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[VXL V6]

For those who drive cars with lowered / stiffened suspension, what would your thoughts be on the following setup?

Standard ride height KYB rear springs with spring assistors, MV6 LSC front springs and b4's all round + the obligatory poly bushes front and rear on a 3.2 Saloon with a 80 - 100 Litre LPG tank.

I know it won't be in the same league as my 3.2 with Eibachs, B4's, polys etc etc but need to consider a greater ride height on the project car to support the weight of equipment I can end up carrying in the boot as well as the LPG tank weight.

Another option would be Police spec springs but I don't know much about ride heights etc of them as well as actually finding any!

[05omegav6]

Plod ride springs with standard shocks would be my suggested heavy duty set up... if it has self leveling then keep it but with plod springs... ride height is unaffected compared to a standard car, but springs are beefier, making an Elite alot less wallowy... Paul S can help you with the characteristics of that set up... as his 3.2 saloon is so equipped

[TheBoy]

I run my MV6 with Irmscher front, std rear, either B4 or GM shocks (pretty much similar shock type). It does make the front more responsive, but has lowered the understeer ratio, meaning its more prone to oversteer.

[pauls]

I run police springs all round with standard elite shocks. Poly front bushes. No ride height issues but stiffens it up enough so you can still have a play. Couple on here have driven it gixer said for him front a bit soft, cant remember what al said. Sorry Al.
 I think if you left the elite back shocks but b4 the front you might find it better for you.

[VXL V6]

Won't be keeping self levelling as a) It's already removed and b) I dislike the damping level from GM SL shocks..... Every Elite I have ever had (6 so far) I have ripped it out and eventually settled on B4's

To me a minimum level of B4 Shock absorption all round is a must, What I don't want is the standard suspension wallowyness (if there is such a word!) but I do need a slightly greater ride height at the rear above LSC to take the weight of the tank and my junk sensibly - to explain, with the weights I'm talking about standard -15mm LSC springs on the rear are compressed enough to be close to the ride height of my Eibach -30mm car.....

[05omegav6]

I'm in two minds about b4s... certainly front of the black one needs reconsidering... thinking Sachs and Eibach along with new bushes

Self leveling and plod springs is a good hardworking set up, and having changed the shocks on the plod estate twice, I keep going back to the same standard set up...it will reliably take anything you throw at it whilst being composed, (for a two ton estate), through the twisties

[05omegav6]

I wouldn't run any lowering with the extra weight... you're looking at a permanent addition of 50+ kgs of weight, all over the back axle, that's what self leveling is designed for, especially without Elite springs... even if you can't get plod springs, standard non Elite springs will stiffen it up nicely 

[VXL V6]

Rear currently has KYB standard springs with Monroe Shock absorbers which both look very recent but the back end wallows far more than I like which is why I need to look at a stiffer option. LSC on the front with B4's gives a good compromise between ride height (for speed bumps!) and handling in my experience.

What is the standard ride height of Police saloon rears?

[vauxsull]

Changing the rear shocks myself this month.. not sure wether to repalce with original self levelers which my local dealer has a set for £155 or do away with it and go for a recomended shock replacement from you guys.
.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Round my way all the Omega taxis used to run on estate back springs. This jacked up the back end to a slightly odd level, until you sit two people and luggage in the back. My mate did it on his Elite, binned the SL and with him, his... 'generous' wife and three equally generous children in the back the car ran very well and further more could navigate the local speed bumps at a speed over 1mph.

Time is money, and so for a taxi driver the time you can save going over speed bumps a little faster means you have more time to take random detours to up the fare 


Stage direction: DBG leans back in his chair, sups his tea and awaits the howls of dissaproval 

[05omegav6]

Round my way all the Omega taxis used to run on estate back springs. This jacked up the back end to a slightly odd level, until you sit two people and luggage in the back. My mate did it on his Elite, binned the SL and with him, his... 'generous' wife and three equally generous children in the back the car ran very well and further more could navigate the local speed bumps at a speed over 1mph.

Time is money, and so for a taxi driver the time you can save going over speed bumps a little faster means you have more time to take random detours to up the fare 


Stage direction: DBG leans back in his chair, sups his tea and awaits the howls of dissaproval 

That was one reason why I went plod when looking for a car for cab work...

[05omegav6]

Rear currently has KYB standard springs with Monroe Shock absorbers which both look very recent but the back end wallows far more than I like which is why I need to look at a stiffer option. LSC on the front with B4's gives a good compromise between ride height (for speed bumps!) and handling in my experience.

What is the standard ride height of Police saloon rears?

From memory, as Pauls was measured for comparison last time it was here..., 690?

[Diamond Black Geezer]

This is so, an ex-plod dose have a variety of features which make them ideal taxis. 

[05omegav6]

This is so, an ex-plod dose have a variety of features which make them ideal taxis. 

As Dan Aykroyd once said...

Joking aside, large load capacity, space for 5 adults, correct colour, hd self leveling suspension, lsd, xenons and a tow bar... not to mention full history from a force reputed to look after their cars

The only thing was the engine made it a bit of a sledgehammer for town work

[zirk]

For my money, Plod Springs for normal ride height, although no idea where your going to get a set these days.

MV6 set up works well on the Omega, IMHO not much in the lowered height, but tons better in handling.

Plod Estates had rear self levelling, and wouldn't look out of place on a Saloon with a full LPG tank in the back, which is possibly what I will be doing with my 3.2 LPG Plod Saloon, again subject to availability of parts these days.

[Kevin Wood]

I think, if I was always loading up my boot as the OP has intimated, I'd want higher riding springs. Most of the time, I have just the LPG tank in the back, and it's fine. Fully load the car, or put some load on the towbar, and it drags its' @rse on speedbumps and uneven ground.

Facelift MV6 setup does handle nicely, though, especially when lightly loaded.

So, something with MV6 ride height but stiffer, or standard ride height but stiffer than Elite SL, + decent shocks, I reckon.

[VXL V6]

Facelift MV6 setup does handle nicely, though, especially when lightly loaded.

So, something with MV6 ride height but stiffer, or standard ride height but stiffer than Elite SL, + decent shocks, I reckon.

Agreed, MV6 setup with polys is a good setup.

What about spring assistors in the MV6 Springs, although I'd be a little concerned of weakening them by altering the load bearing characteristics?

[Kevin Wood]

Agreed, MV6 setup with polys is a good setup.

What about spring assistors in the MV6 Springs, although I'd be a little concerned of weakening them by altering the load bearing characteristics?

Yes, guessing MV6 springs will have to be 2nd hand by now, meaning they might be getting fragile without any "assistance".

[VXL V6]

Agreed, MV6 setup with polys is a good setup.

What about spring assistors in the MV6 Springs, although I'd be a little concerned of weakening them by altering the load bearing characteristics?

Yes, guessing MV6 springs will have to be 2nd hand by now, meaning they might be getting fragile without any "assistance".

These springs I bought brand new about 18 months ago (When VX could still get you a set from Germany - I think I had the third last set), they've done around 50K.

Another thought is, Chris Gixer used to recommend placing a second spring rubber pad with the centre cut out over the original to get an extra bit of height from -30mm Irmscher / Steinmetz / Eibach springs, I wonder if this would be an option with the MV6 springs?

Thanks to all contributing to this thread - it's all good information and ideas coming through. 

[tigers_gonads]

Don't know if you have a estate or saloon but on my estate, I fitted this lot.

Front  Standard Mv6 springs / B4 shocks / poly wishbone bush.
Rear   LSC standard length heavy duty springs / B4 shocks / Oem bushes.

I did this due to the LPG tank partially behind the rear axel (spare wheel well) and 1 adult / friggin big dog OR boot full of tools / cable.

I found that with about a 1/3 tank of petrol and about 45ltrs of lpg in there, it sits perfectly level and even with the burger van tied to the back, its only about 2 inches down at the back.

[Kevin Wood]

Agreed, MV6 setup with polys is a good setup.

What about spring assistors in the MV6 Springs, although I'd be a little concerned of weakening them by altering the load bearing characteristics?

Yes, guessing MV6 springs will have to be 2nd hand by now, meaning they might be getting fragile without any "assistance".

These springs I bought brand new about 18 months ago (When VX could still get you a set from Germany - I think I had the third last set), they've done around 50K.

Another thought is, Chris Gixer used to recommend placing a second spring rubber pad with the centre cut out over the original to get an extra bit of height from -30mm Irmscher / Steinmetz / Eibach springs, I wonder if this would be an option with the MV6 springs?

Thanks to all contributing to this thread - it's all good information and ideas coming through. 

Yep, spacer might be the best option. Can't see it stressing the spring and it will give a little more ride height.

[05omegav6]

You can get poly pads for the Monaro... Nolathane or White line iirc Might be a bit more durable than 12 year old rubber...

[VXL V6]

Don't know if you have a estate or saloon but on my estate

Saloon

Yep, spacer might be the best option. Can't see it stressing the spring and it will give a little more ride height.

Yeh that's my thinking too, the assistor would have altered the dynamics of the spring too much I think

You can get poly pads for the Monaro... Nolathane or White line iirc Might be a bit more durable than 12 year old rubber...

Like the sound of that, when you look at the rubber pads the indent of the spring pigtail is obvious.

[05omegav6]

Worth giving Monkfish a call

[VXL V6]

You can get poly pads for the Monaro... Nolathane or White line iirc Might be a bit more durable than 12 year old rubber...

Like the sound of that, when you look at the rubber pads the indent of the spring pigtail is obvious.

These appear to be the ones I think. need to give them a call to confirm. 

http://www.monkfishperformance.co.uk/spring-insulator-rear-10mm-monaro-and-vt2-to-vz-commodore-models_p23023392.htm

[05omegav6]

Aye, that them

[VXL V6]

Better call them and confirm and place an order I guess!