Suspension Advice Please

[furiouslee1]

Guys, ive been meaning to sort out my suspension for ages now as the springs have completly collapsed and today I have finally taken the old ones off front and back.

Last week I ordered some Apex lowering springs by 30mm but after today it would appear that the whole thing needs to be replaced especially at the front as they have rusted away and the top mounts are gone (I now know what was knocking).

Interestingly enough it was fitted with Bilsteins all around with Toyota written on them, I'm assuming the imported versions had this a std.
Ill keep the rear ones and change the springs but need to replace the front.

What should I fit and where can I get a good deal from including top mounts for the front.

Lee

[Harold]

It seems you and I are in the same boat, If the bilstein shocks you have on currently are black then these are the standard fit for rev2+ turbos. You can get them from tcb parts I believe.

[foxy-stoat]

Just replaced the fronts on mine, but they were the rebuildable type struts, inserts are around £80 each from camskill, fensport and the like. Top mounts are £80 each also, add a pair of drop links for good measure.

It all gets very expensive, but thats the price your gonna have to pay.

Buying secondhand suspension is normally false economy if you intend on keeping the car.

[furiouslee1]

Well after looking into the costs of replacing the suspension with new springs and dampers including the top mounts and spring plates it just as cheap to buy some BC Coilovers.

I think I'm going to buy some of these http://www.bc-racing.co.uk/coilovers-series-br/

I'm am assuming that this is everything that you need as a direct replacement???

Now just need to find the best price, do we get any good discount anywhere?

Lee

[uglee]

Is the car a daily driver and used all year long? If you expect to do highish mileages in my opinion coilovers are a false economy. I'm yet to be convinced by the long term durability of coilovers (of nearly any make) for high mileages and coping with the crumbling state of our roads. Fair enough for an occasional weekend blatter or track car.

Suspension is a complete nightmare on this car when it gets old. You think you sort one knocking noise and another pops up. By a certain age/mileage it's probably best to go for a replacement of everything.

As a guide to a full refresh that I'm doing at the moment:

Front TRD topmounts: £140 (Fensport)
4 Turbo Struts: £270 (TCB parts)
Polybush Kit: £100 (SBits)
4 Balljoints and
inner/outer tie rods £100 (Ebay US including import+VAT)
4 new droplinks £35 (Ebay UK)
Lowering springs £100

So for around £750 the suspension is good for the next 50K+ miles. For black billies add another £250 and for yellows another £350.

[furiouslee1]

Hey thanks for the advice, this is my dilemma. The car is a second car that is used for no more than 3k miles per year, its setup as a fast road/track car as I want to do a few track days this year, the first being Castle Combe in two weeks time.

My calculations are as follows:

Top mounts £140 TCBParts
Spring Plates £55 TCBParts
Std Bilsteins £274 (front only) TCBParts
Apex 30mm lowering springs £130 ebay
Drop links already purchased.

That's just short of £600 keeping the rear shocks and changing the springs.

or

SPAX PSX ADJ SHOCKS + SPRINGS @ £500
Front Top mounts x 2 £140 TCBParts
Front Spring Plates x2 £55 TCBParts
Total £695

The coilovers look good at £650 for both front and back for the kit but now I'm worried about reliability as I'm going to have to sell my right hand to pay for them anyway.

What a decision to make with 2 weeks to turn it around.

[uglee]

You'll probably be fine with them as it's mainly a low mileage track car. Certainly get 3+ years out of them if looked after well. Just don't think they would last well on a daily driver doing 12K+ through all weathers.

I 'think' the Spax kit is inserts for the rebuildable type suspension only. Much along the lines of the KONI however I would go for KONI over the Spax as the KONI's with Eibach springs are meant to be a great combo for road cars while maintaining near OEM reliability.

I don't think you'll go wrong with either to be honest. Coilovers or good condition standard stuff is still going to be great fun on the track.

HTH

[Harold]

As a guide to a full refresh that I'm doing at the moment:

Front TRD topmounts: £140 (Fensport)
4 Turbo Struts: £270 (TCB parts)
Polybush Kit: £100 (SBits)
4 Balljoints and
inner/outer tie rods £100 (Ebay US including import+VAT)
4 new droplinks £35 (Ebay UK)
Lowering springs £100

So for around £750 the suspension is good for the next 50K+ miles. For black billies add another £250 and for yellows another £350.

Would you also recommend replacing the top spring cups?
The rubber on mine looks a little perished but am not sure how important that is.

Also do you have a link to the eBay droplinks? I can find the fronts for £17.50 but not the rears.

[uglee]

I thought those rubber rings were a seperate item to the cups?

I've ordered new spring cups, but only as mine had rotted through. The rubber rings I thought were held between the spring and top cup. Oh well will find out when I collect them on Tuesday

But yeah if they are looking iffy I'd look at replacing them.

[JohnnyC]

The rubber that fits between the springs and the spring cup is indeed a separate item.

There's also a foam circular gasket thing that sits between the spring cup and the top mount.

[uglee]

There's also a foam circular gasket thing that sits between the spring cup and the top mount.

Ah balls I forgot about that when ordering everything else

Don't suppose it would make much difference without it to be honest.

[riot68]

These spax seem to be the complete unit with springs...

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/Performan ... 0485/42248

Plus what's up with the G-max?

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/Performan ... 1281/42248

Sorry for my ignorance, hear a lot about the Koni's and Bilsteins on the boards but folks rarely mention anything else, maybe a reason? cheers...

[Harold]

There's also a foam circular gasket thing that sits between the spring cup and the top mount.

I don't suppose you know the part number for this?

[JohnnyC]

There's also a foam circular gasket thing that sits between the spring cup and the top mount.

I don't suppose you know the part number for this?

90303-22049

[JohnnyC]

There's also a foam circular gasket thing that sits between the spring cup and the top mount.

Ah balls I forgot about that when ordering everything else

Don't suppose it would make much difference without it to be honest.

Not sure, but I wouldn't like to have to overhaul the suspension once again just to add these bits if you end up with knocking

[furiouslee1]

Guys, i have now purchased some std shocks for the front and they have been installed.

My question is, can you fit the top mounts the wrong way around?

It can only go two ways, pointing to the front or back of the car indicated by a small arrow.

Any ideas, i need to do the tracking but it feels very heavy and different from before.

Thanks in advance

Lee

[furiouslee1]

Yeah sorry i should point out the the top mount does not sit in the car concentrically, depending on the arrow direction (front or back) it will then move the shock forward or backwards.

Its not much but will this make a difference?

[Harold]

Guys, i have now purchased some std shocks for the front and they have been installed.

My question is, can you fit the top mounts the wrong way around?

It can only go two ways, pointing to the front or back of the car indicated by a small arrow.

Any ideas, i need to do the tracking but it feels very heavy and different from before.

Thanks in advance

Lee

Yes, the spring cup and top mount have to be orientated correctly.

"Before attempting to install the strut I needed to check that the top cup was still orientated correctly with the word OUT and arrow pointing towards the outside of the car with the hub mounting bracket lined up properly. Also the edge of the upper swivel part of the top mount that is cut in slightly has to face the rear of the car..see picture below. Although in this picture it needs to be rotated 90 degrees to line up."

A small quote from this guide -

http://www.mr2oc.co.uk/know-your-2/mk2/ ... rings.html

[Shmed]

Do the Tein topmounts need proper orientation? Sorry for off-topic....