ae86 struts

[spoon]

upgrading the suspension and trying to organise the shocks to use...

planning on getting mr2 shocks for the front - does anyone know which ones i should get? ie. AW11 or SW20 and front or rear?

cheers

[xolent]

rear sw20's for front.

[RobertoX]

^^ but you will need a spacer for these,

I use kyb agx (sw20 rear, same PN as st165 front according to the KYB guy) and they are great.

[spoon]

beauty! parts ordered! thanks - also is it just trial and error with the spacer? just a washer?

[RobertoX]

I cant remember the height exactly but I had a spacer made for the bottom and used some washers at the top such that the springs would be captive and at normal ride height.

[Matt-AE86]

I have REAR SW20 shocks, suprisingly enough I didnt have to cut much out of the strut, strange but true. It was around 35mm that was removed, no spacer required, im not sure why this is. The shocks im using are KYB Potenza Gymkhana 4ways.

[RobertoX]

Yep 35mm is about right

[craigy]

I use KYB short stroke shocks in my Sprinter.

I think they are out of a AE111, but I'm not entirely sure.
The valving seems to be spot on for the shocks that I'm using (7kg front, 5kg rear) and they are quite cheap to buy..

If you like I can get you some part numbers (including rear shocks to suit) and you should be able to order them directly from any Auto parts shop.

Oh, my struts are modified (shortened) and converted to coilovers, so if you want to use this particualr shock you will have to cut it to the same length (or use spacers).

Anyways, pm me or post here if you need more info

Cheers
Craigy

[45aken]

with the spacer etc, the amount you cut and the amount you space up is entirely up to you. say the shock you ordered has a body 50mm shorter than the ae86 shock, then you can;
shorten the strut 50mm (make your car 50mm lower instantly)
or you can
use a spacer with a height of X, and shorten the tube Y, so that X+Y=50
or you can
use a 50mm spacer and leave the strut (which takes away the "short stroke' abilities)

remember: whatever you cut from your strut you lower the car by that much.

[spoon]

so i just cut the strut tube yeah? ie with an angle grinder/hacksaw?

[45aken]

http://www.club4ag.com/faq%20and%20t...Conversion.htm

check that page out, it will give you a much better idea about whats going on. take it to an engineering shop unless you have the right tools. (dropsaw etc)

[Beserker99]

I use KYB short stroke shocks in my Sprinter.

If you like I can get you some part numbers (including rear shocks to suit) and you should be able to order them directly from any Auto parts shop.

I would like ot know part numbers if that's not too much trouble

I'm currently looking for some upgrade options for my suspension.

[craigy]

Sure thing, my cars up in in the air at the moment so I can check the rear shocks. I also have part numbers for the front written down, last time I had them out.
I'll let you know this weekend at some point.

cheers
Craigy

[45aken]

this is what you want to do, just finished mine this weekend. apexi coilover springs (~7kg)ST204 agx struts, which are 70mm shorter, cut 50mm out of the strut and used a 20mm spacer, noltec coilover hardware, sleeve sitting on a 2" steel ring, which is fully welded to the body. the sleeve DOES NOT slip on the strut, and is a very very very tight fit (had to get rid of paint, heat the thread and freeze the shock! no huge temps, but just enough. this weekend we did some pretty hard driving to see if they'll hold up (rally style) and if they didnt break then, then they wont on the road.
here are the pic's.



and

[craigy]

Sorry guys, bout the kyb part numbers, i'll get them up there after this weekend.

I'm catching up with a mate who has the details (my front struts are in my car)