It was past time......lots of new suspension pics! Options

[bhawk94]

I installed KYB GR2 shocks and struts and Tein S-Tech springs this weekend finally. This was my first time dealing with suspension and I pretty much did it by myself. (Just in case there are some other noobs wondering if they can do it) Overall I am pleased with the setup. I drive my car everyday and I literally work in my car. I wanted a setup that wasn't so low that it would scrape all the time but still have an aggresive stance, improve handling, and ride well. I ran into 2 problems with the install one of which I included in the pics and showed how I handled it. The other problem was with getting the 19mm upper bolt loose from the strut and the knuckle on the rear. It was really stuck and I broke 2 sockets on it. I ended up using a high impact socket with a breaker bar to get it loose




Here are the nuts that came out of the stock front strut casings (rebuildable). This must be removed in order to get the stock shock out and put the new one in. It is 2 1/8'' wide, so you have to use a huge adjustable wrench or a boxed in 2 1/8'' wrench to get it off and put the new nut on (these come with the GR2's). As you can see, I ended up putting a notch in the nut with a screw driver and hammer. I kept hitting it around until it came loose because the wrench kept rounding off the corners. I used the boxed end of the big wrench to put the new one on after replacing the strut with no problem.


This is one of the rear struts completed with the spring, spring bumpers, brand new dust guards, etc. The rears are full replacements, not rebuildable.




Before install.......




After install........



Now some pics after I washed it........











I've driven about 300 miles and it rides great. It hits bumps a little harder but it's not bad at all. It pulls a little to the left. I'm probably going to get an alignment in a few days but the tires seem to be wearing fine and no camber issues to speak of. Let me know what you think, good or bad!

[95st-celica]

looks really good man i was actually thinkin about goin with the same exact set-up....so you like it?? rides nice and everything? where did you get your struts and springs at ebay?

[bhawk94]

KYB's and Tein's from E-Bay. Got both for less than $350 shipped. Rides very good for a lowered car with no alignment yet!

This post has been edited by bhawk94: May 14, 2007 - 10:07 PM

[purplegt4]

absolutely perfect. good work.

get that alignment QUICK, and watch for overdriving your headlights.

[celicast3sgte]

you ummm... have my wheels.. haha jk how are ya liking the 225s on those? mine came with 205s and my 7a-fe can spin em so wider tires are up on my shopping list

[jason]

and watch for overdriving your headlights.


^^^ get some projectors n clear highs... night driving has never been so fun!

thats next up on my mod list

[bhawk94]

Not sure what "over driving my headlights" means but I would like to get some projectors and HIDs. Only thing is I've got some other projects to do first like replacing my broken antenna, new CD player (doesn't play anymore), and getting a new exhaust because I have a hole in it


I like my 225's. They're pretty beefy. They ride good and probably the best tires I've ever had.


By the way, has anyone had an alignment done at Sear's before? My company gets a 10% discount and I am thinking about taking it there.

[GTS13]

Now you just need bigger sways and you'll really have some fun, trust me!

[m0dd3d1]

Yeah, can someone explain "don't overdrive your headlights?" I'm confused.

That's pretty much the same setup I was looking at. From what you said it's pretty cheap, so I may have to indulge since I'm going to need those really really soon! Did you have any experience in suspension before or did you just read the manual and do it? I'm asking b/c I need to do it, I'll have access to a lift, but I'm not really all that knowledgable in doing it. Thanks!

Triscuit

[Kwanza26]

I like the wheels... although IMO... 225 are a touch too wide for a 7in wheel...

[bhawk94]

Yeah, can someone explain "don't overdrive your headlights?" I'm confused.

That's pretty much the same setup I was looking at. From what you said it's pretty cheap, so I may have to indulge since I'm going to need those really really soon! Did you have any experience in suspension before or did you just read the manual and do it? I'm asking b/c I need to do it, I'll have access to a lift, but I'm not really all that knowledgable in doing it. Thanks!

Triscuit

Yeah, you can't beat it for the money compared to it's quality. I had never worked on suspension before. I used a Toyota Manual, read the write up on the "how-to", and scanned through some of the instructions that came with the springs and shocks. The only real problems I had was getting some of the bolts loose connecting the strut to the knuckle and getting the big nut off to replace the front strut inserts. I explained how I did that earlier. You also want to check your dust guards on the strut to see if they are in good shape. Mine were literally in pieces and I had to stop and go get some replacements.

I'll be happy to give you more info. if you need it!

Oh yeah and CelicaST3SGTE and Kwanzaa, I didn't mean to steal your wheels. I saw ya'lls cars after I put them on Great minds think alike I guess

This post has been edited by bhawk94: May 15, 2007 - 8:42 PM

[m0dd3d1]

Yeah, can someone explain "don't overdrive your headlights?" I'm confused.

That's pretty much the same setup I was looking at. From what you said it's pretty cheap, so I may have to indulge since I'm going to need those really really soon! Did you have any experience in suspension before or did you just read the manual and do it? I'm asking b/c I need to do it, I'll have access to a lift, but I'm not really all that knowledgable in doing it. Thanks!

Triscuit

Yeah, you can't beat it for the money compared to it's quality. I had never worked on suspension before. I used a Toyota Manual, read the write up on the "how-to", and scanned through some of the instructions that came with the springs and shocks. The only real problems I had was getting some of the bolts loose connecting the strut to the knuckle and getting the big nut off to replace the front strut inserts. I explained how I did that earlier. You also want to check your dust guards on the strut to see if they are in good shape. Mine were literally in pieces and I had to stop and go get some replacements.

I'll be happy to give you more info. if you need it!

Oh yeah and CelicaST3SGTE and Kwanzaa, I didn't mean to steal your wheels. I saw ya'lls cars after I put them on Great minds think alike I guess

Which Toyota manual do you have? I've got the Chilton's Celica Manual. So if the dust guards are bad or torn or w/e, I'll need new ones, but where'd you get yours from? Toyota? Do you have a part number or something or perhaps a pic of what they look like? Thanks.

Tristan

[bhawk94]

I have Chilton too. I got the dust/dirt shields from Carquest. There is a pic above, it's the black accordion looking thing inside the spring. The ones I used were not made for my car because they didn't have them in stock. I took the old ones from my car and compared them to some they already had. They were were very close to the stock ones so they worked fine. It took a little bit of effort to put them on b/c they were a little smaller at the top but they fit great. You can order them from probably any car parts store ahead of time. I just used Carquest b/c my dad works there

[illneversellmyce...]

small world, i have the same setup, got my suspension from the same place and had diffculties at the same spot, and did the same thing to loosen them lol........enjoy I loved it sence I re did my suspension.!

This post has been edited by illneversellmycelli: May 15, 2007 - 9:48 PM

[jason]

overdriving your headlights: get a fast car with dim headlights and you knwo what i mean... when flying around back roads, sometimes your lights dont light the road ahead too well and you cant see all that great, usually in a well handling car this becomes apparent because you can go faster, easier. before i got projectors this was kind of a problem even with hid, but with the high beams on the road was lite well enough, i had silverstar highs and 10k lows, now with projectors & clear highs, those same silverstar high bulbs seem 3x brighter and the crappy h1 bulbs that they came with do a descent job lighting up the road, cant wait till culp hooks me up with some hids in there

i think seeing you do this just motivated me to get on the ball with some lowering of my car, i took some pics today and noticed that gap and felt kinda let down now looking at yours

keep up the good work car is beautiful!!!!

[bhawk94]

Thanks for the clarification on the "over driving my headlights". Makes sense now. I've always liked how our cars light up the road though. They seem brighter than other cars esp. with high beams on. But yeah, fender gap sucks. Thanks for the compliment!

[purplegt4]

overdriving your headlights: get a fast car with dim headlights and you knwo what i mean... when flying around back roads, sometimes your lights dont light the road ahead too well and you cant see all that great, usually in a well handling car this becomes apparent because you can go faster, easier. before i got projectors this was kind of a problem even with hid, but with the high beams on the road was lite well enough, i had silverstar highs and 10k lows, now with projectors & clear highs, those same silverstar high bulbs seem 3x brighter and the crappy h1 bulbs that they came with do a descent job lighting up the road, cant wait till culp hooks me up with some hids in there

i think seeing you do this just motivated me to get on the ball with some lowering of my car, i took some pics today and noticed that gap and felt kinda let down now looking at yours

keep up the good work car is beautiful!!!!

thx

[m0dd3d1]

Thanks for the definition! So just for clarification: all I'll need is the GR2 Schocks, tein springs, and those accordian looking things. And everything should hook up? With a little work...

[bhawk94]

You may not need the dust covers. Look at your shocks and struts on your car and you can tell what condition they are in. My dust covers on the front were in good condition and I reused them. But that should be all that you need unless you want to purchase a camber kit (which brings up some controversy as to whether you need them or not). My camber doesn't seem to be off but i'm not sure yet b/c I haven't gotten it aligned yet. Have you researched the forums on here?? They are helpfull.

[m0dd3d1]

You may not need the dust covers. Look at your shocks and struts on your car and you can tell what condition they are in. My dust covers on the front were in good condition and I reused them. But that should be all that you need unless you want to purchase a camber kit (which brings up some controversy as to whether you need them or not). My camber doesn't seem to be off but i'm not sure yet b/c I haven't gotten it aligned yet. Have you researched the forums on here?? They are helpfull.

I've researched to the point that I'm still trying to figure out what I want/need. But I know I am going to need a new setup here shortly, mine are old and I failed my UK MOT b/c of my left front spring "not positioned correctly." Whatever that means. What would you need a camber kit for? Basically I'm asking, What is a camber? Got any links? Thanks.

Triscuit