Welcome back to the VXOC FORUM.
Sorry for our lack of support over the last year but MYBB is back and so are we.
Let's get the forum buzzing again... (March 25, 2022)x
So when fitting my new drls from lush lighting city, I've dropped an old bulb into the lighT!! Then I got a plastic stick and put blutack on it then dropped that in the light!!!!! Is there anyway to get the light out without taking the bumper off?? Or just gettin the stuff out??
Not going to fit the load resistors just yet as the car is going to the garage for warranty work so don't want them to be questioning it.
A quick how-to for fitting lowering springs to a GTC/VXR. These cars are fitted with the same suspension set-up as the Insignia VXR known as the Hi-Per Strut
Tools required
Trolley jack
Axle stand
E20 socket
T30, T40, T50 torx
8mm, 18mm, 19mm, 21mm, 24mm, 32mm sockets, through socket is best for the strut upper mount fixing
Locking wheel nut key
18mm, 21mm spanner
Hub puller
Ratchet
Breaker bar
Soft face hammer
Torque wrench
Spring Compressors
Remove the wheel centre cap and hub nut cover.
Using a breaker bar and a 32mm socket loosen off the hub nut, it's easier to do it with the car still on the ground make sure handbrake is on and place in gear to help prevent the hub rotating.
Loosen off the wheel nuts.
Jack up the vehicle on the chassis box section
Support the vehicle under the front chassis rail so not to interfere with the lower control arm. Remove the wheel, you can then remove the trolley jack
Unclip the brake hose from these brackets
Remove the the electrical connector from the suspension leg, then disconnect the electrical connectors by twisting the black housing and pulling out the connectors
Undo the caliper to hub bolts using a E20 socket and remove the caliper complete and either support it with heavy duty wire or place it on the floor as not to stress the brake hose.
Remove the Disc screw T30 screw and remove the disc
Remove the hub nut with 32mm socket
Remove the drop link by using a 18mm socket/spanner and T40 socket. Using the trolley jack support the strut weight enough to allow the droplink to be removed from the strut
Using 18mm socket/spanner and 8mmspanner/socket remove the Tierod nut, then using a soft face hammer tap out the ball joint
Using 21mm socket and 21mm spanner remove the lower control arm bolt and nut, caution should be taken as when the bolt is fully removed the control arm will drop
Remove the outer most plastic clip holding the scuttle panel down. Then using a 24mm spanner and T50 socket loosen off the strut upper mount, it might help if you supported the strut with the trolley jack
Hi-per strut removed
Comparison between standard and lowering springs
Crack off the upper strut bearing nut using 24mm spanner and T50 socket. Using spring compressors compress the old spring to enable the removal of the upper strut bearing. Swap everything over and rebuild everything in reverse order of above using new bolts and nuts as listed above.
If your changing the shock remove the single pinch bolt and nut that holds the brake pipe/electrical connector bracket then slide the chock out from the rest of the strut
The torque settings are as follows
Shock pinch bolt/nut 70Nm (52 lbft)
Strut shaft nut 70Nm (52 lbft)
Upper strut mount nut 45Nm (33 lbft)
Lower control arm bolt/nut 115Nm (85lbft) then 120°-135°)
Tie rod nut 35Nm (26 lbft) then 30°
Hub nut 150Nm (111 lbft) loosen by 45° then retighten to 250Nm (185 lbft)
Drop link nut 65Nm (48 lbft)
Disc screw 9Nm (7 lbft)
Caliper bolts 150Nm (111 lbft) then 45-60°
Wheel nuts 140Nm (103 lb ft)
Front springs fitted
Hope this helps any other GTC/VXR owner. I'm happy to help out seeing as I've now completed it myself
This is a how-to for fitting rear springs to a GTC the 5dr will be similar
Tools required
Trolley Jack
Qty 2 Axle stands
Locking wheel nut key
19mm socket
21mm Socket
Breaker Bar
Ratchet
Torque Wrench
New lower shock bolt part no. 11610587
Start by loosening off the wheel nuts on both rear wheels using the 19mm socket and locking wheel nut key
Jack up the rear of the car from the centre of the rear axle
Then support each side with axle stands on the chassis rail and lower the trolley jack enough for the weight to be transferred to the axle stands
Remove both rear wheels
Loosen and remove both the lower shock bolts these are 21mm
Lower the trolley jack completely so that the rear axle is free to move
Remove both rear springs by pushing the lower seat fully down to allow the springs to be removed
Swap over both the rubber insulators
This is a comparison between the springs(the middle one was incorrectly sent) the lowering springs look longer as they have a helper spring to prevent them falling out when suspension is fully extended
Raise the rear axle enough to reinstall the lower shock bolts and torque them to 150 Nm(111 lbft) + 60°
Refit the wheels then jack up to enable the axle stands to be removed. Lower the vehicle and torque the wheel nuts to 140 Nm (100 lb ft).