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[Snips]

My rear shocks are completely shoot, there’s about 5inch showing and there covered in a thick greasy dusty build up.

Seeing as I don’t tow or carry excessive weight in the back very often is it worth fitting the self levelling shocks or shall I replace with standard shocks?

Looked at the how to guild and seems pretty straight forward(ish). Spoke to a garage about the standard shocks but they said that doing this may lead to problems with the compressor as it runs other components and may jeopardise the working conditions of other parts of the car, is this true?

So... any comments or suggestions would be a great help

Many thank Adam.

[Lazydocker]

Adam,

Go for the self levellers! Don't forget you already have added weight in the back with the LPG tank

Get a TC and the price becomes bearable!!

[Andy B]

....
Spoke to a garage about the standard shocks but they said that doing this may lead to problems with the compressor as it runs other components and may jeopardise the working conditions of other parts of the car, is this true?  .......

A load of bo11ocks!   The shockers' compressor is specifically for the shockers. If you want to go for non-standard shockers just remove the fuse, but 'proper' OE self leveller are about £80 a piece with a TRade Club Card and even if you don't have one there are a few OOF members that live close by who I'm sure would be able to help you out.    

[Snips]

Adam,

Go for the self levellers! Don't forget you already have added weight in the back with the LPG tank

Get a TC and the price becomes bearable!!

good call! didn't cross my mind   self levellers it is then. just got a quote from a garage £66 shocks (each), rear springs £196 (pair) and front wish bones £50 pair. all on TC. looks like in going to be a busy boy the next few weeks!

got my self a haynes manual 2day, trying to find some where to print out the ABS application form, and going to try and make new friends at the REME workshop so i can borrow there tools, but there all going on the 1st september so got to be quick!

[Andy B]

.....
just got a quote from a garage £66 shocks (each), rear springs £196 (pair) and front wish bones £50 pair. all on TC. looks like in going to be a busy boy the next few weeks!  ......

That's not Vauxhall's Trade Club prices.
Rear shockers are as said about £80 each.
Front wish bones haven't been on Trade Club for a few years now.  :-?

[Snips]

.....
just got a quote from a garage £66 shocks (each), rear springs £196 (pair) and front wish bones £50 pair. all on TC. looks like in going to be a busy boy the next few weeks!  ......

That's not Vauxhall's Trade Club prices.
Rear shockers are as said about £80 each.
Front wish bones haven't been on Trade Club for a few years now.  :-?

im not really clued up on this Trade Club stuff. ive heard that ABS suply you with a sort of trade card. whats the deal with Vauxhall Trade Club?

[Andy B]

.....
im not really clued up on this Trade Club stuff. ive heard that ABS suply you with a sort of trade card. whats the deal with Vauxhall Trade Club?

You can either be a member of Vx's Trade Club in your own right as eg a small garage that does repairs or you recieve your TC via another club eg Autobahnstormers. Being a club member entitles you to buy certain service items at a discounted price ie I bought a water pump for my car. Full retail price should be around £40 +vat, TC price was aound £30 +vat. Oil is around £8 a metric gallon plus they usually do a 4 for the price of 3 offer.
Some parts depts need a little persuasion in accepting an ABS card for Trade Club purchases, so check that items you're buying are on the TC list.

[trinity0_10]

I fitted standard springs with standard gas shocks in place of my self levellers, I have a 90 litre LPG tank in the boot & the back is actually about 2cm higher now.
I also just unplugged the compressor, I didn't pull the fuse as I think it works something else.

[Andy B]

..... I didn't pull the fuse as I think it works something else.

Pretty sure it doesn't!  

[JesterRT]

I had self levellers.  Replaced with standard shockers and new springs.  I tow a caravan pikey wagon and it sits just fine.  Can't imagine you'd have much bother with an LPG tank (especially if it's mounted up against the rear seats as that's in front of the rear axle meaning there's no additional leverage.

I replaced shocks from VX (think it was around the 70 quid mark on Trade) and I bought springs for £50 (for both) on fleabay.

It's an easy job to change 'em, but make sure you have a decent jack to hold the diff (I nearly had to catch the lot whilst under the car - just happened to have a spare jack to hand when things got dicey - and that diff weighs a bloody ton).

Also, I found that that the springs had to be compressed slightly to get them into the right position - I used a vice and lots of wire wrapped round to hold it.  Got it in and cut the wire.)  Bit cowboy but did the trick.

Compressor runs 'nout else and has been unplugged from mine for two years (including when I actually had the self levelling shocks).  My rear end, if you pardon the expression, just got stuck in the air all the time.  I disconnected the wiring from the compressor itself (I think the fuse may connect to something else - but that's from a distant memory).

Wishbones I did from fleabay too - but I got a garage to put them on as I didn't have the time.

It's very satisfying changing the springs and shocks though - have fun!

[Andy B]

.....
I replaced shocks from VX (think it was around the 70 quid mark on Trade) ......

and for another tenner aside on Trade Club - there's a difference between Trade Club & 'Trade' -you could have put the proper self levellers back in  :-/

 My rear end, if you pardon the expression, just got stuck in the air all the time.  ......

Obviously a fault on the system then.  

[Snips]

the tank is in the spare wheel well and i think it weighs around the 80kg mark when its full.  then when im lumping family and friends around with bits and bobs in the boot. i have read somewhere that the compressor kicks in when theirs the equivilent weight of 2 or 3 people in the back. so with a full LPG tank half full petrol tank and only 1 person in the back seems to me like this would be when the compersor kicks in. and as lazydocker said to me the cars made with that part so replace it with that part (well some where along thoes lines!)

[Andy B]

...... and as lazydocker said to me the cars made with that part so replace it with that part (well some where along thoes lines!)

You know it makes sence!    

[theolodian]

I put on Bilsteins and later did normal springs when one broke.  Easy, simple, pulled the fuse.  Was all fine until I had to get the in-laws from LHR 2 weeks ago.  Sat on its @rse and scraped on the speed bumps in Oxford services.  (No they aren't overweight, 3 in the back and luggage adds up fast though!)

Usually just me or me and the missus in the car, so I don't regret it.  If you have anyone in the back seat with any regularity I'd get self-levellers again though, especially if you plan on keeping the miggy for a few more years.

[Darkus Lordus]

.....
im not really clued up on this Trade Club stuff. ive heard that ABS suply you with a sort of trade card. whats the deal with Vauxhall Trade Club?

You can either be a member of Vx's Trade Club in your own right as eg a small garage that does repairs or you recieve your TC via another club eg Autobahnstormers. Being a club member entitles you to buy certain service items at a discounted price ie I bought a water pump for my car. Full retail price should be around £40 +vat, TC price was aound £30 +vat. Oil is around £8 a metric gallon plus they usually do a 4 for the price of 3 offer.
Some parts depts need a little persuasion in accepting an ABS card for Trade Club purchases, so check that items you're buying are on the TC list.

I very rarely go to my Vx garage. tend to find most of them a bunch of complete numptys.

ABS gives you a members card with a trade club number on the back which you'd have to quote before the person behind the desk starts their procedings on the paperwork for your order.

When your compressor's weren't working, what was the feel of the rear suspension? Mine on the Elite seems okay but a bit bumpy & rock hard when going over speed bumps. I'm just not sure that it should be like that.