Quote:
Originally Posted by 5spdvl
Thats very impressive, vhr32.
Made using the original strut body? Whats the legalities on doing that? Or does the nice blue Bilstein sticker get rid of that?
ALL VB-VP Commodores have to use the standard strut as a starting point for a coil over type conversion, because they have the stub axle built in.
There shouldn't be any legal hassles with welding on a thread, the DOTARS NCOP state if components have to be welded, they must be done to an equal or higher standard than the factory welds.
The stickers just make them pretty
Even if you fit a set of standard replacement Bilstein inserts to your VR-VE Commodore you have to weld on a threaded collar to the top of the strut to hold the insert.
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa...3Feb2006 .pdf (http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/safety/bulletin/pdf/NCOP11_Section_LS_Suspension_and_steering_3Feb2006.pdf)
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Some original photos have not been recovered yet.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 5spdvl
Made using the original strut body? Whats the legalities on doing that? Or does the nice blue Bilstein sticker get rid of that?
That's how mine were done by Koni
Some original photos have not been recovered yet.
Quote:
Originally Posted by vhr32
ALL VB-VP Commodores have to use the standard strut as a starting point for a coil over type conversion, because they have the stub axle built in.
There shouldn't be any legal hassles with welding on a thread, the DOTARS NCOP state if components have to be welded, they must be done to an equal or higher standard than the factory welds.
The stickers just make them pretty
Even if you fit a set of standard replacement Bilstein inserts to your VR-VE Commodore you have to weld on a threaded collar to the top of the strut to hold the insert.
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa...3Feb2006 .pdf (http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/safety/bulletin/pdf/NCOP11_Section_LS_Suspension_and_steering_3Feb2006.pdf)
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Yeah, I know the stub axle is part of axle housing VB-VP. Just wondered if the boys in blue would pick on the "custom" nature of it.
Very cool though.
Some original photos have not been recovered yet.
Quote:
Originally Posted by vhr32
I just finished making Jason a pair of Bilstein coil overs for his VL.
Here is the end result:
Hope you're happy with them Jase!
Very nice vhr32... If only you lived in NZ i would have got you to do me a pair at that price - the look great - better than some of the efforts i have seen over here from actual "suspension" shops/garages.
Problem is over here everyone charges an arm and a leg for Commodore Coilovers. That's why i just decided to do everything but when i recently did my suspension. Oh i am running Bilstein shocks all round. A vast improvement on the Monroe & Pedders combination i was running. It's all about you get what you pay for. I noticed a big difference when traveling on the open road. Made the car stick to the road so much better and was a lot more comfortable than the old setup.
Oh and here is a link to my 'Suspension Upgrade' page incase anyone wants to know exactly what i replaced - http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/showthread.php?t=133953
Catch ya,
Jason
Matt got them today, PERFECT mate, picked up adjustable front sway bar, rear shock Bilstein, just sports ones to keep it soft in the rear. New just about everything else aswell, cant wait for the rest of the upgrade to come from Sydney and slap it together.
Great work Matt, relly really happy with them!
Quote:
Originally Posted by '87Calais
Very nice vhr32... If only you lived in NZ i would have got you to do me a pair at that price - the look great - better than some of the efforts i have seen over here from actual "suspension" shops/garages.
Problem is over here everyone charges an arm and a leg for Commodore Coilovers. That's why i just decided to do everything but when i recently did my suspension. Oh i am running Bilstein shocks all round. A vast improvement on the Monroe & Pedders combination i was running. It's all about you get what you pay for. I noticed a big difference when traveling on the open road. Made the car stick to the road so much better and was a lot more comfortable than the old setup.
Oh and here is a link to my 'Suspension Upgrade' page incase anyone wants to know exactly what i replaced - http://www.calaisturbo.com.au/showthread.php?t=133953
Catch ya,
Jason
I just had a read through that thread, and its quite impressive. Guess thats what all VL owners would love to have (accept, of course, airbags).
Figure I may as well post it here and strike while the iron is hot - I've been trying to change the front shock inserts on my brother's VN lately - normally I don't have a problem - but now I do. Whenever I had to do it as a mechanic, the bearing plate retaining nut was usually fairly easy to undo (occasionally had to grip the silver section of the shock with vice grips or the like to prevent it turning), as was the gland nut (BIG nut that screws into the strut body and retains the shock insert - just use a massive pair of multigrips, or a gland nut removal tool).
But these look like factory FE2 shocks, and the bearing retaining nut is on there nice and good. Everything I've tried has failed. And believe me, I got pretty imaginative with ideads on how to undo it. Anyway, does anyone know if there is a tool specifically for this? Not all shocks have a slot in the top to secure it (to prevent it turning whilst you undo the nut), or flat sides.
So yeah, end rant.
Some original photos have not been recovered yet.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 88 Chaser
Matt got them today, PERFECT mate, picked up adjustable front sway bar, rear shock Bilstein, just sports ones to keep it soft in the rear. New just about everything else aswell, cant wait for the rest of the upgrade to come from Sydney and slap it together.
Great work Matt, relly really happy with them!
Cheers, I'll leave you some trader feedback too.
ive always used a air ratchet gun, I had some terrible problems getting the nuts off these struts as they were out of the car and the shafts keeps spinning.
Just keep at it and hold the shaft with your hand.
It pays to undo the nuts a bit with the car sitting on the ground with all the weight on it like normal.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 5spdvl
But these look like factory FE2 shocks, and the bearing retaining nut is on there nice and good. Everything I've tried has failed. And believe me, I got pretty imaginative with ideads on how to undo it. Anyway, does anyone know if there is a tool specifically for this? Not all shocks have a slot in the top to secure it (to prevent it turning whilst you undo the nut), or flat sides.
Yep... They can be a big old fashion C_nt - I have found the best way is to get a rattle gun onto it whilst they are still in the car and the car is still on the ground. Keeps some weight on them and prevents them front turning. Just loosen them, then jack the car up and start dismantle.
Dunno if you have already taken them off the car, but if not give that a try.
My 2 cents.
Cheers,
Jason
Yeah, thanks for the input guys. I pulled them out last weekend, and cracked it because it was a big waste of time! They ended up going straight back in!
A rattle gun would be nice, but I'm quote backyard spec - a compressor is omething I don't have (yet).
I didn't think about trying to loosen them while they're still in the car. Got a feeling that'd probably do the trick, maybe in combination with the vicegrips in the shock too. It'd be SO much easier if the manufacture just put a tiny flat section on the shaft, so it could be gripped...
Some original photos have not been recovered yet.
