Shocks And Springs

[senna_T]

Hey guys, I've had my car lowered for quite a while now with Pedders springs, these springs are probably the equivalent to Kings SL, since the springs have been in they have sagged, like all springs do, to about SSL height, this has stuffed the factory shocks. My question is, will I have to bring the ride height back up to get good use out of an uprated shock, or can I get the shocks matched to the ride height???

Any suggestions will be appreciated, and no I don't have the 3 grand to spend on TEINs!

Cheers,

Pat

[RAP1D]

Mine was like ours with pedders in it. Ive changed to King comp springs and its a totally different car. Very tight, firm but rides well over bumps. Turn in is waaaaay sharper now, very euro feeling to drive.

[seventytwo]

You should be able to source some short travel shocks.

But to get a falcon to handle, you have to have suspension travel which you bum draging springs are not giving you.

[cobrav8]

You should be able to source some short travel shocks.

But to get a falcon to handle, you have to have suspension travel which you bum draging springs are not giving you.

I disagree - I put larger sway bars on my car - and it improved cornering ability immensely, then added Herrod SSL springs (also made by King) to the rear of the car only which has leveled the ride height out - and handles even better still. I intend to get SL fronts at some stage soon, just to drop it slightly at the front.

AT this stage I have standard shocks, but intend to replace at some stage, probably with Bilsteins.

[senna_T]

Hmmm, I think I'm just going to have to what I was in the first place, inbetween height springs and some shocks, I was really trying to save some cash here, I have a set of standard springs available, but I won't like the standard ride height...

[seventytwo]

I disagree - I put larger sway bars on my car - and it improved cornering ability immensely, then added Herrod SSL springs (also made by King) to the rear of the car only which has leveled the ride height out - and handles even better still. I intend to get SL fronts at some stage soon, just to drop it slightly at the front.

AT this stage I have standard shocks, but intend to replace at some stage, probably with Bilsteins.

Sure the swaybars will make a big difference and the shocks even more so. But what I am talking about is reducing your ride height that much that the suspension bottoms out when you hit a bump and your car is pushed of line.

I believe lowering car helps but there is a point where it has the opposite effect.

I was on a cruise to day with a lowered car, Driving along one of the back roads which while in good condition was quite rough. While my car was able to absorb the bumps easily the lowered car struggled over the heavy stuff.

[blobak]

Were you happy with the ride you have from the pedders springs?? Instead of starting all over again and changing everything. talk to pedders about shorter stroke shocks to match there springs. The valving rates (compression and rebound) of the shocks are matched to the spring rates. Will be alot cheaper than replacing both springs and shocks.

[bugster70]

Hey guys, I've had my car lowered for quite a while now with Pedders springs, these springs are probably the equivalent to Kings SL, since the springs have been in they have sagged, like all springs do, to about SSL height, this has stuffed the factory shocks.

Could you explain what you mean by "stuffed the factory shocks" please, and how do you know? I'm running King Springs SSLs at the rear and running factory shocks, but so far all seems fine?

I also came across an interesting issue when looking into shortened shocks to suit my application. There is a range of 'replacement' (rather than 'sports', such as Koni and Bilstein) shocks by Ultima, and they come in Standard, Lowered (for up to 1.5") and Superlow (2" and over) applications. Now, as per the recommendation in the King Springs catalogue, I am running KFFL-57 springs up front and KFRL-68SSL springs at the rear, to achieve what they call the 'level sill' effect. From memory, this supposedly lowers the front by 10-20mm and the rear by 50-60mm. I know that there is a KFFL-57SL (and I believe even a KFFL-57SSL) spring for the front, but that this was for the AU Falcons and not recommended for the BAs (too low?).

So, based on that, I thought a Lowered (10-20mm falls in the 'up to 1.5" category as far as I'm concerned) set of shocks for the front and a Superlow (50-60mm is certainly over 2") set for the rear would be the go for my car? But the guy selling them reckons it's VERY unusual to order this combination?

Does anybody know more about this? HEAPS of guys here have gone for the King Springs combo I have, but has anyone also looked for shorter bodied shocks to suit, or have those that have gone for aftermarket shocks all gone for the upmarket Koni/Bilstein stuff?

[senna_T]

hey, I eventually changed my springs to the sl/ssl package that most do, this showed me that pedders springs are just crap! my car is now alot more stable and is slightly higher than it was, I will eventually change to koni adjustables for some extra stability.

I think what happened was that the pedders spring rates were too low and the car sagged so that the shocks couldn't do their job properly, with the kings it feels alot better

By "stuffed shocks" I meant no rebound control, so the car would be like a lazy pogo stick!

[TURBO4LT]

Try the Bilstiens with them they work a treat.