got a big bar and pushed the control arm down. springs then popped out, from memory on wide side i disconnected the drive shaft ws no special tools needed just unbolts from the diff.

creak could be anything, if you have used stock sstruts then that could be issue, coul;d be a worn bush that is more aobvious now ause it is working more, also fron tsprings have a left and right did you make sure you put them on the correct side?