SECTION 3 - FRONT SUSPENSION

CAUTION:

This vehicle will be equipped with a Supplemental Restraint System (SRS). A SRS will consist of either

seat belt pre-tensioners and a driver's air bag, seat belt pre-tensioners and a driver's and front

passenger's air b ags or seat belt pre- tensioners, driv er’s and front passenger’s air bag and left and right

hand side air bags. Refer to SAFETY PRECAUTIONS, Section 12M, Supplemental Restraint System

before performing any service operation on, or around any SRS components, the steering mechanism or

wiring. Failure to follow the SAFETY PRECAUTIONS could result in SRS deployment, resulting in

possible personal injury or unnecessary SRS system repairs.

CAUTION:

Whenever any component that forms part of the ABS or ABS/ETC (if fitted), is disturbed during Service

Operations, it is vital that the complete ABS or ABS/ETC system is checked, using the procedure as

detailed in 4. DIAGNOSIS, ABS or ABS/ET C FUNCTION CHECK, in Section 12L ABS & ABS/ET C, in either

VT Series I Service Information (V6) or VT Series II Service Information (GEN III V8

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

Production Option (P.O.) FE2 sports suspension is standard on all VT Series’ police vehicles with P.O. 9C1 and

A8V. P.O. V5W country suspension is also available on vehicles with P.O. 9C1.

Service Operations for these vehicles are as detailed in Section 3 FRONT SUSPENSION of the VT Series I

Service Information and Section 3 – FRONT SUSPENSION upto Production Serial Number L 492505 or

Section 3 – FRONT SUSPENSION from Production Serial Number L 492505 of the VT Series II Service

Information, noting the following:

All police vehicles are fitted with an engine sump guard, which attaches to the front suspension crossmember.

Due to Police unique requirements, there has been some minor specification changes to the front suspension on

these models, nam ely, the front coil springs. Because of this, whenever a Service Operation is perform ed on a VT

Series police vehicle, reference to the specifications in this Section should be made.

1.1 SUSPENSION IDENTIFICATION

To identify the suspension fitted to an individual

vehicle, refer to “SUSP” (1) on the Body, Option

and Identification Plate.

For the location of this plate, refer to

Section 0A GENERAL INFORMATION, of the VT

Series I Service Information or

Section 0A GENERAL INFORMATION, of the VT

Series II Service Information.

Figure 3-1

2. SERVICE OPERATIONS

2.1 ENGINE SUMP GUARD

REMOVE

1. Raise front of vehicle and support on safety

stands, refer to Section 0A GENERAL

INFORMATION of the VT Series I Service

Information for the location of jacking points.

2. Remove the four engine sump guard attaching

bolts (1) and remove engine sump guard (2)

REINSTALL

Installation of the engine s um p guard is the revers e

of the removal procedure, noting the following:

1. Ensure the engine sump guard attaching bolts

are tightened to the correct torque

specification.

ENGINE SUMP GUARD ATTACHING 30 - 35

BOLT TORQUE SPECIFICATION Nm

Figure 3-2

3. SPECIFICATIONS

NOTE: The following specifications are applicable to VT Series Models with Production Options 9C1 and

A8V only.

SUSPENSION

Type MacPherson Wet Strut

Application All VT Models

Travel

Compression

(2/3compression of bumper)

Rebound

V5W

90 mm

110 mm

FE2

80 mm

120 mm

FRONT SPRING SPECIFICATIONS

Models Suspension

Type – P.O. Approximate

No. Coils Approximate

Free Length Inside

Diameter Production

I.D. Code Spring Type &

Rate

3.8 LT V6 & 5.7 LT

GEN III V8 ENGINE FE2 5.25 341 mm 136 ± 1.5mm HJ VARIABLE

24 - 31 N/mm

(3660 ± 110 N

@ 200 mm)

5.0 LT V8 ENGINE

SEDAN

FE2 6.10 365 mm 136 ± 1.5mm AB VARIABLE

24 - 31 N/mm

(3600 ± 110 N

@ 220 mm)

5.0 LT V8 ENGINE

WAGON

FE2 5.74 351 mm 136 ± 1.5mm HK VARIABLE

27 - 35 N/mm

3850 ± 110 N

@ 209 mm)

3.8 LT V6 & 5.7 LT

GEN III V8 ENGINE. V5W 6.05 444 mm 136 ± 1.5mm HN VARIABLE

19 - 23 N/mm

(3700 ± 110 N

@ 210 mm)

5.0 LT V8 ENGINE

V5W 6.12 376 mm 136 ± 1.5mm HS VARIABLE

24 - 31 N/mm

(3660 ± 110 N

@ 230 mm)

Legend

1. Production identification code tag

Figure 3-3

STABILIZER BAR (FRONT)

Type ................................................................................ Decoupled

Stabilizer Bar Identification

Model Diameter I.D. Code

Sedan with P.O. FE2 27.0 mm GH

Wagon with P.O. FE2 26.0 mm GE

Sedan & Wagon with P.O. V5W 26.0 mm GE

Legend

1. Production Identification Code Tag

2. Stabilizer Bar Diameter

Figure 3-4

FRONT STRUT

Type ................................................................................ Wet strut – non-serviceable

Piston Diameter............................................................... 30 mm

Front Strut Identification

Suspension and Application Right Hand Side Left Hand Side

SPORTS SUSPENSION (FE2) –

SEDAN AND WAGON RT LT

COUNTRY PACK SUSPENSION –

SEDAN AND WAGON RU LU

CONTROL ARM

Type ................................................................................ Forged with rubber bushes for attachment to front

crossmember and tension rod. Ball joint is a press fit

into the control arm.

FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS

Type ................................................................................ Double row ball bearing

Lubricant ......................................................................... Sealed for life: non-adjustable

WHEEL ALIGNMENT

Refer to Section 3 – FRONT SUSPENSION upto Production Serial Number L 492505 or

Section 3 – FRONT SUSPENSION from Production Serial Number L 492505 of the VT Series II Service

Information for the complete details for checking and adjusting, including specifications, the front end alignment.

SUSPENSION A ND TRIM HEIGHT SPECIFICATIONS - VT SERIES POLICE VEHICLES - P.O. 9C1 AND A8V

Figure 3-5

1. Wheelbase: Sedan 2798mm

Wagon 2935mm

2. Reference Point: All Models 584.5mm

3. Trim Height Spacing: Sedan 1615mm

Wagon 1765mm

4. Ground Line

A Front Suspension Height

B Rear Suspension Height

C Trim Height Checking Locations

Figure 3-6

Rear Trim Height Checking Location (Front Similar)

Figure 3-7

Front and Rear Suspension Height Checking Location

1. Door 2. Trim 3. Ground Line

‘A’ Trim Height 1. Wheel Rim 2. Fender Opening

‘A’ Suspension Height

NOTE: The following suspensi on/trim height dimensions ar e intended for refe rence and ar e intended to be

a guide only (Refer to Section 3 – FRONT SUSPENSION upto Production Serial Number L 492505 or

Section 3 – FRONT SUSPENSION from Production Serial Number L 492505 of the VT Series II Service

Information for the correct procedure on checking the suspension and trim heights).

VT SERIES I WITH FE2 SUSPENSION

SUSPENSION HEIGHT (MM) TRIM HEIGHT (MM)

VEHICLE ENGINE TRANSMISSION

FRONT REAR FRONT REAR

Executive Sedan 3.8 lt V6 Automatic /

Manual 599 586 175 186

Executive Wagon 3.8 lt V6 Automatic /

Manual 599 580 177 195

Executive Sedan 5.0 lt V8 Automatic /

Manual 578 554 177 190

SS Sedan 5.0 lt V8 Automatic /

Manual 608 608 182 194

VT SERIES I WITH V5W SUSPENSION

SUSPENSION HEIGHT TRIM HEIGHT

VEHICLE ENGINE TRANSMISSION

FRONT REAR FRONT REAR

Executive Sedan 3.8 lt V6 Automatic /

Manual 603 592 194 204

Executive Wagon 3.8 lt V6 Automatic /

Manual 611 582 206 219

VT SERIES II WITH FE2 SUSPENSION

SUSPENSION HEIGHT TRIM HEIGHT

VEHICLE ENGINE TRANSMISSION

FRONT REAR FRONT REAR

Executive Sedan 3.8 lt V6 Automatic /

Manual 595 587 170 185

Executive Wagon 3.8 lt V6 Automatic /

Manual 599 580 177 195

Executive Sedan 5.7 lt V8 GEN III Automatic /

Manual 585 585 174 191

SS Sedan 5.7 lt V8 GEN III Automatic /

Manual 570 575 171 192

VT SERIES II WITH V5W SUSPENSION

SUSPENSION HEIGHT TRIM HEIGHT

VEHICLE ENGINE TRANSMISSION

FRONT REAR FRONT REAR

Executive Sedan 3.8 lt V6 Automatic /

Manual 610 596 200 209

Executive Wagon 3.8 lt V6 Automatic /

Manual 611 582 206 219