Holden - Commodore - Workshop Manual - 2006 - 2006 (4)

Product Update Update No: 0802 Holden Commodore VE Nolathane complete overview of products to suits the Commodore VE. Holden’s “Billion Dollar Baby” overall is a fantastic new design from the earlier model and suspension platform. Although with the wide customer demographic, it comes with some compromises from vehicle handling dynamics to component quality. This is good news for an enthusiast as there is a lot of potential for improvements on top of good underpinnings. The high ride height, high roll angle, soft springs and shocks make for a very comfortable ride, however, being a large family sedan, this is fine for driving to the shops, but inappropriate for any kind of spirited driving. Steering feedback feels very suppressed via hydraulic radius rod bushes and voided rear cross member bushes, and the car in general feels heavily insulated. When driving at moderate speeds on twisty roads, there is a long delay between steering input and the time when the car reacts, which is out of sync with the driver and the road. The combination of soft cross-member bushings, poor dampening and low roll resistance in the rear adds to the very sloppy ride, resulting in uncontrolled cyclic roll and pitch motions. Although the completely new design does bring some welcomed improvements, particularly to the front end, it is not without its problems. The longer wheelbase and wide track gives a much better weight distribution with smaller over-hangs, which noticeably improves turn-in and directional change compared to previous models. As a result of the new front suspension geometry, it feels as though the front end has crisper turn-in and high stability, if not even to the point of over-sensitive steering that was out of tune with the sloppy and uncontrolled rear end. Nolathane’s Solutions Nolathane Swaybars The best bang for your buck and biggest improvements to the handling on the VE Commodore is by fitting front and rear Nolathane swaybars to the vehicle. Adjustable versions for the front and rear are recommended as this allows each driver to quickly and easily change the under/over-steer balance. By stabilising excessive body roll and suspension movement, cornering loads are spread more evenly across the tyres. Comfort improves because your car sits flatter through bends, so a Nolathane swaybar will make your suspension system deliver more grip, improved tyre wear as your tyres stay flatter and more upright, making the car more responsive, while delivering more grip without reducing comfort. Nolathane’s polished alloy front strut brace 44468 does more than just look pretty. Like previous versions of the Commodore, it helps on the VE just as much, by tying together the front-end and reducing any unwanted chassis flex. Essential Front Kits Nolathane’s low compliance bushings are available for all mounting points and improve the handling and responsiveness of the vehicle. Nolathane’s caster lock washer kit 45572 positively locks the vehicles caster to a more desired setting. Nolathane have in development a solution for further camber adjustment, with front camber using factory adjustment is limited to approximately –1.75 deg. 45572 caster lock washers Inner Control Arm Mounting Slots which allows slippage and caster setting changes. Nolathane 45572 kits prevents this movement. Essential Rear Kits High compliance bushings used throughout the car, and in particular the rear cross-member to chassis mounts, made the car very dull and unresponsive. This was addressed by installing Nolathane 49169, rear cross-member urethane inserts. These inserts fit into the voiding of the original bush which greatly reduces the disconnection between the rear suspension and the chassis without any noticeable detrimental effect to comfort. Nolathane kit 49169 fits into the original bush voiding to remove unwanted and uncontrolled movement Nolathane kit 49169 being fitted to the original rear cross member bushings Continued on reverse Product Update Update No: 0803 Cont. VE Commodore Nolathane’s complete range of products to suit the VE Commodore (continued) The rear toe adjustable arm chassis’ mounting point is located inside a long horizontal slot, to the extent of 14mm lateral movement. Moving this point effects the bump steer, so it is critical that it is positively located and in the desired position. This was achieved by fitting Nolathane’s rear bump-steer correction kit 46268, utilising specially designed locating washers to positively lock the rear toe settings. Due to the above modifications putting extra load on the suspension pivots, critical areas such as front lower control arm and radius rod bushing were upgraded using new low compliance polyurethane replacements. But again, a lot of emphasis was put on retaining factory comfort level and articulation characteristics. Rear anti-squat bushes may also be an area for improvement, with initial measurements already conducted but further testing on our latest designs required before this part becomes available. Commodore VE incl Ute & HSV 8/06-on 6/8cyl F Control arm - front lower inner 45560 1 F Control arm - rear lower inner 45561 1 F Control arm - caster lock washers 45572 1 F Steeri ng - rack & pinion mo unt 41112 1 F Strut - brace 44468 1 F Strut - mount s tandard 44018 1 F Strut - mount s tandard 44019 1 F Sway bar - heavy duty NHF62 1 F Sway bar - heavy duty blade adjus table NHF62Z 1 F Sway bar - link kit 42716 1 F Sway bar - link kit 42790 1 F Sway bar - mount 23mm 42508 1 F Sway bar - mount 26mm 42554 1 R Control arm - lower inner 46264 1 R Control arm - lower outer 46266 1 R Control arm - upper inner rear 46263 1 R Cross me mber - front mount 49165 1 R Cross me mber - rear mount 49166 1 R Cross me mber - mount ins ert 49169 1 R Diff - mo unt 49167 1 R Shock abs orber - lower 43106 1 R Sway bar - heavyduty NHR82 1 R Sway bar - X heavy duty NHR82X 1 R Sway bar - heavy duty blade adjus table NHR82Z 1 R Sway bar - X heavy duty blade adjus table NHR82XZ 1 R Sway bar - link kit 42707 1 R Sway bar - link kit 42790 1 R Sway bar - mount 14mm 42510 1 R Sway bar - mount 16mm 42509 1 R Sway bar - mount 18mm 42511 1 R Sway bar - mount 20mm 42555 1 R Sway bar - mount 22mm 42556 1 R Toe li nk - inner 46267 1 R Toe li nk - inner lock washers 46268 1 R Trai li ng arm - front 46265 1 R Trai li ng arm - rear 46266 1 2 4 4 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 4 2 4 2 8 6 4 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 4 4 2 4 F or R Description Nolathane Part # Veh K i t K i t s Req # i n Pac k Please find below a full listing for all Nolathane parts to suit VE Commodore Comments Notes Radius arm to chass is Essential Positively corrects & locks vehicles caster via offset lock washers Essential Adjustable polis hed alloy - requires drilling for fitment Re - us e original bearings Contains new bearings 26mm 26mm Heavy duty vehicle s pecific ball / ball s tyle s way bar link Heavy duty universal ball / ball s tyle li nk mu s t cut to 300mm It works Important Suits Nolathane NHF62 & NHF62Z s way bars - replacement kit Important Contains ins erts that ins tall into original front & rear bus hes - reduces axle tramp 20mm 22mm 20mm 22mm Vehicle s pecific ball / ball s tyle s way bar li nk Heavy duty universal ball / ball s tyle li nk mu s t cut to 108mm Essential Important Suits Nolathane NHR82 & NHR82Z s way bars - replacement kit Suits Nolathane NHR82X & NHR82XZ s way bars - replacement kit Bump s teer correction kit via offset washers Essential Nolathane’s VE Commodore being put through it's paces during one of its many testing days to develop all of the above parts and collecting research data, to ensure all parts are street, track, & race proven. Part of a total handling system. Designed to integrate and offer a fully balanced handling solution, Nolathane suspension offers bushes, sway bars & alignment products. So for a catalogue, brochure or technical information on the new VE range or any of the Nolathane product contact the Redranger team on 1300 882355 or visit www.nolathane.com.au NOLATHANE 4 Warringah Close Somersby, NSW 2250 Ph (02) 4340 2355 Fax (02) 4340 2466 ABN 99 124 177 297 TECHNICAL HOTLINE Phone: Australia 1300 88 2355 New Zealand 0800 880 189 Email: [email protected] Fax: Australia (02) 4340 2466 New Zealand +61 2 4340 2466 For fitment, applications, sizes and cross reference information. www.nolathane.com.au