How much would you lower a VY Calais?

[Daves8]

Currently running 19 inch wheels, looks a bit like a giraffe, wanting to make it look meaner, but not comprimise all of the ride quality, and still remain legal (is it 100ml clearance?)

Who has lowered a calais, and what springs (lowered amount too please) did you use?

Pictures would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance, i look ofrward to posting pics when done, as it is the last peice of the puzzle for me.....

[BLACKWAGON]

Pedders sportsryders will take u down 25mm all round, I have em in my wagon.........not a calais but the effect will be the same on ur calais.
25mm down gets rid of the 4wd look, handles well and looks well with no problems.
Mine is an ss and with skirts etc it still doesnt have any dramas with a full car load.

[Wonky]

I'm assuming being an SS that yours had FE2 BLACKWAGON whereas I don't think the VY Calais did (VE Calais has FE2, going to FE1.5 now), so the amount yours dropped will be less than Dave's will, won't it? :confused:

[Daves8]

wonky, no i dont have FE2, i have standard springs (seems like 4WD springs to me!)

I was thinking King superlow (50mm)

[JBonDSS]

http://jbondinc.customer.netspace.net.au/VXBerlina/New%20Wheels.JPG

Run Pedder 25mm lower the front & 50mm at the rear

[Daves8]

Thanks Jbon, any other pics guys?

Would love to see a VY calais with 50 taken out of both front and back...

I appreciate your help and imput.

[RAVENLS1]

Pedders do a lowest legal suspension package

[GJ227]

and spend the extra and go coil overs in the front, fully adjustable and the ride is so much better than just shorther springs, rides like std, had them in my VY SS Ute.

[Wonky]

wonky, no i dont have FE2, i have standard springs (seems like 4WD springs to me!)

I was thinking King superlow (50mm)
See Australian LS1 and Holden Forums (http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=49960) - should be some interesting reading for you. There are other similar threads too. Post #32 is before and after pics of my VZ SS with King Superlows. I reckon they were about perfect height, though would have liked the front down a fraction more. Combined with KYB short body shocks all round they were great!

[XLR8 V8]

Putting Kings superlow springs in with standard non-FE2 shocks would be a bit :errr::errr:

If you want to go that low, get some shorter shocks as well

[BLACKWAGON]

I thought if its an LS1 calaid they would have fe2?

Pedders told me that fe2 is 10,, lower than standard, so yeah it would be 35mm drop on your car. They can use another grey spring to get it down another 10 but I didnt like it, way too hard.

[Madmik]

Mate was running Kings Ultra Lows on the Calais i bought. Handled like a dog on heat, very un-predictable and would snap out on slightest hint of a boot in the guts. Oh yeah and the front were for a V6 not LS1 V8?????
Changed to Kings Lows with variable spring rate. Extra Heavy duty on Front and heavy duty on rear. I rang the Manager from kings and he said there is roughly 15 different types of spring for a commodore.
Now the car handles very smoothly, but still need to put in some KYB's and sway bars with camber and shim kits. Maybe an anti lift kit too.

[slolux]

I recently lowered my VTII Calais with King super lows and I am very happy with the results, the ride is not harsh at all and handling has been improved 1000%. Saying that, I spent the extra money on shorter shocks and a camber kit for the rear and it is money well spent.

My wife has a VT wagon with superlows in it as well, (lowered before we bought it) and they used the standard shockers. Needless to say the ride is extremely harsh and I am going to have to replace them when I have the dough. The difference is huge between using standard shocks with superlow springs and spending the money and using shorter shocks.

BTW not all Calais came with FE2 suspension, mine was standard and says so on the compliance plate.

Will post some pics tomorrow if anyone is interested as VT and VX are pretty similar from the side I reckon.

[Wonky]

Putting Kings superlow springs in with standard non-FE2 shocks would be a bit :errr::errr:

If you want to go that low, get some shorter shocks as well
Yep, totally agree! I put KYB short body shocks in my VZ SS and it rode better than the original FE2.

[Doadrift]

How far would I lower it?

Till its on its guts :D