suspension rebuild advice / kits? Options

[homebuilder]

Hi,

I have a 1995 GT convertible. I was told it can not be properly aligned since ... okay I forgot the name of the part that was bad, I was told two years ago. It may have been an upper or lower something or another, but not sure.

Anyway, I am wanting to fix / renew the entire suspension instead of just one part, and then another going bad in a few months.

But really, not an expert mechanic. I may hire a local mech to install the parts. But what parts?


I have seen polyurethane kits, it that all I need? Which kit?


Pretend it was your car, you are on a budget, you had an old car that was not very well taken care of...ever... and now you want to renew the suspension. How would you go about it? What kits or parts need to be replaced?

I know this is an open ended request, I am looking for good ideas.


Thank you in advance.

This post has been edited by homebuilder: Jul 19, 2015 - 1:53 PM

[Jmk91]

If it hasn't been well taken care of I'd honestly sell it and find one that was well taken care of... Depending on what all you wanted to get fixed it can be quiet expensive if you are not.doing the labor... Shops around here are 50-90$ an hour labor rates. I'd fix what is broken if you wanted to keep the car. If it isn't broke don't fix it kind of thing.

[1994Celica]

My guess is it was upper or lower control arm business. You could go polyurethane but that will make your car ride harder. I'd say do new struts and strut mounts on all 4 corners and see how that goes. Kyb is a good strut brand that doesn't break the bank. You could defiantly do struts yourself. They're no hard at all to do. This MCM video shows more or less how to install them.

http://youtu.be/qT_jgVqxH5U

[homebuilder]

My guess is it was upper or lower control arm business. You could go polyurethane but that will make your car ride harder. I'd say do new struts and strut mounts on all 4 corners and see how that goes. Kyb is a good strut brand that doesn't break the bank. You could defiantly do struts yourself. They're no hard at all to do. This MCM video shows more or less how to install them.

http://youtu.be/qT_jgVqxH5U

Thanks,

Can you tell me if I buy one of the polyurethane kits or an OEM kit like it, is that all I need? or do I need to get new control arms as well. New tie rods etc... or will the kits basically renew the old parts and make them"tighter"?

I found a great at home mechanic, only charges 20 an hour... and he actually knows what he is doing.

[Jmk91]

I just did all new struts and strut mounts. The kyb g2 can be had for 200$ for all 4 using advanced auto with the discount code trt30. The mounts are 43 each for rear if I recall correctly and 50ish for the front. It's recommend to change mount along with strut so that's 400$ roughly in parts.

You won't have to replace tie rod ect its the bushing that goes bad. Unless it has damage or is bent the kit will renew the suspension. If you find a good deal on a good kit let me know.

[1994Celica]

My guess is it was upper or lower control arm business. You could go polyurethane but that will make your car ride harder. I'd say do new struts and strut mounts on all 4 corners and see how that goes. Kyb is a good strut brand that doesn't break the bank. You could defiantly do struts yourself. They're no hard at all to do. This MCM video shows more or less how to install them.

http://youtu.be/qT_jgVqxH5U

Thanks,

Can you tell me if I buy one of the polyurethane kits or an OEM kit like it, is that all I need? or do I need to get new control arms as well. New tie rods etc... or will the kits basically renew the old parts and make them"tighter"?

I found a great at home mechanic, only charges 20 an hour... and he actually knows what he is doing.

The only poly kit I know of is from Poland. There might be others but I'm not sure. The Poland kit is sold in two sets. One for the front and one for the rear. I'd probably go ahead and do tie rods if it was me since you're already there. I believe Moog makes some for our cars and that's a good brand.

[homebuilder]

I found a couple of kits. One from Detroit axle
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-10pc-Fro...e3c&vxp=mtr


and one from energy suspension

http://www.autozone.com/1/products/98833-s...n-8-18106r.html


Anyone know either company?

Any thoughts on either kit?

I am not entirely sure exactly what each kit really is. The Detroit one seems more... complete?


The Detroit one seems to be oem type rubber and it also seems more complete.

Anything missing from either kit that you think I would need?




This post has been edited by homebuilder: Jul 19, 2015 - 7:41 PM

[Jmk91]

Enegery suspension is a good brand. The Detroit kit is just new less than oem quality replacement parts. Who knows.the quality at that price.

[1994Celica]

Yeah that Detroit kit seems too cheap. You don't want to cheap out on suspension parts.

[Noahwhite2014]

I was about to post this same question: anyone have a list of everything you'd need to replace? this is what i have on the list so far. i plan on doing it all myself and with a friend and then getting it properly aligned afterward by the same friend at the shop he works at.

Front:
Struts
Strut mounts
Lower Coil spring insulator
Strut bearing
Inner Tie-rod ends
Otter Tie-rod ends
Sway-bar bushings and brackets
Sway-bar links
Strut boots
Bump Stops
Lower ball joints


Rear:
Struts
Strut mounts
Lower coil spring insulator
Sway-bar bushings and brackets
Sway-bar links
Strut boot
Bump Stop

Let me know if I'm missing anything!

[Jmk91]

Wheel bearings and new bushings and your set

[Noahwhite2014]

Wheel bearings and new bushings and your set

the bushings you're referring to are these right? not sure what they're called
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CELICA-ST202-ST204...281&vxp=mtr

[Jmk91]

Wheel bearings and new bushings and your set

the bushings you're referring to are these right? not sure what they're called
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CELICA-ST202-ST204...281&vxp=mtr

Well yes but I ended up going with gt4s racing bushings. It's the full kit. You'll have to email them to have them send you a PayPal request for XXX just like I had too. It was 264 shipped for me. Very plesent people as well. I haven't ordered mine yet I'm ordering it Friday but he already sent me the money request. Here is a link. http://www.gt4-racing.eu/index.php/toyota-...spension-bushes

Mine was for the front and rear was 264. If your gonna do the front you gotta do the rear. Well I would anyway. That's like only changing one side of brake pads

[Noahwhite2014]

Due to the stiffness of polyurethane bushings to rubber bushings, would the ride be a lot stiffer and more uncomfortable from replacing those with polyurethane?

[Jmk91]

Due to the stiffness of polyurethane bushings to rubber bushings, would the ride be a lot stiffer and more uncomfortable from replacing those with polyurethane?

50/50. You feel the car more. I can't say for sure on 6gc but.my mr2 had polyurethane bushings everywhere and it hardly made any noise. Ride was slightly more uncomfortable but you'd never notice the difference unless I told you.

[VavAlephVav]

I think it depends on preference, and what kind of driving you like to do. I replaced all my stuff with stock parts, and now I think it's too bouncy. Struts, bushings, motor mounts, clutch I wish it all was stiffer. But you really don't "need" stiffer unless you're going to racecar. And of course all the stiffer performance parts are more expensive.