Just Commodores Forum Community

It takes just a moment to join our fantastic community

Register

Lowering on a budget

Discussion in 'VN - VP Holden Commodore (1988 - 1993)' started by Calais3800, Sep 18, 2006.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Sep 18, 2006 #1
    Calais3800

    Calais3800 KALAIS_KRAZY

    Messages:
    66
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2006
    Location:
    Frankston district
    Members Ride:
    VN Calais v6
    Hey guys im gonna lowa me calais soon as am after sum quick advice. I've done a few in the past so the operation is no problem. But im not sure how low can go before u require short throw shocks!?

    Also more in depth will the stock mc'pherson struts be ok to retain and will i need a sway bar or will i get away without one?

    I am doing this on a relitive buget so im thinking second hand springs from wreckrs. has anyone had any probs wiff S/H springs and recomend any brands? your input would be most valuable.

    also can anyone recomend a good entry level performance shock? I"ve used monroe in past seems ok. I've been told Pedders r a rip off???

    And lastly i once herd sum places can simply remove your stock spring and re-coil them with heat for not much at all, is this worthwhile?
     
    Calais3800, Sep 18, 2006
    #1
  2. Sep 19, 2006 #2
    greenfoam

    greenfoam New Member

    Messages:
    7,900
    Likes Received:
    124
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2005
    Members Ride:
    VP Executive R-spec
    You can use standard shockers with fe2, shorter ones with superlows. Any lower than superlows and you go backwards in handling anyway so it's not worth worrying about ultras unless you are a show pony :D
     
    greenfoam, Sep 19, 2006
    #2
  3. Sep 19, 2006 #3
    Calais3800

    Calais3800 KALAIS_KRAZY

    Messages:
    66
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2006
    Location:
    Frankston district
    Members Ride:
    VN Calais v6
    how low is FE2? and how low r supalows? i recall its 2" FE2 and 3"supalow,but im not sure. does anyone make a 2 1/2" lower spring? and would that extra 1/2" require shorties?
     
    Calais3800, Sep 19, 2006
    #3
  4. Sep 19, 2006 #4
    1991_Vn2nV

    1991_Vn2nV New Member

    Messages:
    8,718
    Likes Received:
    66
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2006
    Location:
    Gumeracha, Adelaide Hills
    Members Ride:
    91 VN Berlina & 03 VY Berlina
    FE2 is found in SS VN's and a few others. Check the ride height of a stock VN SS and see what you think. Superlow is not much lower.

    You will only require shorter shocks on the rear, not the front if you go Superlows or even Ultralows.

    Monroe shocks are fine to use, they are a good brand.

    Stock sway bars and struts are fine as well if all you want to do is lower the car.

    Brands I would reccomend are King Springs or Lovells for that little extra. I have both and I would have to say King Springs are a much better ride, Lovells give better handling though.
     
    1991_Vn2nV, Sep 19, 2006
    #4
  5. Sep 19, 2006 #5
    immortality

    immortality Can't live without smoky bacon! Staff Member

    Messages:
    15,023
    Likes Received:
    3,069
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2006
    Location:
    Sth Auck, NZ
    Members Ride:
    HSV VS Senator, VX s2 Calais S/C
    you will probably need an adjustable panhard rod if you go more than the low spring (which i beleive are 35-40mm) cause if you have big rims they will rub on the gaurds at the back on the drivers side
     
    immortality, Sep 19, 2006
    #5
  6. Sep 19, 2006 #6
    1991_Vn2nV

    1991_Vn2nV New Member

    Messages:
    8,718
    Likes Received:
    66
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2006
    Location:
    Gumeracha, Adelaide Hills
    Members Ride:
    91 VN Berlina & 03 VY Berlina
    Should be right with superlows but ultralows will be a different story and will scrape with 215's or 225's on the rear... I use a whiteline premium on car adjustable one. Its a great product, but weighs like 4x that of the stock one and is much larger also.
     
    1991_Vn2nV, Sep 19, 2006
    #6
  7. Sep 19, 2006 #7
    Emackulation

    Emackulation Banned

    Messages:
    2,066
    Likes Received:
    29
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2005
    Location:
    SE Queensland
    Members Ride:
    '92 HSV VP GTS
    My nolothane adjustable panhard rod weight about the same as a stock one I think.
     
    Emackulation, Sep 19, 2006
    #7
  8. Sep 19, 2006 #8
    immortality

    immortality Can't live without smoky bacon! Staff Member

    Messages:
    15,023
    Likes Received:
    3,069
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2006
    Location:
    Sth Auck, NZ
    Members Ride:
    HSV VS Senator, VX s2 Calais S/C
    i've got s1 VT SS rims with 235/45 bags and they rub without the adjustable panhard rod
     
    immortality, Sep 19, 2006
    #8
  9. Sep 19, 2006 #9
    Calais3800

    Calais3800 KALAIS_KRAZY

    Messages:
    66
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2006
    Location:
    Frankston district
    Members Ride:
    VN Calais v6
    ThankYoU - 1991VN2NV,Immortality,Mack and Greenfoam!!! ( i think i got everybody,hehe)

    Goal - Lower my stock calais (on stock 15" calais rims)

    MY understanding so far -

    Cheap lowering = FE2 springs only (no change in shokers required)

    Option 2 = Get some king/lovells springs ( i understand there cheaper than pedders and do same job!?) . Also if i go lowa dan 2" i will require short throws on rear only.

    ALso when i get big rims in future say prolly 17"s with 225 rear 215 front, i will need to get a aftermarket rear panhadrod and adjust it so the rear drivers wheel wont rub? R they hard to put in guys? thanks for all your help!
     
    Calais3800, Sep 19, 2006
    #9
  10. Sep 19, 2006 #10
    1991_Vn2nV

    1991_Vn2nV New Member

    Messages:
    8,718
    Likes Received:
    66
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2006
    Location:
    Gumeracha, Adelaide Hills
    Members Ride:
    91 VN Berlina & 03 VY Berlina
    They arent too hard to do if you can get your car up to get underneath :p

    King Springs and Lovells springs are better than Pedders Springs. No Bull :p hehe

    King Springs you can pick up for around $220 a set if you shop around, Lovells a tad extra.
     
    1991_Vn2nV, Sep 19, 2006
    #10
  11. Sep 19, 2006 #11
    fu2

    fu2 The Man With No Name

    Messages:
    718
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2004
    Location:
    Adelaide
    Members Ride:
    VP Berlina II - GU Patrol CRD
    fu2, Sep 19, 2006
    #11
  12. Sep 19, 2006 #12
    VN Commy

    VN Commy New Member

    Messages:
    159
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2006
    Location:
    NZ
    Members Ride:
    VN 5 spd/VR Calais daily driver
    Mines sitting on ultra lows with 225 tyres and it's got quite a bit of clearance with the standard panhard rod. Ultras are the goods for handling IMO.
     
    VN Commy, Sep 19, 2006
    #12
  13. Sep 19, 2006 #13
    scared_

    scared_ Guest

    i've got my vp on peders lowered springs, not sure how low tho, same as FE2 im think. i had 15's on it and recently put 17's on her, 235, it rubed on the drivers side and had to get adjustable panhard rod. for anyone who dosent know, when you lower the car the panhard is moved to a different angle which moves the diff across which causes the rubbing.
     
    scared_, Sep 19, 2006
    #13
  14. Sep 19, 2006 #14
    Calais3800

    Calais3800 KALAIS_KRAZY

    Messages:
    66
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2006
    Location:
    Frankston district
    Members Ride:
    VN Calais v6
    can u get king or lovells at 2 1/2" ??? this would seem the perfect middle ground....would u still need short throws but??
     
    Calais3800, Sep 19, 2006
    #14
  15. Sep 19, 2006 #15
    SweetWagon

    SweetWagon booosted

    Messages:
    2,139
    Likes Received:
    18
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2006
    Location:
    Springwood NSW
    Members Ride:
    VS Berlina Wagon Supercharged
    scared_, if you dont mind me asking why is your commodore a 3.9L??
     
    SweetWagon, Sep 19, 2006
    #15
  16. Sep 20, 2006 #16
    1991_Vn2nV

    1991_Vn2nV New Member

    Messages:
    8,718
    Likes Received:
    66
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2006
    Location:
    Gumeracha, Adelaide Hills
    Members Ride:
    91 VN Berlina & 03 VY Berlina
    Short shocks for the rear yes you would. But yeah you could Lovells at 2 1/2", just check at the place you are buying the springs what options they have.
     
    1991_Vn2nV, Sep 20, 2006
    #16
  17. Sep 20, 2006 #17
    Emackulation

    Emackulation Banned

    Messages:
    2,066
    Likes Received:
    29
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2005
    Location:
    SE Queensland
    Members Ride:
    '92 HSV VP GTS
    Installing the rears is a peice of nice mud cake, but installing the fronts can prove to be a bit more challenging for the average joe. You should be able to pick up pairs of springs for under $200.
     
    Emackulation, Sep 20, 2006
    #17
  18. Sep 20, 2006 #18
    Calais3800

    Calais3800 KALAIS_KRAZY

    Messages:
    66
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2006
    Location:
    Frankston district
    Members Ride:
    VN Calais v6
    kool, thanks guys. I will be sure to buy some spring commpressors this time round! lol, my falcon ute took me almost 2 day to lower. Repco had a sale lowerd kings springs from $144 a pair last month. i might wait for another sale. maybe bursons or supacheap.............
     
    Calais3800, Sep 20, 2006
    #18
  19. Sep 20, 2006 #19
    1991_Vn2nV

    1991_Vn2nV New Member

    Messages:
    8,718
    Likes Received:
    66
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2006
    Location:
    Gumeracha, Adelaide Hills
    Members Ride:
    91 VN Berlina & 03 VY Berlina
    $144 for a pair isnt cheap.

    Normal prices are $130 a pair, and if you shop around $220 for a set is quite possible. One of the sponsors on here is selling full sets for $190 as mentioned already.
     
    1991_Vn2nV, Sep 20, 2006
    #19
  20. Sep 20, 2006 #20
    Calais3800

    Calais3800 KALAIS_KRAZY

    Messages:
    66
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2006
    Location:
    Frankston district
    Members Ride:
    VN Calais v6
    im in frankston Melbourne that sponser waz in quensland! also i dont have a credit card so ebay is out. ive rung all the wreckers around here none of them have any lowered spring, not even a woodgrain s/wheel! so anoying! so looks like im gonna have to fork out for sum new ones....sigh
     
    Calais3800, Sep 20, 2006
    #20
Page 1 of 2

Share This Page