REAR END LOWERING - A cheaters guide

nothin suss · 01-11-2006, 10:07 PM

Hey guys/girls...

Ages ago i decided my car was not low enough so i modded the rear suspension to gain a little more travel. I could have purchased shortened shocks but i like making stuff so i went for this method using standard ones.

Basically i got the original 'top hat' bits that the rear shock bolts to inside the car and another from the wreckers for $5 and i started chopping.

Below are some pics of what i done. I chopped the top off one and the bottom off another and welded them back together (resulting in raising the bump stop height by about an inch)

Then i chopped the bump stop at centermetre increments over the next few weeks to 'fine tune' the suspension to a height where i could have a bit of load, be real low but still keep the tailshaft from contacting the floor.

I also had to heat up my exhaust and make it shape up a bit higher to clear the diff movement and brought the mid muffler up closer to the floor. Those tow hang/hook things in front of the diff hit stuff every now and then which is pretty funny. They will eventually wear away i guess?

Before chop

After chop

Disclaimer:
I take no responsibility for this information and the effects it will have on your vehicle/insurance/roadworthiness
I have conducted this experiment under controlled conditions to an unregistered paddock bomb ;)

XR_Lightning · 01-11-2006, 10:10 PM

man thats ****ing dodgy, doesnt look to safe

EBFalcs · 01-11-2006, 10:13 PM

why is one pic blue and the other red

Walkinshaw · 01-11-2006, 10:14 PM

Why not run new longer studs and a solid spacer plate?

Aaron_EF8 · 01-11-2006, 10:16 PM

If you saw how cars were made, you would say they were unsafe too. Nothing wrong with the idea, or the weld at all. In theory, it is insurance and defect safe as well, because the springs are still the same length as standard.

montyv8 · 01-11-2006, 10:17 PM

this way is quicker and easier to at home Walki.

and if the welds are good, its as safe as a standard mount.

and the idea has been around since XE's were released ;)

nothin suss · 01-11-2006, 10:19 PM

It has all been professionally mig welded and has lasted nearly 2 years so far and no dramas. I have towed loads intertsate and also been to sydney with 4 people with gear. If you think about it nothing will happen seriously if it breaks (no way it will anyways)... Its only a bump stop limit, worse comes to worse the tailshaft or diff will bottom out on the chassis and wont go any further.

As for the other question, the green is my current car obviously and the red is my car im wrecking...

DNKPWR · 02-11-2006, 12:06 AM

Guys and girls...dont try this at HOME!! lol

02-11-2006, 12:10 AM

thats how mine were modified as well and they came of a 88 EA SVO!!! mick webb had them modified and there is no sign of cracking on mine. i dont think its dodgy at all and there isnt alot of pressure on those towers its basicly there to just hold the shock in place.

DNKPWR · 02-11-2006, 12:16 AM

Wouldnt just be easier just to buy shorten rear shocks!!

ScoopED · 02-11-2006, 01:01 AM

Interesting Idea....

Though, If I were doing this, I would prob use a spacer plate like Walkinshaw suggested.

As for legality....

Queensland Transport says:

"The welding, chrome plating, heating or bending of axles, suspension or steering components, as a method of repair or alteration, is not permitted"

Mike

nothin suss · 02-11-2006, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Disclaimer:
I take no responsibility for this information and the effects it will have on your vehicle/insurance/roadworthiness
I have conducted this experiment under controlled conditions to an unregistered paddock bomb ;)

I guess this is why i popped this disclaimer in... Do not try this at home kiddies! he he he. Obviously it has worked for alot of people on here but as far as legality in all states i dont know :( Im sure 50% of people here are running about with more defective/dangerous mods than this.

Each to their own hey guys?

nothin suss · 02-11-2006, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dunky13

Wouldnt just be easier just to buy shorten rear shocks!!

Probably would be easier yes, but this cost $5

OED666 · 02-11-2006, 10:52 AM

you should get a few made up and sell them... i would buy a pair today. i want to extend the length of my shock travel since i have recently fitted ultra lows.

the main thing is to get the correct angle for the shock. something i have thought of doing for sometime now.

eb91xr6 · 02-11-2006, 11:44 AM

couldnt you just use a few washers and some no more gapes and it would do the same thing

DEVL-XR · 02-11-2006, 11:54 AM

yeh it'd proberly be easier to just get a big think plate of metal and get the correct holes in it and place it under the hat thing and bolt it back on! no welding there! the hardest part would be getting the holes in such thick metal. unless you used a few pieces of thinner stuff.

OED666 · 02-11-2006, 12:02 PM

you really need about 20mm to make much of a difference. the thread on the bolts isnt long enough just to stick some washers in, plus i wouldnt do that.

nothin suss · 02-11-2006, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OED666

you should get a few made up and sell them... i would buy a pair today. i want to extend the length of my shock travel since i have recently fitted ultra lows.

the main thing is to get the correct angle for the shock. something i have thought of doing for sometime now.

I could make some up, i got a welder and all but CBF to be honest. I cant ask $50 for them so its not really worth dicking around really?

As for washers and spacer plates, yeh that would work but as mentioned the thread is only so long which is an issue. It is nice to extend it by an inch at least to make it worth it. Im putting some newly aquired 17's on my car this afternoon so should look cool. hopefully have half tyre in guard!

OED666 · 02-11-2006, 02:58 PM

i'll pay ya $50 for them!!!

nothin suss · 02-11-2006, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OED666

i'll pay ya $50 for them!!!

Damn, should have said $100.........

Bascially if you have a hacksaw and know someone with a welder youre done!

Walkinshaw · 02-11-2006, 04:59 PM

This method is also used on the front of X-series 'coons.

Engineering wise there is NOT a thing wrong with whats done here. Well done champ.

OED666 · 02-11-2006, 06:03 PM

$50 then... hehe... send me your bank details... :P how much taller is it than the original...

1TUFFUTE · 02-11-2006, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eb91xr6

couldnt you just use a few washers and some no more gapes and it would do the same thing

its NO MORE CANYONS to us tradies :sm_headba :hihi:
(no more gaps)

1TUFFUTE · 02-11-2006, 06:44 PM

its a standard thread count u can just buy some connector nuts an some rod then u can pack it with washers as much as you want according to how long u make the rod

nothin suss · 02-11-2006, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1TUFFUTE

its a standard thread count u can just buy some connector nuts an some rod then u can pack it with washers as much as you want according to how long u make the rod

Hmmm... Thats not a bad idea either. An inch or a little more is about as far as you really need to go to ensure you can still run at least half a bump stop and still carry a load (and not have the tailshaft wear thru the floor!, damn one piece tail-shafts, *saying whilst waving fists at commodore drivers)

Oh well, perhaps some floor mods next ;) ??

Damo · 02-11-2006, 08:14 PM

i would deffinately pay for a pair of these.

kyro_02 · 02-11-2006, 09:38 PM

dude great idea... however it might look better in person, but to me by lookin at pic, it looks like it was hacked together by some adhd :P

nothin suss · 02-11-2006, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyro_02

dude great idea... however it might look better in person, but to me by lookin at pic, it looks like it was hacked together by some adhd :P

Might just look a bit rough coz there is heaps of penetration in the weld and its shiny. He He penetration..... sorry.

sphell · 02-11-2006, 11:34 PM

where's the pics? not working for me :(

OED666 · 03-11-2006, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nothin suss

Hmmm... Thats not a bad idea either. An inch or a little more is about as far as you really need to go to ensure you can still run at least half a bump stop and still carry a load (and not have the tailshaft wear thru the floor!, damn one piece tail-shafts, *saying whilst waving fists at commodore drivers)

Oh well, perhaps some floor mods next ;) ??

this is what my floor was like with superlows. the tailshaft was even hitting with lows...

no more probs anymore...