Shockies

[Timmos]

Ok, im sorry for asking this, i'm sure it's been answered plenty of times.
For the record i did have a scrounge around in the FAQ's and couldn't find anything on it..

I'm wanting to lower my car after i buy my set of 19s. I'd like to know what springs i can get without having to replace the shocks. I've heard somewhere vy execs can support SL Springs. I'm on a very tight budget

[GMMAD]

no sandard springs are made to handle lowered springs
they will work but not for long and the ride will be harsh

[VH commodore]

1 of the reasons u have to change the shocks when u get lowered springs is so the rear springs don't fall out because lowered shocks don't extend down as far as standard ones do, and lowered springs are shorter. shocks are also designed to work within a certain range of movement, they wont be working as well if u had lowered springs with the standard shocks. i hate to say this but if your on such a tight budget forget about modifying cars as u tend to cut alot of corners when you cant spend the money and u regret it later...trust me i been there.

[Nicole]

As has been mentioned above, the lower you go spring-wise the lower you need to go with your shocks.

I've just purchased my VY with 19's and it has FE2 "suspension" but I'm not sure whether or not that translates to Springs AND shocks or just springs (which I suspect) But the car handles very well and doesn't have what I cal "after bounce" which is what you'll end up with by choosing large wheels, low profile tyres, quite low springs and standard shocks.

The shocker travel is much larger with a stock shock, therefor will allow the vehicle to "bounce" upwards much higher than it would with a lowered shock. Bottoming out on bumper stops and having inner guard rub isn't too nice either.

To give you an example, this is my VY with 19's and FE2 Springs:

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Not quite right there.

The shorter shocks only trap the spring. A shock is designed to stop spring oscillation so that you don't keep bouncing after you go over a bump. Unless you have a shock that has variable valving, then it will work the same right through its entire travel. Standard length shocks cannot compress further than the compressed spring anyway. Short shocks are a safety issue so that when you either jack up the car or go over a large hump the springs don't fall out.

Only if the shock was buggered would it allow the car to either bottom out or extend further than it should. Unless it has a lot of weight in it, then no matter what you did it would still bottom out.

[vnv8driver]

if you use stock shocks with lowered springs the shock WILL bottom out, lowered shocks or nothing.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

All I can say to that is rubbish. A stock shock can not possibly bottom out. The compressed length of the shock is less than the total compressed suspension with a bump stops in place, regardless whether it is a low spring or not. I have proven this point by removing the spring and letting the car rest on the bump stops with the original shock in place. Then I have unbolted the shock and it still had about 30mm of travel. This was done on both a VS with IRS and a VT.

[greenacc]

If it helps... check out autosurplusparts.com.au They have genuine HSV rear springs for VT-VZ for $40 each and FE2 sports rear shocks for $40 ea. Don't know the exact length but HSV's usually have big wheels don't they ?

[vnv8driver]

abba ive had brand new stock shock absorbers in with ssl king springs and they lasted 6 months before oil started ****ing out of them, new shortened shock fixed the problem & the shocks lasted 3 years before i sold the car. they last for a little bit and give out because there being compressed beyond their limit. if there not bottoming out then why are they busting out prematurely?

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Because they were crap?

Can't understand how the seal can go even if it bottoms out. I've never seen it happen.

[vnv8driver]

i just went by experience, they were brand new stock ride height gabrielle's (which arent the best anyway hey) but i should of gotten more than 6 months before i started getting weird knocking sounds & wheels bouncing up & down.