Lowering VZ SS sedan

[RichieRedHotSS]

I am looking for advice or comments from anyone who has lowered their SS sedan (VY or VZ) by changind the springs only & retaining the original FE2 shocks. I have a company vehicle but am looking to buy it when the lease is up so would like to start on some basic mods. I am keeping them basic in case I decide not to buy the car (I will need to return the car to original spec). I am looking at lowering the car by about 20 to 30mm all round (top of the tyre just below the top of the guard is what I am after). Any details regarding type of spring (brand), part numbers, mm dropped etc would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

[jaykay]

Try this thread, should help ...

http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=55481&highlight=Dazvyss

John

[Wonky]

You will find opinions vary on retaining original shocks and not going for shortened shocks as technically you should. Some people say original shocks are fine and some say it absolutely sucks - handling screwed and bump stops are too easy to hit. Best thing to do is use the search function - you will find lots of threads on it but no definitive answer.

After reading what I could find on it and asking much the same question I decided to bite the bullet and put KYB shocks on rear and Dura Sport on front (all short body of course). Was originally sent KYB all round but the VZ fronts are different to earlier models so wouldn't fit (although found out later there is something you can buy to make them fit - from memory something to do with sway bar).

I used King's Superlows KHFL-47HD on front and KHRL-46HD on rear, which is what the King's catalogue says to use. The rear came down so the top of the tyre and guard line up but the front didn't come down much at all and hasn't settled any either - disappointing as like you I was hoping for the guard and tyre to basically line up. See http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=49960&page=3

Tron2004 used the V6 Superlows (KHFL-47SL) and his looks very good, though not sure what affect on handling. See post #13 http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=56262

[Darkrayne]

I had superlow Lovells put into my VY SS with FE2 shocks kept still.. ride is still great and I have no probs with it :) sits bout the height you're after too.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/Sir/32c48a10.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/Sir/69ea7820.jpg

[fordy68]

I had superlow Lovells put into my VY SS with FE2 shocks kept still.. ride is still great and I have no probs with it :) sits bout the height you're after too.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/Sir/32c48a10.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/Sir/69ea7820.jpg

Superb! I love that look. :thumbsup: I cannot wait to lower my VY. Only wish that I had put 19s on it instead of 18s. I like the mesh look, but couldnt seem to find any that were reasonably priced.

[RichieRedHotSS]

Thanks for the info / pics. Looks great & right about the height I'm after too. How do find the ride if you've got any gear in the boot or people in the back seat? Does it drop the rear end much lower?

[Darkrayne]

Thanks for the info / pics. Looks great & right about the height I'm after too. How do find the ride if you've got any gear in the boot or people in the back seat? Does it drop the rear end much lower?

drops it a little.. have no probs with it scrubbing.. have only heard it slightly touch once with full car.. but that was going over a driveway on a steep angle that i shoulda gone up slower! lol.. other than that no probs what so ever!as you can see while we were driving it it does lower it a little more..maybe 1cm more while in car..

[shaunv8]

I had superlow Lovells put into my VY SS with FE2 shocks kept still.. ride is still great and I have no probs with it :) sits bout the height you're after too.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/Sir/32c48a10.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/Sir/69ea7820.jpg

That looks shit hot mate....Did you need a camber kit, Who did the job for you....Shaun

[shaunv8]

I had superlow Lovells put into my VY SS with FE2 shocks kept still.. ride is still great and I have no probs with it :) sits bout the height you're after too.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/Sir/32c48a10.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/Sir/69ea7820.jpg

That looks shit hot mate....Did you need a camber kit, Who did the job for you....Cost,,,,,etc etc Shaun

[Tron2004]

Tron2004 used the V6 Superlows (KHFL-47SL) and his looks very good, though not sure what affect on handling. See post #13 http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=56262
The handling really is damn good!!! :thumbsup:
The ride tho is a tad harsher than original but it doesn't bother me at all.
I didn't swap to shorter shocks and have not had any problems using the standard ones.
I have heard ppl say that by lowering a car and not installing shorter shocks to suit will cause the car to bounce around all over the road but this has never happened with mine.

[jerrel]

That looks shit hot mate....Did you need a camber kit, Who did the job for you....Shaun

why would you need a camber kit. I banged up my front wheel on sunday, and the camber was off alot. the guy at tyrepower said that holdens dont need camber kit, as you can adjust it with a few bolts. he said ford need camber kit. is this wrong? he seemed to fix mine pretty good with tightening a nut a bolt.

[shaunv8]

why would you need a camber kit. I banged up my front wheel on sunday, and the camber was off alot. the guy at tyrepower said that holdens dont need camber kit, as you can adjust it with a few bolts. he said ford need camber kit. is this wrong? he seemed to fix mine pretty good with tightening a nut a bolt.

Why, Why, do a search mate, Its been well debated, documented.....:D

[Nutter]

E series fords need front camber kit for anything over 1 inch lower as the thread simply isnt long enought to allow any more shims, AU and BA usually get away with 2 inches but some can run out of thread and need the kit , the holdens dont use the shim system so they do get away with no camber kit most times at only 1 inch lower. Once you start to go 2 inches or more you basically cant get enough adjustment in factory trim so you kit em.

This is mine sitting on Kings standard shocks (FE2 rides fine no harsheness no bump stops), only prob is rear springs are not captive so need to put shorter shocks for that.


http://members.optusnet.com.au/tyrefryers1/VX_Clubby/clubby%20006.jpg

http://members.optusnet.com.au/tyrefryers1/VX_Clubby/clubby%20001.jpg
http://members.optusnet.com.au/tyrefryers1/VX_Clubby/100_2238.jpg

[kayman]

why would you need a camber kit. I banged up my front wheel on sunday, and the camber was off alot. the guy at tyrepower said that holdens dont need camber kit, as you can adjust it with a few bolts. he said ford need camber kit. is this wrong? he seemed to fix mine pretty good with tightening a nut a bolt.

To answer you're question, the VX2 had the slightly revised rear end with the "bolts" as u call it. before that you needed a camber kit to replace the original.

[HRT 8]

I had superlow Lovells put into my VY SS with FE2 shocks kept still.. ride is still great and I have no probs with it :) sits bout the height you're after too.


Thats a magnificent looking VY SS.
One question though. Whats with the 225 rubber???

[Darkrayne]

Thats a magnificent looking VY SS.
One question though. Whats with the 225 rubber???

cheers HRT 8!

About the tyres.. without going coilovers up front she'll only fit 225's.. and since they dont make a 235 in 20 inch.. the 245 just rubs on the front strut!..

I could have gone a 255/35/20 on the back as i have my rear guards rolled too.. but went 225's all round so i can rotate from front to back later..

With the height the car sits at.. they don't look outa place at all.. very happy with them!..

The SS will be at the Perth Holden V Ford show this weekend! hope to see any of you from perth that are coming!

regards

DR

[Darkrayne]

That looks shit hot mate....Did you need a camber kit, Who did the job for you....Cost,,,,,etc etc Shaun

Thanks Shaun!.. no didnt need a camber kit.. only go one if I went for ultra lows, which for me would be too low!.. superlows imo are the best for everyday cruising and bumps!.. im not a fan of cars that go too low.. unless theyre bagged! :D

Got it done @ WA Suspensions in osb park.. round the $550 mark installed..

[Darkrayne]

one more pic to give you another idea of how she sits!

DR

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/Sir/44899914.jpg

[xquizit]

Darkrayne what's the ride height of your ss from centre of hub to arch front & back. I got my vy clubby lowerered at wa suspension today with lovells superlow coils & i got shocks all around to suit but my ride dosent look as low as yours at the front.

[Nutter]

Darkrayne what's the ride height of your ss from centre of hub to arch front & back. I got my vy clubby lowerered at wa suspension today with lovells superlow coils & i got shocks all around to suit but my ride dosent look as low as yours at the front.


his overall tyre diameter is bigger so it looks closer to the guards