Suspension too hard on Holden Commodore ss UTE

[Marius]

I bought a Holden Commodore ss UTE (In South Africa it is called a Chevrolet UTE SS) For identification: It is a 2006 model, Chevrolet make, V8, and SS - Sorry, but it is called different things in different countries, here is a picture to make sure you know what car I am talking about http://www.durbanchevrolet.co.za/pictures/ute_index.jpg

I understand it has the F2 sport suspension in it (I bought it new) A lot of people lower the vehicle and put bigger rims with lower profile tires on it. I want the opposite. I would like a more sedan car feel. I wand to drive over a manhole cover without feeling it. I know I will have more body roll and handling will be worse but this is no problem. Any advice on how to achieve this will be appreciated. Smaller rims with higher profile tires?? Std. suspension??? Air suspension??

[motomk]

Haven't seen anyone go about it that way round, wanting their car raised??
I am guessing sort of like the Ford Falcon RTV over here!
You could try the stock suspension out of a normal ute. Not sure if the springs would be right strength for the V8 motor or not but pretty sure the normal V6 ute has higher suspension than the SS. It also has 15x7 inch wheels on it commonly called pursuit rims over here. You can fit 225/60/15 sized tyres on them which have a taller profile, so that might help a bit too.
Might have to wait for some of the Ute people to get on here during the day, they might have more insight.

motomk

[VU_SS_UTE]

I'd say you brought the wrong car, if you dont like stiff suspension then a car with 'sport' suspension probably wasnt the best choice!

[Danv8]

Arg a floaty boaty SS ute


now I do feel sick!

[Dacious]

Given the LS1 has a simlar installed weight to the old 3800 iron motor, find someone with a VT-VY V6 who wants the FE2 suspension and just swap it all over. Easy. You'll need to do front and rear, or the car will sit funny. It'll also probbly need an alignment.

[exploder]

Just had a look on the RSA Chev web site, you can have a Lumina ute in any model you want as long as its an SS..

So Marius you may want to look at a full air bag kit, try www.airbagman.com.au and/or email em.

[VR304]

Does Holden still do the country pack option on Commodores?

[pirate]

Just keep the stanardd FE2 suspension and change your rims over. Get 15's with 65 series tyres. It will ride better but look so silly you will be the laughing stock around South Africa. Like someone else said "If you want that sort of ride why buy an SS?'' :doh:

[vh-holden]

Like someone else said "If you want that sort of ride why buy an SS?'' :doh:

do they get any other holden utes over there? looking at the site the picture is from, the ss is the only type of ute that dealer sells.

[Vulture]

I tend to agree with the people who have stated that you may have got the wrong car but I suppose that doesn't answer your Qs. Could I suggest just trying a higher profile tyre first? If that doesn't satisfy then go the whole hog with suspension changes, or sell it and get one of those Yank Tanks that rocks back and forth for 2mins after you stop!:stick: Are the roads that crap there? There are blokes getting around here with 19 inch wheels and lowered suspension.

[SSute]

put on some 15" wheels & 65 series tyres, just as the Holden Stormriders do.http://www2.filehost.to/files/2006-03-07_01/033240_0007.JPG
Will look a little :limpy: but will be softer & it will take a bashing.

[SCOTTR8]

have u spoken to any suspension shops over there? that would be my first steep.

p.s. welcome to the forum

cheers scott

[IIV8II]

hey guys - this bloke is asking for our help from across the water. Over there, it's SS or nothing so your 'bought the wrong ute' quips are just stooopid.

Marius, you may have to install the springs, dampers and swaybars from the regular family-car models that have a softer ride and higher ride height. Hope this helps

How much weight do you carry? Not much I hope...?

[Drewie]

What sort of tyre pressures are you running? Maybe dropping a few pounds might help. It does effect the ride quality the higher the pressure in the tyres
the harder the ride.

[Wonky]

If you want to keep the look talk to a few suspension places about better quality shocks. I lowered mine and put in short body Dura Sport struts and KYB shocks and even though it is lowered it now rides less harshly than with FE2. If you keep FE2 height but put good quality shocks in it you may find the improvement enough to live with.

Only problem is nobody over there probably has one already done so that you can try it out first before going to that expense and finding it still doesn't do enough.

[Marius]

Thanks for the replies. It might be the wrong UTE but as mentioned it is the only one availabele here - a bummer - but that is living in dark Africa for you.

A few answers/comments to posts:
1. The look is not such a big deal for me. I am tall and do not fit in all cars and I fly model helicopters and need big area to load it hence the purchase of the UTE (being able to claim the tax back also helped)
2. Have spoken to all I know locally and, huuuuu, was basically the answer. One guy will manufacture springs for me to try but I do not want to re-invent the wheel.
3. Lowering tyre pressures will help but I drive short gravel road as well with rocks - too low can damage low profile.
4. IIV8II "install the springs, dampers and swaybars from the regular family-car models" that was my idea even before buying the UTE and did not think if I go to the dealer with this idea I will get such a blank look from them. So if I can have part numbers to give to them it will be great. I do not want to weld, drill, hammer and saw on the UTE just take out and replace with softer.
5. "Holden Stormriders" picture looks fine to me will get rims and tyres for sure.
6. "country pack option" what is this???
7. Air suspension sound like a good idea but it is a big conversion??? and on the site they do mention it more for towing and loading heavy loads, not what I want to do.

This UTE and the car is newly introduces in SA - there is basically no information available locally so I will have to rely on your help. So far the 15" rims is a done deal but what parts for suspension. If there was a V6, standard (not sport package) with softer ride available it would have suited me better but it is not available here, It is the SS, the Ford F250 or "crapy pick-ups good only for delivery" ones - thats it!!

[V-Car]

Lekker bakkie Marius! :thumbsup:

[Marius]

Please have a look at this site.
http://www.reeds.co.za/chevrolet/luminasedan.php
These are the cars that is sold in South Africa. What suspension parts from which one should I use? The LS3.8 / S3.8 / SS5.7

Will the SS5.7 have the same suspension as my UTE SS?

Should I install the springs, dampers and swaybars from the S3.8??

Please help!!!

[drone14]

Please have a look at this site.
http://www.reeds.co.za/chevrolet/luminasedan.php
These are the cars that is sold in South Africa. What suspension parts from which one should I use? The LS3.8 / S3.8 / SS5.7

Will the SS5.7 have the same suspension as my UTE SS?

Should I install the springs, dampers and swaybars from the S3.8??

Please help!!!

The SS5.7 probably has the same suspension as your ute.

I can't seem to get the specs sheet up when I select it but going on the prices the LS3.8 is the cheapest. It is a good bet that this one has the standard suspension (not guaranteed thought).

If you talk to the dealer about the suspension differences between the models they might be able to tell you.

[Marius]

I found the following information:

V8 UTE SS
Gross weight - 2280
licencing mass - 1597
Load capacity - 650

3.6 V6 LS car
Gross weight - 2105
licencing mass - 1568

2280 - 2105 = 175
Load of 650 - 175 (due to softer suspension) = 475

This will mean my UTE can only handle 475kg load. This is no problem for me.

What do you think - just change parts to the ones in the LS? Can it be swapped? 99.9% of the time I ride with no load, so why will it be a problem?? the power - I do not race with my UTE. I raced for many years, if I want to race again I will buy a racing car. Those years are over for me - the whole married with children deal.

[drone14]

I had a look at the specs sheet and they don't mention the suspension at all except to say that they use McPherson struts up front etc etc.

The ride heights are the same for all of them which suggests to me that they all have the FE2 suspension.

You may have to talk to an Australian aftermarket company to solve your problem. Have a look at some of the sponsors on this site.

Good Luck