Rally Recommendations!!

[oldeskewltoy]

I've recently been drawn into(can you say suckered??) a rally team. I'm "acting" tech specialist (ok, when you stop laughing, I'd like your focus.......)

We are an AE82 3 door(known in the USA as the Corolla FX16), running with a "mild" performance largeport engine (rated 134hp@ the wheels @ 7900 rpm.


Here's a recent video of us on stage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VownGhjOdC0

Our main issue right now is getting the suspension more suited for our needs. We are currently utilizing parts from Hot Bits in Canada(www.hotbits.org). The specifics I'm not yet fully aware of, but I can say that we blow through strut mounts on a regular basis. I will get more details, but what I'm really inquiring about is EXPERIENCE rallying these cars and what works!

Do you have any fond memories of little sleep, and crew abuse? Well, I know those things.... now I'm hoping to learn something to make those memories a bit sweeter....


WHAT DO YOU KNOW...............????????????

[Casey-G]

Haven't done any rally (or any track event) at this stage in my life, but im building an ae92 with a pretty hot 4agte for tarmac rally


I only know of a car that ran bilstien rally (dirt) coilovers with success, but the car has since been converted to tarmac and they were sold/given away or something. I can possibly put you in touch with the guy that now owns the car now, but i don't know how much he knows.


Keen to know more about the car / more pics


hope this helped a little kinda

[xero]

this happens with AE86 rally cars too.
maybe have a poke about and see what they have done as well and see if it can be converted across?

[YGT04A]

jump on www dot bmsc dot com dot au they are an australian rallying car club/forum which may have the info you are looking for

[oldeskewltoy]

jump on www dot bmsc dot com dot au they are an australian rallying car club/forum which may have the info you are looking for

waiting for one of their mods to get back to me.....

[thechuckster]

keep a supply of drive-shafts in the service vehicle - at a few local rallies i've volunteered at, some guy with an angry-sounding 4age-powered AE90/100 (sorry, can't quite remember) was snapping drive-shafts at every event.

Possibly some driving style issues but a common thread was going from hard-compacted dirt surface to something else softer but with more bumps - and within 20-30 metres of the transition, one shaft was borked resulting in a DNF.

[oldeskewltoy]

keep a supply of drive-shafts in the service vehicle - at a few local rallies i've volunteered at, some guy with an angry-sounding 4age-powered AE90/100 (sorry, can't quite remember) was snapping drive-shafts at every event.

Possibly some driving style issues but a common thread was going from hard-compacted dirt surface to something else softer but with more bumps - and within 20-30 metres of the transition, one shaft was borked resulting in a DNF.

Thank you... but we think we have this covered.... we are running a C160 transmission, with a home built bearing support for equal length shafts. I'm pretty sure it is also using Camry sized drivehubs


BUT we do keep a pair of spares jic

[thechuckster]

shame you didn't get an AE86 - could have copied this example from up in WA:
http://forums.evolutionm.net/northwe...car-build.html

[Ben Wilson]

A mate ran T3 strut tops in his AE86 rally car and they seemed to work well. If you can convert them to fit an 82 they may do the job.

[alexw]

Are you using aftermarket or factory strut tops?

What are your spring rates?

Is your suspension reaching full compression (hitting the bump stops) regularly?

If your suspension is bottoming out all the time, then the springs are too soft and/or the damping is crook.

I've rallied for a few years in a small FWD using factory strut tops, and haven't broken one yet. Although the rears came close when the rear dampers were worn out.

Alex.

[oldeskewltoy]

shame you didn't get an AE86 - could have copied this example from up in WA:
http://forums.evolutionm.net/northwe...car-build.html

there is another rally team using an 86. Here is their build thread
http://dirtydrifters.freeforums.org/...ead-t1055.html

Are you using aftermarket or factory strut tops?

What are your spring rates?

Is your suspension reaching full compression (hitting the bump stops) regularly?

If your suspension is bottoming out all the time, then the springs are too soft and/or the damping is crook.

I've rallied for a few years in a small FWD using factory strut tops, and haven't broken one yet. Although the rears came close when the rear dampers were worn out.

Alex.

I believe the strut tops may just not be up to rally abuse. BUT... we have not actually used a set of new strut tops(only Toyota... and about $88 each)**. We have used junk yard ones. ** - in the USA... the aftermarket does have a "replacement" strut top... similar, yet NOT identical. We have tried using these... but with little success. We are considering a soild upper mount, but the front suspension isn't tied into the cage(yet?) so I'm worried about how much force the front end will get with solid mounts......................



spring rates: front 275/280#/inch(about 5kg/mm) rear 220/225#/inch(4.0kg/mm)

the dampers up front were/are originally designed for the AE9/AE10, and were adapted. The rears are still a bit vague on their original application - they were modified to fit his car

[MWP]

Rubber mounts are mainly used to decrease road noise in the cabin.
They have no real suspension dampening effect.
Changing to soild mounts wont change how much shock the chassis gets.

If you do go to solid mounts, make sure the spherical bearings are huge & good quality.
Dont go with T3 mounts, the bearings in them are quite small and i doubt would last long.