GT-Four Superstrut Suspension and Brake Conversion Questions.. Options

[black93hardtop]

I have read through tons of info about the differences between the standard McPherson and Superstrut Suspension systems but there is not a complete explination about doing the actual conversion (not that I found anyways).

I have a complete GT-Four Clip so I have the entire system BUT the clip is RHD. Im converting it over to a ST204 LHD... Do I need to use the GT-Four Rack and Pinion? If so its RHD... it wont work, correct.. What am I missing here..

Also, I am not doing any drivetrain swaps as of right now. I want the car on the road and want to tackle this one step at a time. Will the ST205 Axles work with the S54 Trans? Or will the standard axles in the car fit into the ST205 Hubs? Custom??

I would like to tackle this asap asuming Im not in over my head. I was going to just swap the entire subframe suspension, brakes... all in one shot. Let me know if Im crazy or this is more complex than Im thinking.


Thanks,
Brian




Oh, before anybody tells me how crappy the Superstrut system is and Im crazy for converting.... I know, I just want it...

[jordisonjr]

You are putting superstrut from the gt four clip, on your USDM Celica?
Not calling you crazy, just trying to confirm lol

[black93hardtop]

Yes Sir

[jmeyer]

You need the steering rack from the clip. So if you want to go superstrut you'll have to go RHD. Sorry thats just the way it is. Also check you clip front suspension for any play. If one of the figue 8's, control arm, or banana arms is bad $$$$. Honestly I have superstrut and its more of a hastle. Sourcing the parts is no fun and very expensive.

[BonzaiCelica]

nobody said it was crappy! only a bitch to maintain once you blow a join on the lower control arms or camber control arm then it get real expensive. Its truely a better geometry suspension set up.

read into the superstrut suspension thread. All the info is there! While there is now how to, all the parts needed to get it converted is listed on that thread.

[LimitedGT4]

did it just recently, dont need/cant use the rackn pinion, use ur lhd one it works fine just gotta change the entire control ares from the frame 2 bolts hold it to the frame on the bottom three nuts hold suspension ontop and the obvious axle nut, have fun i know i am just keep ur old parts incase u get bad shocks u can switch back

[black93hardtop]

Thanks for all the replies. I know its not easy and I have read that you can use/modify at200 and other racks to "work" but Im after a very funtional and very OEM like swap. Im in the process of trying to find a LHD ST205 steering rack. I would buy new if I had to.. Anybody know the part number? I believe Germany got the Superstrut in LHD...

Thanks,
Brian

[LimitedGT4]

Dude no need to modify to make it "work" u jus replace the entire system everythin bolts on the only diff between the racks is the space where the rack n pinion bolts to the frame and a a few parts that u can bilt on n off of the steering rack but hey if u wana spend the extra money abd time go ahead

[black93hardtop]

Did you do this on a ST model or GT? From what I see the entire inner and outer tir rods are different from my GT and the GT4. Do I just swap the entire inner and outer tie rods from the st205 into the st204 rack? You sucessfully installed a superstrut system on a USDM LHD Celica?

Thanks,
Brian

[LimitedGT4]

They look diff but the overall length and bolt size is the same you can change it if you want thats one of the parts that you can change
I used my st ones didnt bother changing tie rods kus i put the racks side by side and compared andd yes my car is runin and runs good and straight. You will need an alignment whenever you mess with any of those components so dont be surprised if ur wheels look weird an aligment will fix it

I have an st with super srtut and gt4 breaks with the gt4 hub they are the same axle size dont bother taking the super strut apart piece by piece unless u plan to change or restore something u litery if i recall correctly need to take 2 bolts out from the frame the axle nut , the tie rod nut one other piece attached to the shocks and the stabilizer and the 3 nuts ontop of the shocks from the engine bay if u need pics ill try n get some to show you
The best advice i can give is get a good hammer and dont give up

[black93hardtop]

So you dont have the big cast bent tie rod end thats on the st205.. You have the straight ST setup? Here are some pics.

ST205:


ST204:


How about the stroke of the pinion itself, are they the same. any issues with lock to lock?

Thanks and pics would be FANTASTIC!!

-Brian

[LimitedGT4]

those parts look ROUGH man i would probably think it twice before i swap those over they might not be good but then again yours dont look great either the red highlights the bolts that need to be remover. yes i used ALL of the rack n pinion parts from the st and bolted the super strut to it

lock to lock? sorry dont know what that means im not a mechanic nor speak the lingo i just know how to do things

il take pics of mine when i get a chance

[black93hardtop]

The ST205 parts are actually in excellent shape. no torn boots and all rubber is soft and not dryrotted (including bushings). The upper strut bearing is smooth as silk.. I really think I have a well taken care of superstrut setup.. Now those ST204 pics are another story... That is what I pulled out of the wrecked 94 Im parting out.

by lock to lock, Im refering to when you turn the steering wheel all the way left util it stops, then all the way right until it stops.. Does the ST rack have the same pull and push distance as a st205 rack?

Thank you for all your help so far.. Again, if you get a chance I would love to see some pictures of your setup.

Thanks,
Brian

[LimitedGT4]

Aaa thats wat i thought but didnt wanna make an a** of myself u got menl there only cus i never really checked that on my st but if my friend comes over soon i can compare his to mine

[black93hardtop]

Im going to compare my st204 (GT) to the st205 (GT4) tomorrow... Id like to see the AT200 (ST) in comparison as well.

Thanks,
Brian

[LimitedGT4]

pics,

couldnt use the paint to edit these ill try n fixem if it doesn't make sense

[Green_MachToy]

Im going to compare my st204 (GT) to the st205 (GT4) tomorrow... Id like to see the AT200 (ST) in comparison as well.

Thanks,
Brian

I did it on my ST. Everyone has given you the ansers...use your LHD Rack and replace everything else from the Clip. Did yours also include the Sway Bar? THat was a pain for me to source with the correct links. THe rear pieces to complete the conversion to AWD are much more of a PITA to get in.

[black93hardtop]

While LimitedGT4 has been a GREAT help and I have received a lot of useful information, this swap and all the information reguarding it has most certainly NOT all been described here. Mainly the fact that I am using a GT and not an ST model car, both utilizing different steering racks. Not to mention the only two people that have chimed in here with sucessful swaps are you and Limited GT4, both having ST model cars.. I have yet to come across any measurements on the stroke of the GT vs ST steering rack along with the GT4's for comparison purposes. Im not after a "It will work" swap... I'm quite a perfectionist and I want it to be more than just a means to shove the wheels left and right. I hope you can understand someone wanting to study and be prepared for something ahead of time. I understand steering systems are not all that complex but Im just trying to cover as much as possible. In return, This information will be available for others to read and have a more proper understanding of it all.

Thanks,
Brian

Im going to compare my st204 (GT) to the st205 (GT4) tomorrow... Id like to see the AT200 (ST) in comparison as well.

Thanks,
Brian

I did it on my ST. Everyone has given you the ansers...use your LHD Rack and replace everything else from the Clip. Did yours also include the Sway Bar? THat was a pain for me to source with the correct links. THe rear pieces to complete the conversion to AWD are much more of a PITA to get in.

[LimitedGT4]

So how diff would the gt rack b from the st is there any place u can get dimensions and all? Because when i was faced with the conversion i was a lil concerned but as i bolted things they all fell into place.
being a perfectionist might prevent you from doin alot of things
if it didnt function properly i would have reverted to the old setup wen i say it works its not a matter of it "working" its more like its identical in the bolt areas amd dimensions to that of a non gt4 celica as far a i can tell my car turns the same feels the same and runs just about the same for.the obvious reason that that suspension is diff so i would say it runs better i would compare this conversion to swapin the suspension from an st to your gt like i said as far as i can tell in the us model unless u got the premium suspension package or w.e it was called everything should be interchangeable between st and gt which would make what we did to our st similar to a gt


On a side note there nothing to it but to do it once you gettem both out if u havent do all ur messuring but just rest asure that it works so do that. Write up an lets get more superstruts so that it becomes the next big thing to swap lol f u need anythin else man let me know n dont get discouraged if you were closer id show.u personally what i did

[black93hardtop]

I have the entire ST205 and ST204 assemblies out. I dont have the time right now but I will post the measurments and stroke of both. You could measure the stroke of your ST with it in the car.

Honestly as problematic as these superstrut systems are, most people would rather save the money and keep the standard syspension. I don't see this swap ever being popular. On the other hand, some people want the whole GT-Four package and dont mind some issues every once and a while.

BTW, being a perfectionist does not keep me from doing things, it just makes them harder and more expensive. I can live with that.

Thanks,
Brian