Help with shock/strut choice please

[92-GTI]

Hi,

I am in the process of buying new struts for my AE92 GTI. I am looking at KYB, bilstien of Pedders. I need to do it as cheaply as possible (i'm married). Now my GTI is late 1992 8/92 so series 2. The body number says AE93. Do i say it is an AE92 when i am asking the suspension shops of is my car infact very similar to the AE93 in components. I am guessing that there would be better choices for an AE93 because it is newer.

Anyway, any help would be good.

Thanks,

Ty

[92-GTI]

Even if some one in perth has some rebuildable struts they are wanting to see would be good.

Ty

[TurboRA28]

Not considering Koni?

I was looking at Blisten but had trouble with the Syd reseller providing the info I wanted so have given up for now.

[rob]

do u want it for handling or just to have them replaced?

if you want it for handling then dont do it cheaply (pedders), you will regret it.

[slide86]

i put a full white line kit in my mates ae92

consisted of: shocks, springs, swaybars and new bushes.

made an amazing difference, the thing is on rails now. i suggest whiteline.

i agree with rob too. pedders seem too expensive for the product that you will get. (in my experience anyways)

[rob]

also i dont know if its true but word on the street is pedders and monroe come out of the same factory

[-GT-]

The series 1 ae93's (ie SX) had a different rear strut to the ae92s (a kyb out of japan) but the series 2 (gti) have the same as the ae92s. Make sure you specify its a gti, but you should have no problems for choice if you're going inserts. The other option is a replacement strut.

If you say ae93 all the shops will correct you, even though you're right. Just say ae92 gti, series 2. And my vote's for koni's, really happy with them. The bilsteins will also do a great job, and you'll pay about the same as the konis for them.

Unfortunately you're married so you're looking at the other end of things, but if you're still after some performance, find a way to spend the extra, you'll definately be glad you did long after you forget how you paid for them.

If you can't find the extra coin, i'd probably say kyb (based on no experience with them) but stay away from teh monroe. A mate of mine's got pedders in his car and he's happy, had no problems, so in his case he got good value for money.

[RONA]

For the budget option go for the KYB, they are decent value for money.

[Roundy]

yep KYB gas struts are pretty good, got them in my GT4 and very happy with them!

[92-GTI]

HI,

Thanks for the response. My plans are very small, change the shocks b/c theyre stuffed and the geometry. put some good tyres and have a little fun. I'd love to go allout on suspension but can't justify it at this stage.

thanks,

Again

Ty

[inertia]

I too am looking at suspension for my 92...

To give you an idea;

Koni's are roughly $950-1100 depending on where you get them.

Springs, $200-220 per set, there's some guys on twincam.org that sell them (brad S.A and pysco QLD), actually they sell all kinds of suspension bits.

Bushes are roughly $350-400 for a full set from memory.

I'm unsure if I want to stretch to the KONI's or Bilsteins(didn't get much response from their distributor... they asked for specific car details and i haven't heard back in months).

Anyone had good experience with BOGE shocks?
They are being recommended to me by a few people over KYB... and cost $450-600 depending on place of purchase.

[LeeRoy]

i put a full white line kit in my mates ae92

consisted of: shocks, springs, swaybars and new bushes.

made an amazing difference, the thing is on rails now. i suggest whiteline.

Hey slide,

how much was said kit?

- LeeRoy

[slide86]

hmm. it was a while ago, but i think it was 900 to 1000 all up.

[LeeRoy]

Ok well after a trip to autobarn heres the 411.

Whiteline currently make:
Springs between 20-45mm lower than standard - $300 for a full set (4)
Front swaybar - $200
Rear swaybar - $170

They no longer make the full kit as mentioned by slide nor do they make shocks or bushes for corollas. Also, everything they sold was classed as their minor performance upgrade so nothing was in their 'flat out' class. The other option for shocks that autobarn had were kyb adjustables which are meant to be pretty good, these are about $1000 for all four.

Anyone got any other info yet?

- LeeRoy

[slide86]

they didnt have a listing for shocks? hmmmm i know for sure the ones that i put in the car were whiteline. perhaps they dis-continued them?

[inertia]

AFAIK there's no KYB AGX (Adjustables) left to suit the AE92... for $1000 you could probably get a set of KONI's. Though there's a good amount of work involved to fit the KONI's...

Check if your front shocks can accept an insert. ie: they have a large nut holding in the shock to the strut casing.

The rear's will need to be gutted and cleaned up, then an insert is installed and you have to drill a hole so that a bolt can hold the insert in place. While you have the rear's empty you'll be wanting to get the rear swaybar mount tabs strengthened by welding them up more thoroughly, rather than the two tac's that are there from factory.

[-GT-]

Seconded! For that money, go the konis, should get them for about $400-450 a pair.But make sure you get adj whiteline swaybars front and rear, definately the best suspension upgrade i've done. Strengthen the mounts though! I just got a rear one re-welded, did one track day, and its busted again (not sure which, maybe other side). Either way, the poxy tabs tacked on the rear can't handle an aftermarket bar for too long.

Good shocks and swaybars will make it handle very respectably.

[LeeRoy]

Ok cool, sounds like were getting somewhere. The Autobarn guy said to ring him today but i havent cause i been busy with uni but ill chase up about the kyb's later this week.

So how hard is it to actually change the shocks themselves?

Also, does anyone have any prices/feedback on pedders stuff?

- LeeRoy

[Vios-GT_07]

Konis FTW..

pedders FTL.. half the people i know using them say it's crap.. the other half say it's not bad.. the others say it's really a monroe but rebadged.. *meh*

KYB is value for money... most cars have it factory. and new cars make an impression so yeh it's good..

try this place .. might have what you need and last i heard they do shipping as well.. pretty cheap considering AUD 1 = RM 2.4 or so

http://www.ultraracing.com.my/

please note that after changing the absorbers u need to get wheel alignment so it's all good and straight

[inertia]

So how hard is it to actually change the shocks themselves?
- LeeRoy

Welp,

Essentially as follows.

Buy a packet of cheap zip ties.
Remove dust cap and crack the top nut (don't fully undo it).
For the front wheels crack the wheel nuts.
On level ground, Jack up the car and put some jack stands under it.
Lower car onto stands and check that it won't budge.
Chock the set of wheels that you aren't going to use, Front or Rear etc.
Remove the wheels.
Remove the tab that is holding the brake hose to the strut and carefully snip and bend the brake hose support so that you can remove the hose. Alternatively you can disconnect the
brake hose and bleed your system.
Unbolt the calipers and hang them with zip ties to a nearby hole.
Remove the discs from the hubs.
Undo the two nuts/bolts that hold the hub to the strut and the two bolts and nut that hold the hub to the control arm, unbolt the steering arm and remove the hub, keep the driveshafts supported with zip ties.
Undo the three strut to strut tower nuts and remove the strut.

Assemble your new struts and new springs (no point going to this effort and not forking out the $100 odd per pair of springs...).
Install is reverse of removal, you might want to use a torque wrench and some blue locktight on the bottom suspension bolts to be safe.

I may well have missed something, if so, sorry .