fe2 suspension

[cali]

Hi all,I have a vt senator and wondering if its possible to make it softer or firmer on the run and store the setting as at the moment I feel every bump in the road(might as well be driving a mini).

[vxcommie]

no mate there is no way you can adjust fe2. the only thing you can do is change bushes, springs and shocks. as fe2 on a vt is quite old i would look at something like a monroe gt gas shocks, and keep your springs if you are after a good handeling but smooth drive, which by the sounds of it u are.

[Reaper]

Monroe shocks and "good handling"......

Reaper

[cali]

no mate there is no way you can adjust fe2. the only thing you can do is change bushes, springs and shocks. as fe2 on a vt is quite old i would look at something like a monroe gt gas shocks, and keep your springs if you are after a good handeling but smooth drive, which by the sounds of it u are.

thanks for that,it handles extremely well even in the wet the way it is at the moment will look at some monroes just to make the ride a bit more pleasant.

[vxcommie]

I think they are a good compramise with comfort and sportynes, my mates vx ss has them with fe2 springs. not too fim but not too soft. Feel free to have a good look at other shocks. or even just go for a new set of fe2 from holden

[Reaper]

thanks for that,it handles extremely well even in the wet the way it is at the moment will look at some monroes just to make the ride a bit more pleasant.

Please don't demean yourself with Monroe's (or pedders for that matter). Go visit site sponsor GSL Rallysport and get yourself a set of KYB's - Excellent value for money shocks that won't ruin your car, nor your self esteem.

Reaper

[Surfwagon]

I tried Monroes new GT Sport with my VZ senator Luxury suspension (HSV FE2) and they were too soft on initial bump setting for soft springs and the front would collapse too easily coming off speed bumps.
The original HSV shocks (Monroe sensatrac) were much better in that regard but out right road holding lacked.
I now run Koni Yellow adjustable sports stuts/shocks with my original springs and the car handles great.
The softer springing gives good drive off the mark and the stiffer shocks and bigger sway bars I fitted (whiteline adj 30mm front and 18mm rear) give good handling around corners without sacrificing any ride quality.

[cali]

I tried Monroes new GT Sport with my VZ senator Luxury suspension (HSV FE2) and they were too soft on initial bump setting for soft springs and the front would collapse too easily coming off speed bumps.
The original HSV shocks (Monroe sensatrac) were much better in that regard but out right road holding lacked.
I now run Koni Yellow adjustable sports stuts/shocks with my original springs and the car handles great.
The softer springing gives good drive off the mark and the stiffer shocks and bigger sway bars I fitted (whiteline adj 30mm front and 18mm rear) give good handling around corners without sacrificing any ride quality.

I have the standard hsv self leveling suspension with a camber kit fitted so it corners amazing well even in the wet,but the back end seems awfally low as if there is no air in the back shocks at all,is this normal or should there be a gap between the tyre and wheel arch as is on the front?

[cali]

I have the standard hsv self leveling suspension with a camber kit fitted so it corners amazingly well even in the wet,but the back end seems awfully low as if there is no air in the back shocks at all,is this normal or should there be a gap between the tyre and wheel arch as is on the front?

[Cameron P]

lol are you sure your car hasnt been lowered o.O

[cali]

lol are you sure your car hasnt been lowered o.O

no-I've had a good look under there and it's all bog standard which is what I wanted when I bought it.

[Cameron P]

well your guard should sit like 2-3 inches above your wheel shouldnt it? thats the standard fe2 height.. unless the senators are different ?

[GEN3RATD]

FE2 is about an inch lower then standard (so about equivelant to kings low's). It is possible your shocks are f*cked or your springs are sagging.

[Cameron P]

but whats the go with his hsv self leveling suspension.. would that make it sit lower?

[cali]

FE2 is about an inch lower then standard (so about equivelant to kings low's). It is possible your shocks are f*cked or your springs are sagging.

The car has only done 124000ks I would have thought hsv gear would last a bit longer than that.I should also mention that the last owner who had it for 9 years said it spent most of time sleeping in the garage,I've only had the car for a year-would that affect them?The rear shocks have definately got air lines comming out of them leading to a compressor of some sort bolted just above the diff.The cars owners manual says it is fitted with fe2 luxury sports self leveling suspension but thats about all.

[Cameron P]

the guard shouldnt just sit on the wheel then.. if its bumpy and saggy in the rear end then something is definetely wrong

brand new range rover sports come into our workshop needing new compressors and other suspension parts so dont think cause its a hsv it wont #### up :P

[GEN3RATD]

yeah every car is different though mate, its not unlikely that the springs have started to sag, or the self levelling is f*cking up. take it to a suspension shop and see what they say, just dont go to pedders.

[GEN3RATD]

but whats the go with his hsv self leveling suspension.. would that make it sit lower?

pretty sure its the same diff as the airrides that pedders do, they sit at level and pump the shocks up when a caravan/boat is towed so it doesnt scrape?

[Drewie]

Just a thought, what size rims and what tyre pressures are you running?

[cali]

Just a thought, what size rims and what tyre pressures are you running?

Standard 17x8 at 34 pounds

[Cameron P]

i run 38 in my 17's.

[GEN3RATD]

i run 38 in my 20s lol, the side wall reckons up to 50psi but f*ck that.

[Drewie]

Standard 17x8 at 34 pounds

That's what I run in my SS seems a nice compromise between ride and handling, how old are your tyres, I noticed when I put new tyres on my SS the ride was a lot softer.

[glenn l]

the factory self leveling suspension is monroe air shocks that work off a compressor and a sensor that is mounted on the rear x-member just off centre on the rhs and has a little arm that mounts on the trailing arm that switches on the compressor when needed. the shock are what holds the car up to the correct ride height not the coils. the coils are what is called a half rate coil meaning its not the same as a standard coil, they wont work if the shocks dont work. is the car always at the same height or does it pump up after you drive it for a bit? when you switch the car on do you hear the compressor kick in?. the airbags on the shocks might have a hole in them so it doesnt keep the pressure or the compressor has sh1t it self, common problems for both. if its just the shocks you can change them with aftermarket monroes or genuine holden ones. if its the compressor you cant buy them new any more and its hard to find a second hand one that is working. best option is to get a new set of coils either aftermarket or genuine gm non self leveling fe2 coils and a new pair of non self leveling shocks.

[gslrallysport]

Hi all,I have a vt senator and wondering if its possible to make it softer or firmer on the run and store the setting as at the moment I feel every bump in the road(might as well be driving a mini).

As Reaper said a set of KYB's will go along way to making it better ($145 each for the front, $69 each for the rear) and are a decent step up from Monroe (Tenecco).

But if you want the ability to change the dampening of the shock, you either need to get something like Koni Yellows ($275 each fro the front, $209 each for the rear), or a quality coilover like DMS 40mm, which is $3508 per car set including springs, freight and GST.