Just Lowered, Need Shocks. Halp!

[p1xel8ted]

So up until 2 weeks ago I had a bog stock VZ Exec Sedan 05. Just lowered it with Super Low King Springs, in both front and rear. Now ride quality isn't as great.

Can anyone recommend some new shocks & struts for front and rear that will improve it, also will a camber kit be required with super-lows.

Also, currently have stock rims/wheels on it at the moment, I will be getting 18's in the next month or so. Will that effect the height at all (sorry, semi-noob at this)

If anyone has a picture or two of a VZ sedan with 18's and super-lows all round, it would be greatly appreciated.

[noddycommodore]

Basically when you install super lows your ride goes to junk. When I fit super lows to commodores I always chop the front bump stops in half to give you more travel. With shock absorbers I would recommend short stroke koni sports. The fronts are externally adjustable and they will give you a better more controlled ride.

[p1xel8ted]

Will fitting new shocks and cutting the bump stops improve ride quality? I am thinking of taking it back to where they were fitted and getting them swapped out for just Lows. I originally went in for just Lows.

[CRUSTIN]

Munroe also have sport gt lowered shocks. Wont need a camber kit. and your rim size wont effect your Tyre size, unless you get the Tyre size wrong.

VZ Commodore Sedan Monroe GT Sport Lowered Shocks - Online Performance Autos

[noddycommodore]

When you change to Lower springs you change your spring rates, this makes your STD shocks to soft giving you a crappy ride, the upped damping rate of new shockers softens the ride and adsorbs the bump better. It won't make it ride like it's on a cloud but it makes it better, your car should have rear toe adjustment. Camber wears your tyres over 30, 000k toe screws them over 1000k. Your commodore should have factory toe adjustment. That's all you need,

[heyitsEnricoPallazzo]

Did you get an alignment after the springs? If so what was the rear camber figure?

BTW King's recommend shorter shocks and camber kits with SL's.

Monroe's if you don't have the coin.

You should also be looking at fat sway bars. Or your pissing in the wind.

[p1xel8ted]

Ok so I've decided to stick with the super lows. Been looking at Online Performance Parts, and have come up with this list.

Commodore VT VX VY VZ Nolathane Evolution Camber Kit
Commodore VT VX VY VZ Nolathane Evolution IRS Toe Kit
VZ Commodore Sedan Monroe GT Sport Lowered Shocks
Commodore VX2 VY VVZ Nolathane Sway Bar Link Conversion
VZ Commodore Sedan FRONT & REAR Adj Whiteline Sway Bar
VT VX VY VZ Commodore F Suspension Bush Kit - Nolathane
VY 2 & VZ Commodore Front Whiteline Alloy Strut Brace

When I got the springs installed, mechanic said I need new strut top mounts - Strut Top Mount & Bearing Kit Holden Commodore VX VY VZ

So that's the stuff on my shopping list. Not sure what the Toe kit is, but it mentions using it with the Camber kit. The shocks, sway bars and camber/toe kits are the most important, but I thought while they're doing all that, they can change the bushes as well.

Not entirely sure what the Sway bar link conversion kit is, or the alloy strut brace, but they aren't expensive so thought I'd get that to. Any direction would be awesome.

[heyitsEnricoPallazzo]

Nolathane Evo camber kit is rubbish. Have it.
You dont need the link kit. Not suitable.
Nolathane toe kit does camber as well. Probably crap.
Strut brace is for show. Some might disagree.

You will experience some additional harshness by installing poly bushes.

[GEN3RATD]

KYB shocks, superpro camber kit, whiteline front and rear swaybar. done

[GEN3RATD]

Strut brace is for show. Some might disagree.

depends, some people claim better handling through corners but only at insane speeds, on a street car they are pretty much for show

[Torquative]

for the record Monroe GT Gas are absolute rubbish. I had everyone whose never used them tell me how wonderful they are, especially with the king spring. The one bloke who has had them told me otherwise, but I went with the crowd and bought a set.

I'm now currently saving to replace the damn things, the reason I brought the car was because of its handling into corners, as soon as I put the GT's in that literally went out the window and its become a handful.

[heyitsEnricoPallazzo]

KYB shocks, superpro camber kit, whiteline front and rear swaybar. done

Tru dat!

for the record Monroe GT Gas are absolute rubbish. I had everyone whose never used them tell me how wonderful they are, especially with the king spring. The one bloke who has had them told me otherwise, but I went with the crowd and bought a set.

I'm now currently saving to replace the damn things, the reason I brought the car was because of its handling into corners, as soon as I put the GT's in that literally went out the window and its become a handful.

What other suspension mods do you have?

Have to agree the Gt's (sport) are pretty ordinary. The ride is very fidgety at low speed. I have just replaced a front strut with less than 25k klms.

But for some reason I am still happy. Just used to them I guess. Or maybe all the money I spent on suspension mods makes them look reasonable.

[p1xel8ted]

Ok, so looking at the whiteline swaybars, there is a few options.

VZ Commodore Sedan FRONT & REAR Adj Whiteline Sway Bar (which is the Heavy duty adjustable front and rear)

Go adjustable or not? And I'm in Vic, so anyone know a joint that stocks the KYB excel-g's and the superpro camber kits? Guy on the forums, gslrallysport can ship kyb's and whiteline camber kits, just waiting a reply for price.

Also problem question..if i slam the brakes on, there is a knocking noise/sensation almost underneath/in front of the accelerator pedal. sounds horrible. looking underneath or while its hoisted, cant see anything. only does it on the front right wheel.

[Surfwagon]

Koni Yellwo Sports adjustables and adjustable Whiteline bars FTW.

[Wombles]

That could be that bearing that needs replacing.

[GEN3RATD]

KYB AGX's are supposed to be the shit, id be looking for some of them.
Then whiteline front and rear swaybars, and a whiteline camber kit would be good too.

done,

[Commo_Carl]

Nolathane Evo camber kit is rubbish. Have it.
You dont need the link kit. Not suitable.
Nolathane toe kit does camber as well. Probably crap.
Strut brace is for show. Some might disagree.

You will experience some additional harshness by installing poly bushes.

Strut braces do actually work, you'd be surprised how much your chassis rolls in corners. Putting one in my commodore soon, got one in mx5 and it is amazing.

[heyitsEnricoPallazzo]

Also problem question..if i slam the brakes on, there is a knocking noise/sensation almost underneath/in front of the accelerator pedal. sounds horrible. looking underneath or while its hoisted, cant see anything. only does it on the front right wheel.

Noise could be the strut top bearing. Get Poly and new bearing.

Adjustable sway bars. You probably will not notice the differenece on the street.

Make sure you replace your torsion bar (z-bar) bushes with poly. If you have not already.

[Surfwagon]

KYB AGX's are supposed to be the shit, id be looking for some of them.
Then whiteline front and rear swaybars, and a whiteline camber kit would be good too.

done,

You say you are fitting 18"s so keep your tyres to 235 as some 245's will rub on the strut spring seat.
Mine was with 245/35x19's as shown which is why I went to Koni's.

[p1xel8ted]

With the KYB excel-g, they only make them for the VY, I can use the VY ones but I'd need new links or something. What's the name of said links?

[gslrallysport]

Hi mate,

KYB make shortened front shocks now to suit VZ fronts, no need for links etc.

Regards,
Greg

[p1xel8ted]

OK another question :P

Front tyre wear is screwed, before I got it lowered, I reckon half of my tyres on the inside were almost bald, the outside half was OK. Just my front tyres this is. Now, I had about 5 wheel alignments over a 2 month period, nothing. Would take a week (if I'm lucky) and it would revert back to its pre-wheel alignment state.

Now taking a long left corner, and your arm can start to ache, taking a long right corner and its smooth as. Power steering fluid is all good. Now I'm planning on getting Whiteline adj. sway bars fitted (on that note do I need to purchase sway bar links to?)

On eBay I have found tonnes of rear camber kits, do they make front camber kits for the VZ?. What's the difference between these two, and does it justify the 70 buck difference.

SuperPro - Commodore rear Camber Kit Super Pro VP VS VT VX VY VZ
Whiteline - Holden Commodore Camber Toe Correction VT,VX,VY,VZ, HSV

Thanks guys.

[heyitsEnricoPallazzo]

What exactly have you done to your suspension so far?

No links needed.

You only need a two point kit. However buying a 4 point kit will be cheap insurance as the inner voided rubber bushes can fail after fitting a 2 point kit.

[p1xel8ted]

Ok,

- Lowered with King Spring Super Lows.
- 18's fitted.

When the KYB struts & shocks arrive from Greg, I'll be fitting those along with new strut top mounts and strut brace.

[heyitsEnricoPallazzo]

Camber is adjustable on the front from standard.

The front tyre wear issues may be your aligner. Sounds like the have stuffed the toe settings. If your suspension was or is at fault, the aligner should have picked this.