So why are Super Struts so great?, This just occured to me... Options

[saleeka]

Hopefully someone with knowlege about suspentions and superstruts can help answer this, so here goes-

So the 6th gen, along with various other toyotas from the time had what was called a "super strut" suspention setup in the high performance models. Now, from what i've always understood is that they help to give greater traction and handling (in ideal situations), but my question arises because of this. The 7th gen. Celica has wishbone suspention, correct? I've always understood wishbones to be superior for performance applications in regards to handling and grip, in general. So why is it that in the 7th gen, the SS-I and SS-II's (JDM mind you) carried the wishbone setup, and then the top models were the SS-II Super Strut cars? How exactly does the superstrut surpass (or differ) from the "more basic" wishbone models? I'd just like some insight from someone who knows what they are talking about, because this flies in the face from what i've always thought I understood...

[Kwanza26]

Hopefully someone with knowlege about suspentions and superstruts can help answer this, so here goes-

So the 6th gen, along with various other toyotas from the time had what was called a "super strut" suspention setup in the high performance models. Now, from what i've always understood is that they help to give greater traction and handling (in ideal situations), but my question arises because of this. The 7th gen. Celica has wishbone suspention, correct? I've always understood wishbones to be superior for performance applications in regards to handling and grip, in general. So why is it that in the 7th gen, the SS-I and SS-II's (JDM mind you) carried the wishbone setup, and then the top models were the SS-II Super Strut cars? How exactly does the superstrut surpass (or differ) from the "more basic" wishbone models? I'd just like some insight from someone who knows what they are talking about, because this flies in the face from what i've always thought I understood...

Easy answer... the 6th gens (SSI and SSII non Super Strut models) did NOT come with wishbone suspension, per-say double wishbones. They came simply with a lower control arm, which can be considered a single wishbone... however because it mounts to a macphearson strut, it changes things. Double wishbone suspension is ideal from a tuning standpoint, but because of the size double wishbone design, it's not cost effective for relatively low cost sport compacts such as Celicas to have front and rear double wishbone suspension. The 7th gen did have double wishbone rear suspension... but only came with macphearson struts on the fronts. Why? Super Struts, although can potentially perform better... had other significant drawbacks. Difficult to tune and maintain, and expensive.

This post has been edited by Kwanza26: Dec 15, 2006 - 12:35 AM