VU 5.7 Ute advice etc

[noozeeland]

Hey Guys,

Complete noob to the forums so Hi from NZ!

Anyhow, Just bought a 2002 Holden VU SS Ute, 111,000kms, Auto, 5.7 GEN III V8 etc etc.

Just wanting to know more on what to look out for with it, ie care to be taken if any? Any problems I should be aware of or things to keep an ear/eye out for?
Its getting a full service by Holden ASAP as the previous owner has not had its 105,000km service before I bought it.

Few things.

Whats the best exhaust set up to generally advise on getting to get the really cool deep rumbling sound out of this thing? I want people to know what Im driving. Been advised that a Diflippo twin 3" system would do the job nicely & being stainless it will get that nice low deep rumble? Am i right?

It has a slight tick noise as you steer, cant feel anything but you can hear a very slight tick tick when you steer fully right or left, any ideas? Im sure Holden will find out when it gets its service but just wondering.

Also it has 19" mags on it and I have got and am putting on new VX GTS Mags. Whats the best tyre to run on those to get a good ride. Have had Toyo T1Rs suggested but have run Falkens in the past.

235 or 245?

It has king spring lows in it at the moment but is there any other brand of lowered spring along the same lines in lowering height as the king spring lows that gives a better ride?

Im going to be spending some serious $$$$ getting it the way I want this week so any advice so I can do it right first time would be great!


Also I am in NZ so exhaust wise, we can do anything we like pretty much.

Cheers

[Vt_vic]

congrats man since you already bought it holden will find most of your problems if your going to dump it 245 may scrub and definetly go the twin 3 dont need stainless mild stell is deeper i reckon buy thats my opinion but go twin 3 cats and some 1 3/4 4-1 extractors if they arent already on their

[noozeeland]

Hey Thanks!

Its lowered on King Spring Lows so the current 19"s have 245s and work fine it seems.

They reckon stainless is deeper?

We dont need cats here its going to be a true twin 3" with resonators so it should sound good!

Its getting its 110,000km service tomrrow so I will wait and find out whats making that noise and report back but yea it is annoying. I hope its just a sway bar link or something

[noozeeland]

Does anyone know if VX HSV Clubsport/Maloo seats can bolt straight into my VU?

[Vt_vic]

yep seats will fit easy go with a cam if you want to have the best sound

[noozeeland]

Just had its service today, all is fine, they found the front suspension top mounts were screwed just from years of neglect before I bought it.

Also the big major one is that it has taken a knock at some stage & the steering column is slightly bent...another $500 odd to get it replaced later this week on top of the 110,000km auto trans service Holden do every 110,000km. Expensive day out and yea need a good hard drink

[Vt_vic]

better getting it done now than being stuck at the side of the road waitin for a tow truck or somethin

[noozeeland]

Yea, well Holden said its not bad at all, quite safe for atleast 20K km if I left but it will get done asap, it pisses me off, you steer and it hits the buldge and you get that resistance then it comes around again, makes cornering just shit.

[Vt_vic]

yeah better off getting it done asap.anyway here is a vid of a ute with twin 2.5 with no resonators and hotdogs do you want it louder that that?

YouTube - Dec's VY SS ute

[noozeeland]

Na dont want it louder than that, dont want that sound anyhow, thats more a race type noise, I want that toned V8 note, loud but not like a race car, hate that noise.

[s_ikari2015]

$500 ... LAUGHING!

You've got another 100,000 kms until you'll need to spend some serious cash on it for repairs.

Typically around then power steering rack and pump should need servicing/replacing. Also the wheel bearings tend to go around that stage, which sucks because they're a sealed hub and can't be repacked. Pretty simple to replace though, generally easy to do yourself, which may be the idea if you have to pay $300+ each

Not that I want to make you worried, sounds like you've got yourself an excellent ute! Treat it with love!

[noozeeland]

Heya, the holden guys seem to think its been in a prang and knocked the steering rack out.

Any idea on how much they cost? Whats the diff between steering rack and column in a VU holden?

Is it the end of the world to replace either or or both? What else could possibly be bent if the rack or column are? I mean there are no visable exterior signs of major damage but still once you peel of these layers.....im getting nervous? should I be?

[noozeeland]

Also what can I do to make it have a better ride? Better shocks? Better Springs? Its got king spring lows but I think they are old and it feels shit.

[Vt_vic]

does it have shortend shocks? all the cars that ive been in that have had them always feel better than the ones that dont

[noozeeland]

better than ones that dont what? how do I tell if they have shortened shocks? so what if it does? are they good/bad?