Lowered suspension on VY - Camber castor kit reqd?

[ay zee]

I had a VT which was ridiculously low some time ago and I'm now thinking of doing the same with my VY. Given that the rims looked like they were on a 45, I needed to sort out a camber castor kit for it to correct the angle (and have my tyres last more than 10K haha)

Seeing at everything up to VZ is pretty much a VT in slightly different clothing, do the same rules apply for the suspension i.e. needing camber castor kit?

And if so, how low could I go without having to fork out for one of these kits, labour etc?

[DUK13Y]

I wouldn't know on price but I believe they are needed on all cars that get lowered. If your gonna dump it, get one, no questions asked.

[cpbait]

depends how low you go, you can get away with it in vy's as they have the adjustment at the rear, if you go super super low then yeh you will need one of these kits

[jameswh]

I know this thread is relatively old, but I thought I'd ask the question here to save on starting a new thread. : )

Would a negative rear camber (-1.50 / -2.08) bring on handling problems? Just trying to work towards the root of my handling issues.
I've lowered my VY 2" in the rear and I'm thinking that the installation of a camber kit may be a good idea. Going by the searches I've done on this forum, I think I'm looking at anywhere between $300 - $600. Does this sound about right?

[chargedvx6]

I have a VY2 lowered on pedders shocks n springs with nice straight up and down on the rears. The rear leat camber is - 1.40 and right is - 1.41 with no handling or tyre wear issues at all. Mind you I run 17" rims only. Bigger wheels excentuate out of spec stuff.

Your rear settings are way off there IMO. But you should not need a camber kit either way as there is plenty of adjustment in the stock bushes on a VY2.

[jameswh]

I thought that a toe adjustment was only available in the VY II ?

[Jesterarts]

^^^ Nah... 4 point camber kit that just uses eccentric bushes...

They don't give much adjustment... but just enough to get you out of trouble.

[chargedvx6]

I thought that a toe adjustment was only available in the VY II ?

Toe adjust is OEM from VX2 onwards.

[VYFORI]

G'day peoples been awhile since I last posted 3 yes LOL
But I'm back .... I have a VY series 1 ute on king super lows
My tires are 18" but I have not had any rubbing issues !!?

I was wanting to wheel align my rear tyre but I needed a
Castor/toe kit from repco about $600 enhancement kit front and back
Forgotten the manufacture

Rik

[Jesterarts]

^^^ Not sure about the relevance of that comment... didn't really go anywhere...

But yes... you won't have scrubbing issues with 18's and SL springs.. um... well done.

Right... now to part two... I'm going to assume what you ment to say was:

"I wanted to get my rear wheels aligned but..."

I don't think it would have been a Castor/Toe kit that you were told to get for the rear... mainly because castor is only relevant to the steering wheels... so unless you have a rear wheel steering... they would have told you to get a Camber/toe for kit for the rear.

Maybe they did say to get a castor kit for the front although I'm a bit sketchy since adjusting castor is more a handling performance thing rather than something you need to do for an alignmnet.

But yeah, toe is also something that needs to be adjusted when a car is lowered due to the silly geometry and design of the suspension... I think you get more negative toe as you go lower... can't remember.

And having too much (+) or (-) toe on the front or the back can both affect handling and tyre wear and these would be things they would pick up on during an alignment.

Cheers

[VYFORI]

Sorry JESTERARTS yes you are correct im bad...

Thats the one Camber/toe kit Nolathane
He is the sheet for the VY model Redranger Nolathane for longer life suspension systems
This might help..... IRS Camber kit code: 46138A VY has stock toe adj.

I have some problems with high speed vibration so i wanted to align front and back this could maybe help with your rubbing aswell......

Im ringing them tommorrow for a $$$$ will post... REPCO you can buy but they order it in.

PS.. i was looking at getting the hole kit F/R Enhancement kit.

RIK.....

[Jesterarts]

^^^ Yep cool... if you have high speed vibration it could also be a wheel that needs balancing.

Also... though I wouldn't think it would happen in a VY since it's a fairly young car...

Final note and this is more personal experience... unless you have a mate workin at repco that can do you trade price... don't go through them.

In my experience, recpco mark up alot on their stock so try and cut them out as the middle man.

Good luck!

[VYFORI]

gday peoples just an update.......

Spoke to repco and the Nolathane Enchancement Kits F/R are $752 which includes : control arm lower inner / strut mount / strut bar to chassis caster adj / strut bar to control arm / sway bar upper link all for front end. Control arm outer / Camber adj kit / sway bar link all for the rear.

While i was there i got a $ for the rear crossmember mount $190 and the front steering rack/pinion $22

The product codes are F/R Enchancement Kit EVOCOM5
Crossmember mount rear 49145 and Steering rack/pinion 41105

I hope this helps all you peoples that are lowering there suspension....

RIK...

[chargedvx6]

gday peoples just an update.......

Spoke to repco and the Nolathane Enchancement Kits F/R are $752 which includes : control arm lower inner / strut mount / strut bar to chassis caster adj / strut bar to control arm / sway bar upper link all for front end. Control arm outer / Camber adj kit / sway bar link all for the rear.

While i was there i got a $ for the rear crossmember mount $190 and the front steering rack/pinion $22

The product codes are F/R Enchancement Kit EVOCOM5
Crossmember mount rear 49145 and Steering rack/pinion 41105

I hope this helps all you peoples that are lowering there suspension....

RIK...

You forgot the other $800 labour for a shop to fit all that stuff up too. It is worth every cent though. I've got all these bits on my car and they are very very nice. Did the install with a mate and I can see why the shops charge a packet. It's a p.i.t.a. job lol

[jameswh]

Hey guys,

Still got quite a few steering issues here.

I simply cannot drive in a straight line. My car constantly pulls to the left, and is just impossible to handle. It's getting quite dangerous, I think.
I took it to a local shop, they went for a bit of a drive and determined that my castor rod bushes need replacing.
I read a thread on here awhile ago (trying to dig up the link, but I'm failing miserably) which said that the radius rod bushes and the castor rod bushes are one in the same? Would that be correct? Also, would worn castor rod bushes relate to the symptoms described above?

Thanks. : )

[chargedvx6]

Yep Castor/ Radius rod bushes are the same thing. They are a half hour DIY job with the car on the ground. Nolathane ones are adjustable and half the price of the OEM piece of crap. Get them done and don't forget some Loctite red on the retaining plate nuts. There's alot of vibes there

[jameswh]

Thanks for the info chargedvx6, most appreciated. I don't suppose that the RADIAL rod bushes and RADIUS rod bushes are one in the same? Simply going off the similarity in their names.
I had my RADIAL rod bushes replaced less than 5000km ago. If they are the same, I'd be quite surprised that this shop is telling me to replace them.

[chargedvx6]

No radial rod on a VY. They would have mis spelt it IMO. The OEM Radius bushes are oil filled and are sensitive to gutter knocks and overly hard driving. I've popped on in less than 5000kms so it's not out of the question. Just go Nolathanes/ Noltec etc. They are much nicer to drive with.

[jameswh]

Thank you for your helpful and valuable information once agian, chargedvx6.

I've been quoted $300 to have my castor bushes replaced (which is inclusive of parts, labour and a wheel alignment). Does this sound about right?

Thanks. : )

[chargedvx6]

Yep that's about right. Make sure they are Nolathanes or you will be getting the job done again in a year

[jameswh]

Thanks again, sir. I'll book this in shortly! Hopefully this will solve all my handling issues.

[horbury vy s]

check mine out i got lowered lovell springs b4 i put my 20s on it and i didnt use no camber kit and my wheels sit fine!!! then i fitted the 20s and presto nothing changed!