Lowering my Commodore 60th Aniversery

[LS1MUMBO]

Hi,

Hope this isn't a stupid question but I've since bought a 60th Anniversary VE and it just sits way to high:confused: It has 18's on it and a spoiler and that just makes it worse so anyway my question is has anyone lowered theres I'm thinking 1 1/2 inchs back and 1 inch front thats taking in consideration having my 3 teenage kids in the back combined weight near 150kg so she drops when they hop in:lmao: I want it low but not silly low any ideas welcome, Funny thing is I measured a VESS at the dealer and theres maybe a inch difference.

Thanks Marj

[Black Diamond]

Kings SSL Front/SL Rear will give you a nice level height and not too low, and maintain a nice ride :cheers:

[LS1MUMBO]

Kings SSL Front/SL Rear will give you a nice level height and not too low, and maintain a nice ride :cheers:



Thanks for that any idea of how low each end please.

Peter

[LS1MUMBO]

Thanks for that any idea how low front and rear thx

[DCV1NU]

Thanks for that any idea how low front and rear thx

$400 suplied & fitted is about the normal rate, but best give John(Black Diamond) a call at his shop(Protek Wheels & Tyres - 95690834).

[calais190]

Kings SSL Front/SL Rear will give you a nice level height and not too low, and maintain a nice ride :cheers:

You may want to consider slhd rear springs, they'll cope better with people in the back and will hold the rear up more than sl's will. Those springs should get you the height you're after.

[sjhugh]

I wouldn’t put HD Kings in a Sedan meant for general family use. I have them in my Ute for when I carry a load and they skate too much on rough roads when it’s empty.

Stick to standard duty Kings in my opinion. The stock rims with the SL King’s in the rear will allow good travel and still be comfortable for passengers without fouling the wheels.

As Black Diamond said, ‘not too low and maintains a nice ride.’

.

[Wonky]

See http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=68171

If you go lower than about 30mm you really should get short body shocks too to avoid the original shocks working outside their specified range which can put your family at increased risk and will kill the original shocks far more quickly than normal. Also saves duplicating $250 or so on labour to add decent shocks when the originals do die given no extra cost to do them at the same time as springs.

Unfortunately a set of Monroe GTs will cost you around the $450 mark. Given you're in Melbourne I'd definitely go and see Black Diamond on here (John) at Protek Tyres (Bridgestone) in Oakleigh. Honest, no BS advice, very good pricing and the guys all look after our cars and rims like their own! :goodjob:

[jfp]

Suggest you get shocks to match the lower springs. Many people get Monroe shortened shocks to match king springs. Do a search on the forum for people's feedback on the benefits.

[calais190]

I wouldn’t put HD Kings in a Sedan meant for general family use. I have them in my Ute for when I carry a load and they skate too much on rough roads when it’s empty.

Stick to standard duty Kings in my opinion. The stock rims with the SL King’s in the rear will allow good travel and still be comfortable for passengers without fouling the wheels.

As Black Diamond said, ‘not too low and maintains a nice ride.’

.

Not sure about the VEs, i have coilovers in mine, but when I had my VZ, I had all sorts of rear springs in my sedan. I've had SLHD, SL, SSL, HD and lastly HHD. To be honest, there was not a lot of difference between the ride comfort of any of the changes. The HHDs are slightly firmer than the SLs despite being the same height on the car and the thickness difference being about double on the HHDs. I assume this is due to the top of the springs being the same thickness, and thus during normal unloaded driving, they're the same softness. The spring gets much thicker as you move downward.

I put it down to the quality of the shock doing a lot in terms of bump/rebound and thus comfort. But as I said, the VEs might be more sensitive to the stiffness, I wouldnt know.

If you're going to do shocks, get something nicer than monroes. They seem to be pretty good for handling, but pretty ordinary for ride comfort. Get a set of bilsteins or konis. Sure they'll cost more, but suspension is arguably the most important part of the vehicle. Don't half ass it.

EDIT: Why not install FE2?

[peter b]

I am going to be different and recommend H&R super sport springs the blue ones they lower it about 1.8 inches give a firm yet comfortable ride and handle very well. All I changed was springs and in comparison to the FE2 suspension it handles a lot better.
Give Scott at VCM a call as they had them on special not long ago see what deal they can do on supply and fit.
I in my own experience and opinion will use H&R over king springs everyday off the week and yes I have used king springs before and not my cup of tea

[DCV1NU]

Not sure about the VEs, i have coilovers in mine, but when I had my VZ, I had all sorts of rear springs in my sedan. I've had SLHD, SL, SSL, HD and lastly HHD. To be honest, there was not a lot of difference between the ride comfort of any of the changes. The HHDs are slightly firmer than the SLs despite being the same height on the car and the thickness difference being about double on the HHDs. I assume this is due to the top of the springs being the same thickness, and thus during normal unloaded driving, they're the same softness. The spring gets much thicker as you move downward.

I put it down to the quality of the shock doing a lot in terms of bump/rebound and thus comfort. But as I said, the VEs might be more sensitive to the stiffness, I wouldnt know.

If you're going to do shocks, get something nicer than monroes. They seem to be pretty good for handling, but pretty ordinary for ride comfort. Get a set of bilsteins or konis. Sure they'll cost more, but suspension is arguably the most important part of the vehicle. Don't half ass it.

EDIT: Why not install FE2?

The VE's are very different suspension wise compaired to vt-vz models, the normal lowered kings/pedders springs that are designed for the ve's are made to handle the weight of a Normal carr load. Unless your constantly carrying heavyloads or towing trailers then I wouldnt run HD springs, as for shocks I had the munroes on my last car along with kings springs and had no issues with them whatsoever and are more than fine for what the op intends on using the car for.

[calais190]

The VE's are very different suspension wise compaired to vt-vz models, the normal lowered kings/pedders springs that are designed for the ve's are made to handle the weight of a Normal carr load. Unless your constantly carrying heavyloads or towing trailers then I wouldnt run HD springs, as for shocks I had the munroes on my last car along with kings springs and had no issues with them whatsoever and are more than fine for what the op intends on using the car for.

As I said, my experience comes from changing springs on a VZ. Monroe were good for the money, but they weren't great.

Point is, don't spend small amounts on suspension.

[ebbett21]

Eibach Pro Kit, Eibach Direct website have specials on at the moment. Supposedly they are what Walkinshaw lower on.

[ITROCS]

Pm sent to black diamond thanks guys for help all appreciated will post picks of dropped VE lol

Peter

[VY-SV8]

cant wait to see some pics of her in the weeds bro!

[LGW]

Kings SSL Front/SL Rear will give you a nice level height and not too low, and maintain a nice ride :cheers:

Got my 60th SSV done at Protek about a year ago with this combo. Very happy with the results! The front is still about 10mm too high for me still but that is because I had to get insulators put in the front by Holden which raised the front a little.

[ITROCS]

Heres a picture of it lowered! very happy.



http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u136/ssvl98/LOWERED3.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u136/ssvl98/048.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u136/ssvl98/050.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u136/ssvl98/055.jpg

[rouseabout]

So, ITROCS, what did you end up putting in it? I have the same vehicle minus the spoiler.

[ITROCS]

Hi,

I put Kings SSL Front and SL on rear and the car handles great and sits nice even better when cars full :love: then she sits real low.

Peter

[Wonky]

Have you got any before photos? There's still a big gap between tyre and arch.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o274/gcovo/Misc/055.jpg

[Rick76]

There's still a big gap between tyre and arch.

I was going to say the same thing. Doesn't look much lower than my Calais V (stock at the moment). I was looking at this combo but not much point for me as mine is already a bit lower than an Omega.

Has it settled lower since the photos?

Did you do shocks as well?

What is the measurements from centre of wheel to guard F&R?

[cashie]

Was this definately the SSL front and the SL rear?

This was my SSV with SSL all round
http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd309/cashie5/LoweredB.jpg

[DukeZ]

v6 weighs less than the 6ltrs it was definetely the combo ssl f and sl rear.... i know i fitted themit will still drop 5mm or so after a couple of weeks...the omegas sit ALOT higher than compared to stuff with fe2..the combo will have brought it down just below fe2 height

[Rick76]

the omegas sit ALOT higher than compared to stuff with fe2..

Eg:
http://www.suttonscms.com.au/groupusedcarsftp/SutArn/usedcarsftp/images/1252074-9.jpg

[ITROCS]

What I'll do is add a before photo as the omegas do sit very high from standard that photo makes it look high but in real life it is and looks alot lower and with the family in she's real low. I think the SS and SSV are heavier with V8"s so they probally sit lower from standard :)

Peter

[Roonstain]

This is my old omega on ssl's

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk26/Roonstain/100_0171.jpg

[phat_6ltr]

Don't mean to hijack ur thread mate, but why do people put the lower springs in the front? Is it a level thing? I've always done it the other way..

Cheers

[ITROCS]

So heres before and after pictures..

Before

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u136/ssvl98/th_010.jpg (http://s167.photobucket.com/albums/u136/ssvl98/?action=view&current=010.jpg)


After

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u136/ssvl98/th_032.jpg (http://s167.photobucket.com/albums/u136/ssvl98/?action=view&current=032.jpg)

[Steele304VS]

How much did the raise kit cost?

Do you take this 4wding?

[jono0309]

If that was my car, I would take it back to get it lowered properly..seems a bit of a waste of money to get it pretty much the same!

[ITROCS]

It's enough for me cause if it was lower when the family's in it's to low! Big thing I noticed was how better it handles now 100% better so just that alone was worth the outlay :)

Peter

[cashie]

The before and after pics show a good drop.
What are the hub to guard measurements now?
I just fitted Kings SSL front and SL rear to my Calais for a measurement of 380 front and 370 rear.

[ITROCS]

The before and after pics show a good drop.
What are the hub to guard measurements now?
I just fitted Kings SSL front and SL rear to my Calais for a measurement of 380 front and 370 rear.

Cheers mate thx for positive feedback :) I'll measure in morning

Peter

[Rick76]

cashie, can you please measure again in a few days to see if settles a bit lower?

My Calais is 390 front & rear stock (MY10 with 11,000km). Although the front left is closer to 400.

I might need to go SSSL front and SSL rear to get what I want which is about 365-370 all round. I don't think SSL fronts are worth doing for me for only 10mm drop and SSSL rears at 350 odd might be too low.

[ITROCS]

The before and after pics show a good drop.
What are the hub to guard measurements now?
I just fitted Kings SSL front and SL rear to my Calais for a measurement of 380 front and 370 rear.

Hi,

The back is 390mm and front measures 385mm so not to shabby .

Peter

[ITROCS]

If that was my car, I would take it back to get it lowered properly..seems a bit of a waste of money to get it pretty much the same!

Maybe the before and afters dont show it but before we lowered it she was like a 4wd the difference is huge but maybe in person it sticks out more, but I'm wrapped its the look I was after.

Peter

[VXSS346]

If that was my car, I would take it back to get it lowered properly..seems a bit of a waste of money to get it pretty much the same!

Not everyone wants what you call a 'properly lowered' car. We are all different.

The easiest thing to do is chuck some SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSL springs in it and dump it. But that's not 'properly lowered'. :idea:

To me 'properly lowered' means not ridiculously low with improved handling.

But hey, that's just me.

:goodjob: ITROCS Looks great.

[ITROCS]

Not everyone wants what you call a 'properly lowered' car. We are all different.

The easiest thing to do is chuck some SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSL springs in it and dump it. But that's not 'properly lowered'. :idea:

To me 'properly lowered' means not ridiculously low with improved handling.

But hey, that's just me.

:goodjob: ITROCS Looks great.

Thanks mate I'm with you lowered to improve look and handling thats what I wanted and got!

Peter

[racarb]

Yeh mate your car looks heaps better, you can't bet the look of a lowered car. Thats my next project, a set of 20inch gts rims and the whole thing sitting 2inchs lower.

[rouseabout]

ITROCS, did you keep the standard shocks? If not, what did you use?

Thanks
Tony

[cashie]

cashie, can you please measure again in a few days to see if settles a bit lower?

My Calais is 390 front & rear stock (MY10 with 11,000km). Although the front left is closer to 400.

I might need to go SSSL front and SSL rear to get what I want which is about 365-370 all round. I don't think SSL fronts are worth doing for me for only 10mm drop and SSSL rears at 350 odd might be too low.

It's still sitting within 5mm of 380/370mm..

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd309/cashie5/Spoiler1.jpg

[Rick76]

It's still sitting within 5mm of 380/370mm..

Thanks, looks good :cool: