Hey guys. I was getting a tyre fitted at kmart the other day, and they mentioned to me that the left CV boot is leaking, and that there is excessive play in bearings and shafts. Also, the car is bottoming out in the smallest of dips and bumps, front left is hitting the bump stop farrrr too easily. Now it has the original shocks and springs, so they are 12 years old now and really starting to show their age.

I would like to look at a better performing suspension setup, what would you reccomend, and how much am i looking at for the parts and fitting? Car is a 95 Magna V6 Advance sedan.

oh and i would like it lower too, its sits too high on the 16's!

On my old KR, I had KYB struts and shocks, standard height King Springs, a Noltec enhancement kit, and new bump stops. I never ever got that thing to bottom out.

You could fit a set of King or Lovell low springs, which give about 25mm less ride height, KYB struts for about $1000. That's pretty generous though, if you shop around, you'll definetely get it for less.

Your wheel bearings are a different story though; they're probably shot and need replacing if you've got noticable freeplay. I think it cost me about $140 to get new bearings and seals pressed in at my local mechanic.

was that price for all 4 wheel bearings?

Just the front pair. I got the bearings and seals from Mitsubishi, and took the hubs down to my mechanic to press them in.

Note that Phillcom have a special going at the moment that has all four struts and springs, lowered, for like $700 delivered...

who is phillcom?

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49579

whoa that sounds like a great deal!! What is the ride quality like on Superlows? is there much difference between those and just Lows?

How much am i looking at getting them fitted at a mechanics?

I did the rear suspension myself, since it was a wagon it was dead easy, but the fronts cost me $250 in labour.

Mine used to bottom out a lot with original front struts, picked up a fairly new set of Monroe GT Gas struts and standard springs that I had spied on a Magna at (you guessed it) the local wreckers, costing about $80 for the pair.
Got a mate to install them, both fronts were out and in in under an hour. Pretty easy job, especially if you have the right tools (mate has professional air tools).
I can actually get air coils cheaper than standard springs, so that's probably how I'm heading for lowering, just gotta sort out the conversion of the macpherson strut in such a way that it is totally legal.

I did Monroe Gt's, Kings lows and new bump stops all round when i first got my magna. Can't remember exactly how much but it was around $500 for the parts (trade price). Installation and alligment was free. (Gota love having one friend who's a mechanic and another who works at a beaurepairs).

This setup with a whitline strut brace makes for a very nice ride. Definitley better than the superlow springs and stuffed original shocks that the car originally had.

Now it has the original shocks and springs, so they are 12 years old now and really starting to show their age.



Haha, they say that shocks are supposed to last 'up to' 60,000k's even if they're rated higher.

I shelled over about $500 (I think) for my KYB Exel's and I don't want to be paying that much in 3 years.

my shocks have just completely become useless, ive been bouncing around and bottoming out everywhere. lookin at phillcoms setup when i got the cash