Help: lowering vz this weekend

[kizza50]

So iv lowered my own vx IRS before, same deal with vz I take if? I'm going superlows all round on stock shocks and struts, any advice tips will help!?? I'm doing this on the ground not on a hoist so any equipment u think may help also please let me no,

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

The VZ can be done in around 40 minutes. I have said previously that you don't need spring compressors to do the job and was jumped on by the safety Nazis, but it is in fact quite safe.

While the car is on the ground, undo the main nut on top of the front strut, remove it and the plate, then undo and completely remove the next nut. Slowly jack the car up and place on axle stands. The spring will decompress and be loose when you remove the strut, so take a little care not to drop any hardware from the top of the strut. Don't worry, there is absolutely no way it can fly out. Remove the wheel and the strut. Remove the top washers and bearing plate, keeping them in the correct order and taking note of which way the cup shape washers face. Remove the old spring and fit the new one. Pull the strut shaft up as high as it goes and then refit all the washers and bearing plate. You can put the main nut back on at this stage as the spring is lowered and doesn't need compressing. Then refit the strut to the car.

A tip to do the rears, make sure the handbrake is off so the suspension can hang down as far as it goes.

The rears are as simple as jacking the car and placing on stands, remove rear wheels and undo the lower shock mount and pull it off the pin. Then just lever the spring out. It can be tricky as it has to go over the bump stop locator.

A note to aforementioned Nazis, don't knock it until you have tried this method. It is quicker and easier than ####ing around with spring compressors. And safer too. There is nothing that is loaded up, unlike spring compressors, so there is nothing that can fly out/apart/to pieces and smack you in painful areas of your body.

[SV6 P-Plater]

I would recommend upgrading your shocks, lowered springs and stock shocks just don't cut it. You're only going to waste time and money doing only springs IMO

[kizza50]

Iv got pedders sports suspension dropped it 40 mm and I'm on stock shocks n its fine...... N thanks mate I will give that method a shot, I'm used to just taking the strut off and then compressing it n disassembling the strut And re doing it....

[soop]

I've done it ALLOT of times in the manner ABBA describes.
I find it more dangerous to use spring compressors as their is a greater chance of the slipping and face raping your jaw (true story). There isn't enough force in the spring and strut for it to fire off like a rocket.

[kizza50]

Anyone know bolt sizes? And also should I mark Anthing on the strut to alignment?! N a general idea to remove strut

[soop]

17 or 19mm (or both) IIRC. For the base of the strut. 10 or 13mm for the top.

You'll need an alignment afterwards anyway so I wouldnt stress to much about marking stuff.

[kizza50]

IIRC?? Appreciate it

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

The big nuts on top of the strut are 22mm, the two that hold the strut to the stub axle are 19mm, and the stabiliser link pin is 14mm. You will also need to remove the top caliper bolt to get the strut bolt out. This one is 19mm.

No need to mark anything. But when reftting the strut, push the top of the rotor in so the camber adjstiung bolt is hard against the strut.

IIRC = If I Recall Correctly.

[vzchick77]

did it the my SV8 but as I had FE2 suspension I didnt notice a hella of a difference so maybe i need to do more than just the springs hmmmm will look into it maybe if she doesnt sell first lol

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

did it the my SV8 but as I had FE2 suspension I didnt notice a hella of a difference so maybe i need to do more than just the springs hmmmm will look into it maybe if she doesnt sell first lol

Depends on how low you went. Super Lows aren't that much lower than FE2.

[VzVzVz]

I would recommend upgrading your shocks, lowered springs and stock shocks just don't cut it. You're only going to waste time and money doing only springs IMO

Mate, I'm on Ultralows and it rides fine on the stock shocks. I recently put in some Monroe GT lowered shocks in the rear, only because the stocks were getting old. The fronts though, I kept standard.

[REAP3R]

Im looking at getting my VZ sedan lowered but not sure what to get, how low does fe2 and superlows drop your car? looking at getting superlows but nto sure if they are legal in SA, do you's know at all?