Suspension advice

acarmody · #1 26-07-2008, 10:16 PM

Hey all. Time for another round of suspension talk (if your interested).

Anyway long story short, my car has 193000kms on the clock and STILL has factory suspension. Not doing to bad either so I guess I have freak suspension. So after a few (read 3) suspension checks being done, Pedders, Fulcrum and my fav mechanic, I have gotten the picture that most of my bushes are rooted and that my springs and shocks are getting closer to an eternal dirt nap.

So basically I would like to know which brands are better for certain parts.
1. For springs and shocks/struts, should I go for Pedders Sports Ryder or for GSLRallySports' KYB and Lovells/Kings setup? Here I am leaning towards GSL as they are much cheaper.

2. Need Link pins, Upper Strut Mount bushes, Inner control arm bushes, and both Radius Rod bushes. So SuperPro or Nolathane or Pedders?

3. Also Camber Kit. SuperPro or other brand?

Anyway currently leaning towards getting all the gear from GSLRallySports and getting my mechanic to do all the installation (except alignment, I use Bob Jane directly across street), I'm guessing this is gonna be cheaper than Pedders' quote.

Oh and i'm not gonna get SSL or anything, just going sports low (FE2 height?) as I have a Clubbie kit and I want my car to be an easy drive. Also my car is a Berlina so she has to be comfortable.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

-Adrian

Jesterarts · #2 27-07-2008, 10:13 AM

Ok... here is my opinion

1. Springs I would go for Kings... i used them and alot of my mates use them and we are all very happy. I had pedders in my BMW and swapped them to kings... feels alot better.
Having said that... I used to run pedders big bore shocks in then rear and I was happy with those... they firmed things up.
Bilstein would be MY prefered brand... (Got them in the BMW and they rock)

2. Nolathane... next question lol.

3. Camber kit i would go a Nolathane one aswell...

Keeping in mind that I haven't had experience with GSLRallySports KYB thus why I haven't commented so someone else will have to fill that one it but the general consensis on this site seems to the the ol' thumbs up for them.

Yes... never to go pedders... I've had nothing but bad experiences and heard nothing but bad stories... plus they are WAY overpriced.

Hope this helps abit....

Good luck!

don0xer · #3 27-07-2008, 11:47 AM

220k on my vx and still factory everything also, getting creeks and groans out of the steering on the odd occasion lol. i had a 28pt safety inspection from pedders and they found out about $1300 worth of stuff that needs to be replaced, link pins, lower control arm busches, said my shocks would be lucky to get 6 months worth of life in them (14 months ago lol) and a camber kit. i priced a few brands ect. and most people i spoke to said monroe gt gas shocks/king springs/nolathane bushes and any brand camber kit would suit fine. ive heard that kmac are a really good camber kit tho. all up just by prices cheapest i could get was about $850 as opposed to pedders $1300 which was great, but u have to shop around

VT97CALAIS · #4 27-07-2008, 12:35 PM

you would be looking at over a grand for King Super Lows with new shocks up the back and revised bump stops on rear too. 4point camber kit is a must too.
Just had wheel alignment done yesterday with my new 19' SSV rims. They managed to get it correct by a full degree on each side. Also the steering wheel is pretty much straight once more

cheers,
VT97Calais

acarmody · #5 27-07-2008, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesterarts

Ok... here is my opinion

1. Springs I would go for Kings... i used them and alot of my mates use them and we are all very happy. I had pedders in my BMW and swapped them to kings... feels alot better.
Having said that... I used to run pedders big bore shocks in then rear and I was happy with those... they firmed things up.
Bilstein would be MY prefered brand... (Got them in the BMW and they rock)

2. Nolathane... next question lol.

3. Camber kit i would go a Nolathane one aswell...

Keeping in mind that I haven't had experience with GSLRallySports KYB thus why I haven't commented so someone else will have to fill that one it but the general consensis on this site seems to the the ol' thumbs up for them.

Yes... never to go pedders... I've had nothing but bad experiences and heard nothing but bad stories... plus they are WAY overpriced.

Hope this helps abit....

Good luck!

THANK! So basically you are boderline SuperPro/Nolathane

LOL anyway i'll ask GSLRallySports if he can price me up the Nolathane gear. How much does the Bilstein Gear cost ya? I'm doing a lot of gear and I am on a semi-tight budget. And yeah I know Pedders aren't cheap, or tell the whole truth.

Quote:

Originally Posted by VT97CALAIS;

you would be looking at over a grand for King Super Lows with new shocks up the back and revised bump stops on rear too. 4point camber kit is a must too.
Just had wheel alignment done yesterday with my new 19' SSV rims. They managed to get it correct by a full degree on each side. Also the steering wheel is pretty much straight once more

A grand for just the rear is a bit pricey isn't it mate!

Thanks for the advice,
-Adrian

SlickHolden · #6 28-07-2008, 04:58 AM

What are you after?, I have Selby springs which are Kings made, All round, But front has factory shocks and rear has pedders lowered comfort short shocks, It rides nice and smooth still but is stiffer still for cornering etc..

It rides like a VYII-VZ Calais, It's almost that FE1.5 bit of both sport and comfort,

So are you after full on handling and going to be happy with less comfort in the ride?, Or a bit of both worlds?.

Jesterarts · #7 28-07-2008, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acarmody

THANK! So basically you are boderline SuperPro/Nolathane

LOL anyway i'll ask GSLRallySports if he can price me up the Nolathane gear. How much does the Bilstein Gear cost ya? I'm doing a lot of gear and I am on a semi-tight budget. And yeah I know Pedders aren't cheap, or tell the whole truth.

A grand for just the rear is a bit pricey isn't it mate!

Thanks for the advice,
-Adrian

Sounds like a plan dude!!!

No worried *cough* rep *cough* lol

Bilstein is going to be abit more expensive... for my e30 the fronts cost me 220 and the rears where around 200... but I got them cheap cause I got a bloke who ships in part for me from germany...

Good lcuk with it

acarmody · #8 28-07-2008, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slick_Get_Away

What are you after?, I have Selby springs which are Kings made, All round, But front has factory shocks and rear has pedders lowered comfort short shocks, It rides nice and smooth still but is stiffer still for cornering etc..

It rides like a VYII-VZ Calais, It's almost that FE1.5 bit of both sport and comfort,

So are you after full on handling and going to be happy with less comfort in the ride?, Or a bit of both worlds?.

Basically I am after some gear that will 1. Ride comfortably, my car is a Berlina and I did start out buying it for the comfort and luxury (and for the sweet blackish interior, GO BLACK GO) 2. Handles well 3. Isn't too pricey (bout 2 grand is my limit and I got quite a few bushes to buy and get installed).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesterarts

Bilstein is going to be abit more expensive... for my e30 the fronts cost me 220 and the rears where around 200... but I got them cheap cause I got a bloke who ships in part for me from germany...

I'm guessing $220 and $200 are per strut/shock

-Adrian

Jesterarts · #9 28-07-2008, 10:34 AM

^^^ Yeah... sorry... thats per item... so all up cost me 840 for just shocks...

acarmody · #10 28-07-2008, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesterarts

^^^ Yeah... sorry... thats per item... so all up cost me 840 for just shocks...

Yeah I was thinking that would be the case. Bet it rides beautifully though. Oh well Kings and KYB has still gotta be better than stock Holden suspension. If I had known that my suspension would need replacing soon I could of saved up and got a sweet package, but alas some of those bushes need doing NOW and I never compromise safety in my car.

-Adrian

SlickHolden · #11 28-07-2008, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acarmody

Basically I am after some gear that will 1. Ride comfortably, my car is a Berlina and I did start out buying it for the comfort and luxury (and for the sweet blackish interior, GO BLACK GO) 2. Handles well 3. Isn't too pricey (bout 2 grand is my limit and I got quite a few bushes to buy and get installed).

-Adrian

Yours sounds like mine,
When i went to pedders they told me i had done front and rear bushes, Can't remember the ones off the top of my head, But i was shocked, As i was in the middle of a RWC test and it passed only after these lowered shocks from pedders were fitted.

You could get kings springs, Most of them bushes, Ad adjustable shocks, KYB have adjustable's for around $800, So adjusting from soft to stiff yourself would be great for what ever need on that day?.

acarmody · #12 03-08-2008, 03:46 PM

Thanks for everyones advice so far, really appreciated.

Anyway I have ordered all the parts, but I was still looking at a Whiteline Front heavy duty sway bay. When I started ringing around to see how much they sell for and how much they are to fit I was told they they require a lot of work to fit, including supporting the engine and dropping the crossmember. Also Fulcrum told me that with the thicker sway bars that they can actually tap the radius rod and can make noises that you can't get rid off, short of removing the bar again. So what I wanted to know was, has anyone had one of these bar put in and have they had any problems with them? Also do they make a big difference or a slight one? Also are they really that hard to fit?

-Cheers,
Adrian