Options for lowering RA23/RA28

[o_man_ra23]

If your not changing brakes, then RA40 struts are otherwise the same as XT130. The advantage of the corona struts though is that they fit either the RT133 twin piston callipers, or the Hilux/Landcruiser 4 pistons, which can then be used with Pugeot rotors, giving you 2 or 4 piston brakes with vented discs.

EDIT: T3's website is:
http://www.technotoytuning.com/

[thechuckster]

slightly OT: how much for SW20 rear shock inserts?

[pauljones1976]

If your not changing brakes, then RA40 struts are otherwise the same as XT130

o_man_ra23, so an RA40 strut would basically bolt-up to the ra23? I had seen some information on this somewhere in the forums but it was not very in-depth. From what I can gather, the strut would give me the same result as chopping and re-welding the ra23 struts?

I have been steering clear of the tempting hilux caliper upgrade because my car is engineered with the standard front brakes and because I have pintara rear calipers it all gets very difficult. I had so much trouble with getting mod plates for the brake system that the only way I could get it registered in QLD was to have QLD Transport approve it based on my NSW engineers certificates. If I change the braking system then I have to get it all approved again and even though it's better than the standard brakes, I think I'll be opening up a hornets nest.... Sad but that's the way bureaucrats work these days.

[o_man_ra23]

Yeah, I know what your saying. Sadly, the RA40 strut is NOT like cutting the RA23 strut... they are identical in almost every way... except the insert. I am not sure if the SW20 rear insert fits in a cutdown RA23 strut, but am pretty sure they fit in the cut down RA40 strut.

[pauljones1976]

I've been looking into cutting down my spare set of ra23 struts but have been told that it's dangerous to cut and weld them below the spring seat. So whether I go for the 23 or 40 strut I'm still in that position.

It looks like the most realistic option is to look at coil-overs.

A mate of mine suggested using aftermarket skyline/silvia coilover tops from an importer/wrecker and interference fitting the tops to my standard struts. This should be quite cost effective. The only problem I can see with this solution is that it's a visually obvious modification which will require a mod plate (I think) as opposed to the other options (cutting/welding etc) which would still retain the factory strut visual (if painted black etc).

[jak]

i have cut springs in my car which is about the same height as the red spring with 5-6 more coils cut off.

it sits on the bumpstops, so we tried cutting them in half, then it sat right back on them.

but if you only want to take a coil off, or go 1" lower, just cut the bumpstops in half.

Jak

[pauljones1976]

Jak,
Firstly, to all those who are suggesting to cut the springs - that's a false economy. The ride is terrible on cut springs, and every one of my mates who has done this in the past has said that they would never do it to a decent car. As o_man_ra23 said in an earlier post:

these springs are made to work with a certain number of coils. You remove one, and you change their dynamics

I personally can't see any point of having the suspension in there at all if you are going to run it too close to the bumpstops (or always on the bumpstops ).

Cutting the bump-stops in half would be like halving the insurance on your car - it costs you a lot more once they fail, and there's less of them left to start with!

If I had to resort to cutting springs or resting the car on bump-stops I would just live with the ride height - it's not that bad really.

[jak]

i wasnt suggesting you cut the springs. im not to keen on the idea either, but i cant hav my car looking like shit between now and when i get coilovers.

if u cut the bumpstops, it will giv u more travel, so then it doesnt sit on the bumpstops and doesnt have a shit ride.

Jak

[IN 05 NT]

the SW20 rear inserts in a KONI EXTERNALLY AJUSTBALE, they are about the $430 trade... so would expect them to be $600 from a retail place like pedders....

if you were to go to the trouble of cutting and BUTT welding a strut, i would recomend skipping the whole idea and going straight to coil overs!....

you can also use the s13 adjustable strut tops,..just the original strut top PCD...needs to be filed a small amount.

seeing as you have a spare pair of springs, you can use them as a gauge to how high you want the car...ie cut one coil at a time till you get the right heaight your after, then send them away with your other pair to be reset to that height,

but still, if you want to go lower, without hitting the original insert bumps, your going to have to do a bot of work.

[pauljones1976]

you can also use the s13 adjustable strut tops,..just the original strut top PCD...needs to be filed a small amount.

After looking at my mates ke20 Corolla I've pretty much decided that this way is the most likely solution. I'm going to have a look at the import places - my mate picked up a set of skyline fully adjustable coil-overs for $150 for both the complete struts. There's a little bit of cutting and welding but it should be do-able. Then I'll be able to adjust the whole lot exactly how I want it and properly. It won't look stock but then again, the ride quality should be worth the hassle. I'll report back when I find what i'm looking for later this week.

[Stock_22]

I know sillycar chick has run front coilovers on her ta22, she used the T3 weld on kit from the states, and adapted them to fit the corona pug hilux brake upgrade (not sure if that will work for an RA23 though) still worth checking out her members ride thread though...

[o_man_ra23]

Sillychick's setup should work fine with a 23, just get harder rate springs. Even with coilovers, you will still need to shorten the strut tube to allow it to go lower without getting close to the bump stops (this is your limiting factor), but by cutting, butt welding and then throwing coilover sleevs over the top, you are bracing the weld and making things stronger. Still a good idea to go coilover with adjustable camber/castor tops, but to go low, you need shorter strut tubes, and thats about all there is to it.

[pauljones1976]

I think the big issue is going to be getting the short shock for the 23 strut. I'm hoping to get lucky on the strut top/coil-over if I find the right diameter on some sort of import.

If anyone knows of any shorter struts which fit into the 23/28 strut please chime in about now! (It's fairly safe to assume that the sw20 won't fit as it suits the RA40/XT130).....

[thechuckster]

rather than cut the tubes, just put an spacer underneath the insert, position the spring height and threaded sleeve to suit your preferences and remember that you don't have so much suspension travel as previous.

well ... that's what i would do.



edit: the insert would fit, but would need to sit on a spacer unless you shorten the tube.

[pauljones1976]

Charles, the problem will be that the travel of the shock won't be enough to bring the ride height down. The bump stop will hit the top of the strut. The only way to stop it is to move the top of the strut down (ie, cut some off - shorten it) but then you need a shorter shock as the shock will now bottom out in it's cylinder. A spacer is solving the reverse of this problem.