Okay, so here is the 3rd installment of the suspension stuff...
*Hardcore* (good for track/heavy autocross use/street if your cool
)
Okay, so this setup is sort of like the previous set up, just the spring rates are increased and you use different shocks...
Okay, so going from what we already had
Ground ControlsThis is the same thing that we used on the medium setup, but the springrates are now raised to 8kg/mm, which is a bit stiffer than the 350lb spring set up that we previously discussed. These springs can be ordered from many places, but you can get them through ground control directly. Also, if you are going STRAIGHT to this set up, you can request to have whatever spring rates you want, so you dont have to worry about ordering different springs
Rear SpringsSame deal here again, call Coil Spring Specialties, and tell them the same specs as before, but you are going to need to measure your drop again, to make sure that it did not change with the stiffer front springs, but you are going to want to order these in a 6 kg/mm rate ( or even 6.5 or 7 if you want more rotation ) and in whatever drop you want.
Also, you can order some TRD Japan rear springs for the AE86 Corolla, in any of the rates i have already discussed. These drop your car 2.5 inches, maybe a little more than that with a celica ( i will get a positive on this once i order mine in about a month ). These are meant to be used with short stroke shocks though ( if you dont the spring could posibly fall out if you hit a large bump, and we dont want that to happen ) but if you are going with these springs period, you should be upgrading your shocks to something better anyways...
Shocks/StrutsThis is where it gets difficult, sorta...
Okay to take advantage of this stiff spring set up, you need a good set of shocks/struts, to allow your car to handle to its full potential. A tried and true'd shock ( borrowed from the ae86 community ) is the KYB Agx line of adjustable dampers. You may be asking yourself, i thought no one made any good adjustable shocks/struts for our celicas besides tokico and their Illumina line of struts. And well, the awnser to that is, they dont. No company has a really good line up of dampers for our cars.... but there is a way
SW20 ( 2nd generation MR2, part number 765015 ) Front Struts ( for the front of our cars )
Camaro ( they had the same struts for a really long time, but the part number is 743019 ) rear shocks ( for the rear of our cars )
****Remember these part numbers are for the KYB AGX lineup only****
Now the installation of the rears is pretty simple, you just jack up the car, take the rears off ( 2 nuts, thats it ) and then bolt the new ones on. Simple as cake, but the fronts are a whole different story.
Now when if you get the struts you will notice that they are quite a bit shorter than the stock ones, and well, they are. what you have to do is shorten the strut casing for these to fit in properly. Its quite a bit of work, and if you are not a expert welder, i would suggest getting a local fabricator to do the work for you. but instead of me explaining it here is an excellent write up on how exactly to do it...
How-to Short StrokeEverything is there, just how it would work on our cars. but remember to read it through really good to make sure that everything is going how it should. You will need some spacers to go in the bottom of the strut tube to push them all the way up, washers can be used for this, or you can order machined spacers from Techno Toy Tuning.
If you dont want to go through the hassel of everything, Techno Toy Tuning offers great prices for the Short Stroke conversion itself. All you do is send them your strut casings, and they come back shortened, with kyb agx's installed and ground controls if you want. This is your best bet if you do not want to do alot of work, or you would just rather professionals do it. They have done thousands now, and no one has complained about their work, they really do good work. Highly suggested
SummaryFor this time, what do we have as the basic components of the *hardcore* setup?
-Ground Controls with 8kg/mm springs
-Coil Spring Specialties 6kg ( or 6.5 or 7 like before stated ) or TRD Japan Race springs for the AE86 Corolla
-KYB Agx Shocks/sturts from a SW20 MR2 and a Camaro with the front cases shortened
Next time ( if you guys want of course ) i will go over all this
A: Addco sways front and maybe rear ( we will again go over this later )
B: Techno Toy Tuning Camber Plates
C: Supra wheels or other similar size wheels ( rewinds, etc ) with 195/60r14 tires
D: Limited Slip Differential ( PG Powerbrute, Kaaz, etc. )
E: Alignment Settings
and by the way, is this awnsering any questions for you guys?? i would really enjoy some feedback, thx!
