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Lowering the EF 

 

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 Post subject: Lowering the EF
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2015 4:49 pm 
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Hi everybody

I have an EF Fairmont which is lowered. I also have an EF Falcon, which is not. Can I just swap the shocks from the Fairmont into the Falcon to lower it, or do I have to worry about camber bolts and things?
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 Post subject: Re: Lowering the EF
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2015 6:08 pm 
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Is it on Lows or superlows?

All parts are interchangeable with Fairmont and Falcon.
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 Post subject: Re: Lowering the EF
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2015 6:11 pm 
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Not sure - was lowered before I acquired it, I think it's only on lows, as even though it seems very low to me, I am assured by boy-racer type people that it is still not very low :lol:

Attachment:
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 Post subject: Re: Lowering the EF
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2015 7:21 pm 
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Looks like lows in the pic.

You should be able to change everything over with no issues.

Factory camber kit should be able to handle the adjustments needed in the wheel alignment.
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 Post subject: Re: Lowering the EF
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2015 8:12 pm 
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Sweet, cheers. So just the shocks that need to be swapped then?
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 Post subject: Re: Lowering the EF
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2015 8:59 pm 
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5h4dy wrote:
Sweet, cheers. So just the shocks that need to be swapped then?



and springs
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 Post subject: Re: Lowering the EF
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2015 9:11 pm 
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Yes, which will be attached to the shocks
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 Post subject: Re: Lowering the EF
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 1:19 pm 
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Ok, so it does seem an easy job - however, I notice that with both vehicles on stands and the rear shocks / springs removed, there is more of a space between the upper and lower spring locations on the car that wasn't lowered, than there is on the car that was.

Now I assume this would be due to one sitting on stiffer springs all these years, but my question is do I have to loosen off a control arm somewhere with the car raised, and then tighten it once it's off the stands, or do I just leave it alone and let it self adjust as it sits on the new springs?
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 Post subject: Re: Lowering the EF
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 4:03 pm 
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Also, when it comes to the fronts, there appear to be a whole stack of shims between the body of the car and the upper control arm - I assume these are camber things and that I will need to swap them into the other car?
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 Post subject: Re: Lowering the EF
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 2:10 pm 
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Fit the same shims that came from the doner car, this should give you an approx alignment, then get a proper wheel alignment done ASAP.

You will be suprised how quickly you will chop out tyres with a bad alignment.
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 Post subject: Re: Lowering the EF
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 7:16 pm 
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Is it normal that there would be so many shims, especially on just lows? The car at standard height has no shims, and the lowered one has about 6 per bolt on each side, so it's spaced out about 12mm - that's what concerns me, it seems excessive
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 Post subject: Re: Lowering the EF
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 7:35 pm 
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And when you use Superlows there usually is not enough bolt length to add the required shims to get it right which is why you need a camber kit.

All cars (same model) vary slightly from each other which is why there are different thickness shims.

You WILL still need a wheel alignment after you do the springs.
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 Post subject: Re: Lowering the EF
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 7:37 pm 
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5h4dy wrote:
Ok, so it does seem an easy job - however, I notice that with both vehicles on stands and the rear shocks / springs removed, there is more of a space between the upper and lower spring locations on the car that wasn't lowered, than there is on the car that was.

Now I assume this would be due to one sitting on stiffer springs all these years, but my question is do I have to loosen off a control arm somewhere with the car raised, and then tighten it once it's off the stands, or do I just leave it alone and let it self adjust as it sits on the new springs?


Don't worry about it. They will settle after a short drive.
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 Post subject: Re: Lowering the EF
Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 6:46 pm 
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Thanks mate, I'll take her in for an alignment when I get a day off work
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 Post subject: Re: Lowering the EF
Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2016 2:07 pm 
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SWC wrote:
Fit the same shims that came from the doner car, this should give you an approx alignment, then get a proper wheel alignment done ASAP.

You will be suprised how quickly you will chop out tyres with a bad alignment.


I didn't end up putting any shims in when I swapped the shocks over, seemed far too many in the donor car, so I just left it.

Had some time this afternoon, so took her in for an alignment, and the camber was fine without them. Toe-in was a fair way out, so they fixed that, and apparently it's all good to go.
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