VZ SS Thunder Suspension info

[Evilteddy]

Hey guys, just after some solid info on the front suspension of a 2006 VZ SS Thunder ute. Are they the same as the sedan ?
I know the rears are different, just wanting info on the fronts.

How hard/expensive are the strut top bushes to replace?
Is it worthwhile just changing the struts over? It's just a daily car so unsure if i want to fork out for front coilovers... yet.

[RELEASE]

same as sedan, strut top bushes are cheap but labour is the costly part because you have to remove struts, etc.
while the struts are out is a good chance to put a strut brace on if you want as you need to remove it to put the bolts through. some came with the bolts already through, some came with a factory strut brace

what are you trying to achieve or what's broken that you want to replace struts, bushes, etc?

[Steve]

Yes, same as Sedan. Its not too hard a job if you've got the right tools, just time consuming.
Could always get a quote from WA Suspension etc..
But if you've got stuff apart, do the front castor rod bushes in the Kframe as they're always shit too..
I went for the Superpro strut top and front castor rod bushes.
You'll need spring compressors though..


same as sedan, strut top bushes are cheap but labour is the costly part because you have to remove struts, etc.
while the struts are out is a good chance to put a strut brace on if you want as you need to remove it to put the bolts through. some came with the bolts already through, some came with a factory strut brace



VZ Thunder has factory strut brace. ;)

[Evilteddy]

Been hearing some noises/knocking sounds for the last couple of weeks. Had a gander over the long weekend and made sure everything was tight and no visible signs of bushes being fucked.
Figure the shocks might be at the end of their life, car has done ~210,000km.

Are these bushes something i can do with the car up on axel stands? Do they need to be pressed in? Can i just drop the strut without too much hassle, or does the spring need to be compressed?

Cheers for the help guys, it's appreciated!

[Steve]

Yeah you can drop the strut out, but will need spring compressors afterwards to get the top bush off.
I think there was even a 'how to tutorial' on ls1.com.au forums for those strut bushes...

Actually..
http://www.nolathane.com.au/install_guides/50-4019A.pdf
http://www.nolathane.com.au/install_guides/Z5064.pdf


edit: I dont like Nolathane......

[RELEASE]

a common knock at the front for the commodores is the sway bar link pin bush kit. they are think rods and bushes are average.
I've always replaced then with the superpro kit.
https://automotivesuperstore.com.au/superpro-spf0987k?gclid=Cj0KEQjwnIm7BRDSs42KxLS8-6YBEiQAfDWP6MLJi7Rc3u0JziOqa5-1amsLy7ZXJ5SMKgWdItA7FP0aAmcZ8P8HAQ

I'm pretty sure you can change strut top bushes with car on axel stands and the spring stays on the strut but its been a long time since I played with pre VE commodores and most of the time WA Suspensions did the work

if shocks are shot then you might have a better/cheaper chance of finding some VY/VZ HSV complete front struts second hand with low km.

[jaba]

As above sway bar links are a common cause of knocking. All bushes in the front of these cars can be replaced easily. Only the LCAs need to be pressed out. Everything else is easy enough with basic tools.

[200MPH]

Just refurbished the front end of my VZ SV8:

I removed struts and lower control arms myself, then gave them to Wilkinsons.

Cost me about $250 for them to supply and fit new poly inner and radius rod bushes to LCA's, R & R balljoints (I got a pair of GM ones from ebay for $39 previously), and change out strut top mounts (one of my bearings was 'crunchy'). Car already had nolathane radius rod to Kframe bushes in good condition, so left them alone.

So for around $300 or so drives like a new one - still pretty average of course, but a lot better and much smoother steering with new strut top bearings - they are a limited life item according to Wilkinsons.

[Steve]

Actually, seeing as this is your daily, I'd just use rubber bushes for the strut top mounts, not Superpro / Poly etc
Poly gives too much road feedback and noise, and TBH I'm actually thinking of pulling mine out again and replacing them with rubber..

[Steve]

I just got a quote from WA Suspension for the strut tops..
Good quality rubber bushes with bearings - $120
Superpro bushes with bearings - $220

[Evilteddy]

I just got a quote from WA Suspension for the strut tops..
Good quality rubber bushes with bearings - $120
Superpro bushes with bearings - $220

I take it that's just parts, not fitting as well?

Got the car up on stands again yesterday, both sides strut top bearings are shot, definitely where the noises have been coming from.

[Steve]

Yeah, just parts mate

[Steve]

Did mine today, didnt take long at all. Had to stop to go buy new bump stop/boot kits, because both boots were fucked and one of the bump stops was looking average.
Just need to take it in for a wheel alignment.

[Evilteddy]

Did mine today, didnt take long at all. Had to stop to go buy new bump stop/boot kits, because both boots were fucked and one of the bump stops was looking average.
Just need to take it in for a wheel alignment.

Did you get the bump stop/boot kit from WA Suspensions as well? or somewhere else? I take, it would be worthwhile replacing them if i do the job sometime soon.

[Steve]

Yeah also from WA Suspension..

[Evilteddy]

How did you get the top nut off? The one inside the engine bay? Thats where im having trouble at the moment. :(

[jaba]

Should be able to crack it with everything still bolted together and car on the ground. OR as long as the strut can't spin it should just undo.

[Evilteddy]

Finally got it undone, but at the cost of the smaller hex part of the strut at the top. Had to hammer a 9mm socket onto that to be able to get any leverage onto it, the strut just spun otherwise.

[S133LTR]

Don't use poly strut top bushes unless you enjoy changing them frequently.

They don't stand up well to heavy commos and low profile rubber, they collapse and shit the plastic bearing race in them.

[Steve]

Finally got it undone, but at the cost of the smaller hex part of the strut at the top. Had to hammer a 9mm socket onto that to be able to get any leverage onto it, the strut just spun otherwise.

Too late now, but I loosened everything while the car was still sitting on its wheels.
Final tightening again when car is back down on its wheels.


Don't use poly strut top bushes unless you enjoy changing them frequently.

They don't stand up well to heavy commos and low profile rubber, they collapse and shit the plastic bearing race in them.
Yep, what I just noticed removing my Superpro bushes. Bearings were shot too.

[Evilteddy]

Thanks for all your help guys, ended up taking the struts into WA Suspensions as they said they'd replace the bushes and bearings for cheap so i didn't have to find spring compressors.

Turns out both struts were bent and they replaced them for $240ea with new bushes and bearings. No noises now, but i think i'm going to have to replace all the bushes and links after tax time, just to have better piece of mind.