Front Suspension Corolla

["Z" UTE]

KISS, (Keep It Simple Stupid) Lets look at this in total layman's tems.
Rear Ford Laser springs, would have nowhere near the same spring rate as a front spring.

Figure this, random numbers plucked from somewhere.

Car weighs 1,000 kgs, ideally in a sports car the weight distribution would be 50/50, ie 500kgs front and 500kgs rear. You would use springs capable of supporting the same weight on each corner

Laser probably has a weight split of 65/35, with the weight biased to the front. For aguments sake 650kgs front, and 350kgs rear. Now if you switched the front springs to the rear, and the reaer springs to the front, the rear would become hard and jittery on the road, whereas the front, would turn to marshmallow. The lack of spring tension, would continuously allow the spring to fully compress under the heavier front load. And your shocks would bottom out on a more than regular basis.

Heavier springs are your answer.

90% of lowered cars using the OE spec shocks, do not suffer from the problems you have encountered by fitting the "soft" springs.

cheers Chuck.

[rob1]

eyah big chucks on the money. i sort of only thought about "if the suspension guy said the shocks to long". which is what i was getting out with using not only a shorter stroke, shock, but shorter extended length insert.

if the shock is fubar, it's probably bottomed out. as you say. the springs from the laser are not up to it. kings DO nake custom springs. When they say they don't to you, they probably mean they don't have an "off the shelf" item. however, if I'm wrong and kings no longer make customs, i may also have another alternative. there is a daewoo spring that will fit the ke strut. but i'm unsure of the model etc. that you will have to find out at a suspension shop. may even be worth ringing a shop closer to a CBD if the shops in your area are lax. they are a rear spring out of a mid '90's daewoo. and are plenty stiff enough.

failing that, your only option may be to contact a suspension wholesaler/manufacturer direct.

good luck

[Brad-KE35]

yeah very good point Chuck, I was leaning towards that more than anything, figuring the back of a laser is alot lighter being FWD, thanks also Rob1, I will ring some places, and see what happens, I'll get back to yas, thanks again guys, nothing but great help!

bradelz

[YLD-16L]

I might have the old KE38 lowered Kings Springs in the garage at my parents, I'll look on the weekend and get back to you, as it sounds like it might be what you're after.

[Fattony]

Just a thought, why dont you change the front strut, brakes and lower control arm to a ra40 celica item. Get the KE spring seat welded on and you can use your lower spring in the car, but im dam certian you can stilll get lower shocks (koni) for the ra40 strut tube. thats if your that worried about it.

[Brad-KE35]

Thanks YLD, that would be great. I got the new wheels on today, and the noises and bottoming out seem to be worse, because they are 15s, I'm not driving it until I have sorted everything out in the front. I'm just about to ring around and ask some places if they sell 2 inch lowering springs.

Thats an idea Fattony, that might be a last resort, thanks anyways mate.

Bradelz

[majordad]

Brad, did a big lowering job on a Ke11 a few years back and used Koni inserts from an early RX7 mazda had the correct piston travel.Whats yr email address will send a photo of ride height
Majordad

[Brad-KE35]

Thanks major, but are the KE11 suspension the same as a 30 series? sure my email is [email protected]

Bradelz.

[YLD-16L]

There is a place in Sydney (the name escapes me right now) that does custom springs to any specs and the prices are about the same as King Springs etc. No doubt they would be in the Yellow Pages.

[oldcorollas]

Thanks major, but are the KE11 suspension the same as a 30 series? sure my email is [email protected]

Bradelz.

the shock of a KE10, and a KE20/30 are the same.. except the body of the KE10 shock is one inch longer...

so you can fit KE20 shocks in KE10 with a 1" spacer.

[YLD-16L]

The Kings Springs are in the Garage Brad, I'll PM you shortly and see if you want them. Postage might be a few $$ because they are not small nor light.