so i've never done this before... Options

[hockeyplyr24]

hey all

i'm sure this has been covered before but i didnt really find what i was looking for when i searched.

i want to lower the car but i'm not sure what all i need to buy. i know i need springs, i'm planning on getting tein springs, but what else do i need? is there a certain type of strut that i should buy? and where is the best place to get this all from? please help me out, sorry if this has been asked many times before..

thank you

[bccentaur3]

kyb gr2's. Unless you want to make it hard on yourself and just drop the car on factory struts.

[hockeyplyr24]

kyb gr2's. Unless you want to make it hard on yourself and just drop the car on factory struts.

no i really need new struts, pretty sure mine are finished lol. where would be a good place to order them from without breaking the bank?

[bccentaur3]

I got my kybs from ebay.

[hockeyplyr24]

I got my kybs from ebay.

alright, i'll look into it.

so all i really need to order is the springs and then front a rear struts? sorry if these are extremely simple questions lol i'm clueless when it comes to suspension

[bccentaur3]

yeah, look into your strut mounts too. While you are in there now is the time to replace the 14 year old parts. You will probbaly need new endlinks since you own a 94. You'll know if you cant get your end links off.

[hockeyplyr24]

yeah, look into your strut mounts too. While you are in there now is the time to replace the 14 year old parts. You will probbaly need new endlinks since you own a 94. You'll know if you cant get your end links off.

alright, i dont need to get kyb strut mounts do i? i can always go to autozone and pick some up there if i need them..?

[bccentaur3]

Yeah, you don't need to get kyb mounts. What ever strut mount is fine. Its not like its a must, but its better to do it right the first time.

[808celica]

here is a list of things you should need. im taking you have no tools for doing this so i included it in the list.

- axle nut socket i think the size is 19-20mm???
- pry bar to get out the tie rod
- size 12-22mm sockets i forgot what i used but you should need sizes between that (anyone feel free to change the number up)
- or course spring compressor
- extra pair of hands
- a couple wire hangers to hold your brake caliper, you dont want that dangling.
- cheater bar.....nice 2ft. metal pipe
- 1/2 or 3/8 drive rachet depending on what female size is on the socket.

forgot the size allen wrench you need to take off the rear sway bar.

that's all i can remeber now. i'll post some more after i get home from work


oh there is a stick on changing the shocks and springs.

[hockeyplyr24]

here is a list of things you should need. im taking you have no tools for doing this so i included it in the list.

- axle nut socket i think the size is 19-20mm???
- pry bar to get out the tie rod
- size 12-22mm sockets i forgot what i used but you should need sizes between that (anyone feel free to change the number up)
- or course spring compressor
- extra pair of hands
- a couple wire hangers to hold your brake caliper, you dont want that dangling.
- cheater bar.....nice 2ft. metal pipe
- 1/2 or 3/8 drive rachet depending on what female size is on the socket.

forgot the size allen wrench you need to take off the rear sway bar.

that's all i can remeber now. i'll post some more after i get home from work


oh there is a stick on changing the shocks and springs.

lol thank you much i'll be sure to keep this post up so i can write it down later

[GriffGirl]

I'm going to be doing this very soon as well. Would you recommend also picking up new swaybar bushings at the same time as well? I don't wanna have to do a teardown twice either!

[Batman722]

revised

here is a list of things you should need. im taking you have no tools for doing this so i included it in the list.

- axle nut socket i think the size is 30mm???
- pry bar to get out the tie rod <- no need to remove tie rod
- size 12-22mm sockets i forgot what i used but you should need sizes between that
- or course spring compressor <- not nessessary
- extra pair of hands
- a couple wire hangers to hold your brake caliper, you dont want that dangling.
- cheater bar.....nice 2ft. metal pipe
- 1/2 or 3/8 drive rachet depending on what female size is on the socket.

forgot the size allen wrench you need to take off the sway bar end links.

that's all i can remeber now. i'll post some more after i get home from work

oh there is a sticky on changing the shocks and springs here

OK buy some KYBs from ebay (about $200) and springs.
If you want you can also buy some new end links from twosrus and replace those too. Some people have a difficult time getting their stock links off try this
If you want to replace the sway bar bushings at that time then that's ok. Get them from the dealer for about $7 each or look ofr some super bushings that cost more.

If your mechanicly inclined it's not a super difficult process. It should take about 2-4 hours and it's worth it.

[GriffGirl]

Just for clairification: is the sway bar end link the same as a "Rear Sway Bar Connector Link"? (Rockauto.com)

Also, if you're buying complete struts (not cartridges) you wouldn't need to replace the strut mounts, correct, since basically that's an integral part of the new strut assembly? They're one in the same, correct?

This post has been edited by GriffGirl: Jul 22, 2008 - 1:01 PM

[Batman722]

Just for clairification: is the sway bar end link the same as a "Rear Sway Bar Connector Link"? (Rockauto.com)

Also, if you're buying complete struts (not cartridges) you wouldn't need to replace the strut mounts, correct, since basically that's an integral part of the new strut assembly? They're one in the same, correct?

if you're going to buy new end links, it's not worth it to get aftermarket (cheap) ones unless they're much better than stock. here's a post about the twosrus ones with pics for comparison.

The top mounts don't usually go bad unless you do a lot of off roading so I wouldn't really replace them, I didn't replace and I have 14 year old ones lowered with no problems. When the top mounts go bad, they make a very loud BANG every time you hit a bump.

If you really want to get something that's going to make a diff then get new ball joints, about $40 a side from the dealer.

recap
parts for lowering (needed)
new KYbs
springs

optional
end links (twosrus)
OEM ball joints
sway bar bushings

more optional if you feel zesty
OEM top mounts
OEM tie rods

edit: oem end links are about $60 each, much better twosrus ones are $70-$75 each

This post has been edited by Batman722: Jul 22, 2008 - 2:22 PM

[GriffGirl]

Thanks for that input. I would go twosrus - the Rockauto was for research and comparison purposes. I believe they also offer Toyota OEM ones... I'd either go that route or the twosrus ones. If $$ weren't an issue it'd be a no brainer - but mama needs new tires like NOW so $$ is an issue.

[99GT]

I took my endlinkes off from the swaybar and not the strut, came out like butter. But I had twosrus endlinks already.

[bccentaur3]

Its because you have a 99. most of us don't have the 99 which was less exposed to the elements as long as ours did.

[808celica]

revised

here is a list of things you should need. im taking you have no tools for doing this so i included it in the list.

- axle nut socket i think the size is 30mm???
- pry bar to get out the tie rod <- no need to remove tie rod
- size 12-22mm sockets i forgot what i used but you should need sizes between that
- or course spring compressor <- not nessessary
- extra pair of hands
- a couple wire hangers to hold your brake caliper, you dont want that dangling.
- cheater bar.....nice 2ft. metal pipe
- 1/2 or 3/8 drive rachet depending on what female size is on the socket.

forgot the size allen wrench you need to take off the sway bar end links.

that's all i can remeber now. i'll post some more after i get home from work

oh there is a sticky on changing the shocks and springs here

OK buy some KYBs from ebay (about $200) and springs.
If you want you can also buy some new end links from twosrus and replace those too. Some people have a difficult time getting their stock links off try this
If you want to replace the sway bar bushings at that time then that's ok. Get them from the dealer for about $7 each or look ofr some super bushings that cost more.

If your mechanicly inclined it's not a super difficult process. It should take about 2-4 hours and it's worth it.

thanks for the edit

[hockeyplyr24]

thanks for all the help everyone! going to try to order everything by the end of this week

[hockeyplyr24]

thanks for all the help everyone! going to try to order everything by the end of this week

just ordered some tein s techs

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TEIN-S-TECH...emZ250272398099



hope it works out, struts next week unless i find it cheap. any1 have an ebay store or seller to use for kyb struts?

This post has been edited by hockeyplyr24: Jul 23, 2008 - 5:15 PM