Options for lowering RA23/RA28

[pauljones1976]

Hi,
Unfortunately, I'm finding that searching these forums is a daunting task. The search system is difficult because it uses OR instead of AND when searching keywords. Google is better - <keyword site:toymods.net> but even so it's still hours of work to find that even though you have a hit on both keywords they are used in separate sentences lending no help to what you are searching for.
So I'm going to ask this question....

What relatively straight-forward options are there for lowering an RA23/28? I have just removed my old pedders low springs and fitted a set of king low springs and have probably seen about 8-10mm drop in ride height:


which is interesting because they both look the same:


however, my current ride height is:


which is just not what I'm hoping to achieve. I'm looking for about 3/4-1 inch lower.

Can it be done with just springs? It seems that the bump-stops are getting quite close to the strut already. I need new shocks anyway so that's not a big deal. I just want to know if I can get even lower springs with the standard setup and whether they will stay captive?

Any suggestions would be great.

Cheers,
-Paul.

[Stock_22]

You could do it with just springs, but you would probably have to check your struts first. Have you considered coilovers with RCA's?

BTW, thats about the ride height on my TA22, and I was told any lower and I would have to replace my struts etc.

[pauljones1976]

stock_22 - Yes I have considered coil-overs and to be honest it's probably the best way to go but it costs considerably more and is a fair bit more work. At the moment the car isn't being used for anything remotely resembling performance work so handling isn't really a concern. That's the main reason I'm looking at a cheap option.

I'm simply looking for the appearance and some street-ability so that I can drive it to and from shows, club days, etc etc. Basically I don't want some bump-stop monster, there has to be a little bit of suspension in there.

[o_man_ra23]

Have you thought about cutting down your existing struts and using shorter shockies?? If you cut them below the spring mount and remove a 1" piece, then get some shockies to suit (TA22 perhaps??) and weld the struts back together, you should be all good. Then you will be able to use your King lows, and the shorter shockies will ensure the springs stay captive. I would suggest having a boilermaker doing the welding for you.

The other thing to remember is that King springs are well known for sagging after 6 months. They will settle and when they do, the car will sit lower than it currently does.

[pauljones1976]

o_man_ra23 that's probably not a bad idea. The kings low springs (the yellow ones in the picture) are already sagged I would think as they have been in another car for about 10,000kms and 12 months. I suspect that's why there's a difference between those and the pedders ones (the red ones in the picture) which have a date marked on them 10/06. If I went that way I'd probably use the pedders springs because they are newer. The only problem with cutting and welding is that it would be hard to get a good weld without intruding into the inner shaft, causing the shock not to fit all the way in anymore.
+rep for the idea.

Anyone else?

[o_man_ra23]

Hence the reason you get a boilermaker to do it

[IN 05 NT]

if you want to drop the front another 3/4" your going to be coming close to the insert bump stop...
will be a shit ride!,
but you can go choppy choppy on your spring you have atm, (cut one coil off)
or send them back to be reset another 1" lower
having them reset is about $100 a pair.
blake

[o_man_ra23]

Umm... choppy choppy is dangerous, and you will still be getting close to those bump stops. Resetting them isnt dangerous, but bumpstops will again be a problem.

The other thing to consider is the ride height... there are legal lowering limits which must be adhered to... popo love to pick on people with low rides, and you need to also remember that the ride height must be with the car completely full... ie with 4 people and a bootload of groceries (even though that will probably never happen)

[thechuckster]

you could get someone like albion spring works to re-set the king springs to a lower height? not sure if that would be cheaper than getting a set of kings super-lows?

[IN 05 NT]

aslong as the spring still sits in the seat its ok.

if you look at the spring design, he could easily take off one of the lower coils and have the same result as a a reset spring

also if you want to go lower then you have now...with the standard inserts in, your spring WILL NOT BE CAPTIVE anymore, (thats when it becomes dangerous!)

i sugest doing it properly tho,

i believe it doing it once, do it right...

[oldschool_mr18RG]

soumds like you need folcrum z coils on the front just like mine. but bumpstops beware they kiss most of the time ... not much travel but i like it, don't even know if they still make them in the old days it would not be a problem ,anyway reset sounds like the way to go now
cliff......: 18RG.HKS 21 PSI

[o_man_ra23]

Actually, cutting IS dangerous... and its not something visible. Its the spring rate... these springs are made to work with a certain number of coils. You remove one, and you change their dynamics... they become too soft for that length, and you will hit the bump stops as soon as you run over a centre marker. Super lows are stiffer, and for a very good reason.

I still think that if you shorten the strut, you will keep your current suspension travel, lower the car, and make the springs more captive all in one hit. I am not sure how you will go strength wise, but if you get a boilermaker to do the welding, I am confident they will know what to do to make sure its as strong as OEM or stronger. It may mean re-heat treating the strut (bake it and let it cool properly)

[ra23celica]

Coilovers and RCA's solve your ride height versus show height problems straight away. T3 in USA seem to be selling some pretty cheap coilovers and RCA's at the moment. Maybe worth checking out ???

[pauljones1976]

sounds like you need folcrum z coils on the front just like mine

oldschool_mr18RG, where did you buy those from? Do you have a picture of your ride height with these installed? Could be an option.

IN 05 NT, the good thing for me is that I need to replace the shocks anyway, so when I find a solution that works for the height I can look for shorter inserts. I am swaying to buying new super-lows but I need to make sure they are going to be the right height (which is a hit and miss affair!).

T3 in USA seem to be selling some pretty cheap coilovers and RCA's at the moment. Maybe worth checking out ???

ra23celica, do you have any details for this company (ie: website etc) - I can't seem to find them on the web?

Thanks for all the replies guys, +rep for all.

[IN 05 NT]

oldschool_mr18RG, where did you buy those from? Do you have a picture of your ride height with these installed? Could be an option.

IN 05 NT, the good thing for me is that I need to replace the shocks anyway, so when I find a solution that works for the height I can look for shorter inserts. I am swaying to buying new super-lows but I need to make sure they are going to be the right height (which is a hit and miss affair!).


ra23celica, do you have any details for this company (ie: website etc) - I can't seem to find them on the web?

Thanks for all the replies guys, +rep for all.

well if you have xt130 struts, you can cut them down, and fit SW20 mr2 REAR inserts, they are a shorter stroke,
while your at it, do the coil over conversion,

or speak to LINDEN, (rd runner) hes currenty building me a set.