What's involved in lowering a VY?

[Ignited-SV6]

Hey guys n girls,

I've just upgraded my brakes to slotted with remsa pads (thanks GSL RallySport!) and it's rekindled my love for my VY Berlina.

I want to lower my car so that the wheel arch is slightly over the 18" rims.

What's involved when it comes to buying lets say King Spring SL? do I need new struts or anything? How much will it cost to lower?

Cheers!

PS Still looking for a HBD front lip, the one I had was cracked.

[gslrallysport]

Hi mate,

If you're going super low, it would be best to match it with some shortened shocks in order to retain ride comfort and improve the performance. We do it as a package deal:
KYB / Kings Commodore Lowering Packages!
Kings and KYB's to suit are $675. Ideally you'd also want a 4 pt camber kit (though this isn't 100% critical) and a Whiteline one to suit is $175. Shipping to Melb would be $22.

Any questions at all just let me know!

Regards,
Greg

[Nic92]

these are really good VY COMMODORE SUPER LOW KING SPRINGS & MONROE GT SHOCKS | eBay

[gslrallysport]

They're good, not great. For the few extra bucks most would take the KYB over the Tenneco shocks...

[DevilDRake]

As what either Nic or GSL says, up to you which springs/struts you prefer.

VY's don't really need camber kits though, unless you want it PERFECT but i don't think that's even possible. Mine with the lowest springs i can go does camber the tiniest bit. You can't even notice, it looks straight. SL's should be fine

[schoey3]

say im lowering mine SSL's all round and i have mine on 18's, i wouldnt need a camber kit?

[Ignited-SV6]

Pedders say they'll put on just the springs including installation and wheel alignment for $660.

From others expirience, is it worth getting just the springs to start off with? and then if I want it put on the shocks later.

[Nic92]

Pedders say they'll put on just the springs including installation and wheel alignment for $660.

From others expirience, is it worth getting just the springs to start off with? and then if I want it put on the shocks later.

id just do the shocks and springs at the same time

[Sabbath']

$2 grinding wheel and a mates Makita.

[TMM]

SL/SSL on tired standard/FE1 shocks will handle like complete crap. The FE1 shocks aren't a high enough rate to control the springs, so they will bounce a lot. Also it's unsafe because the FE1 shocks are not short enough to capture the springs - that is if the suspension goes to full drop, such as when you jack up the car, or drive over a large pothole, the spring will be loose.

Also get some new strut tops (with bearings) because they will most likely be very worn. The castor (radius rod) bushings will also be on their last legs if they haven't been replaced before.

VY's don't really need camber kits though, unless you want it PERFECT but i don't think that's even possible. Mine with the lowest springs i can go does camber the tiniest bit. You can't even notice, it looks straight. SL's should be fine

Have you had the front camber reset though? If you just change all 4 springs it's not noticeable because the front will be cambering too. When you align the front end it makes the rear camber a whole lot more obvious.

The VY rear end doesn't offer that much improvement over VT/VX1 in terms of camber. You will still chew out tyres on SL and lower springs without a camber kit, just not as badly as a VT/VX1.
My VY has at least 1 degree of negative camber on the rear and i've only got King "lows". I don't care though because i don't do many kms and will probably have to bin my tyres of old age rather then wear...

It would definitely be beneficial to fit a camber kit to a VY if you are putting in Super Lows.
For SSL/SSSL you should fit a camber kit but it's like pissing on a bush fire, the kit might give you 1 extra degree of adjustment but when you're trying to get rid of -3.5º you're still up shit creek...

You only need a 2 point kit for a VY because the other 2 'points' (such as in a 4 point kit for a VT) are for toe adjustment, and the VY has a toe link that already provides adjustment for that. Attempting to put a 4 point eccentric bushing kit in a VX2/VY/VZ will result in the suspension binding up and excessive stress on the bushings. Some places will sell/install the same 4 point kit as a VT/VX1 and remove the toe links. This is pretty dumb because it reverts the suspension toe dynamic back to that of a VT/VX1 which is inferior to the VY/VZ setup. The only '4 point' kit that should be put in a VX2/VY/VZ is the normal 2 point kit (eccentric bushings), and replacing the other 2 points with a non-adjustable type bushing (non-eccentric) simply because of general wear and tear on the original bushings.

[Mohi]

Pedders say they'll put on just the springs including installation and wheel alignment for $660.

From others expirience, is it worth getting just the springs to start off with? and then if I want it put on the shocks later.

Yup, i think you will be fine, as i had my vy lowered few ,months back for only $380 from tyre factory including all new low king springs with stock shocks and its all good , i got 18's and the body sits just on the top of tyre,...

[Ignited-SV6]

Yup, i think you will be fine, as i had my vy lowered few ,months back for only $380 from tyre factory including all new low king springs with stock shocks and its all good , i got 18's and the body sits just on the top of tyre,...

Got any pics of your car?

Still unsure whether to lower it without shocks first. I'm getting the HBD front lip first and the rear calais skirts. I'll probably look at lowering toward the end of the year.

[VjamesY]

I have sl kings in my vy executive with the kyb short shocks provided by gsl rally and can only further recommend this combo. Havnt had one problem and the shocks have been going strong for about a year now. Car rides great to.

[Mohi]

Got any pics of your car?

Still unsure whether to lower it without shocks first. I'm getting the HBD front lip first and the rear calais skirts. I'll probably look at lowering toward the end of the year.

At the moment am at work , so cant upload them , company policy but will do as i reach home.

[Mohi]

So here is my vy with kings springs with stock shocks.....

[Ignited-SV6]

Are those 18" rims?

[Mohi]

Are those 18" rims?

Yup ... they are 18's