SW20 Suspension

[mynameisrodney]

Hi all,


I took my mr2 to a suspension place to get checked out it was bottoming out constantly. I knew the previous owner had put in some super low eibach springs but it looks like they left everything else as stock. When they lifted the car up the springs weren't captive, the bump stops were pretty much gone, the guy said there's a decent chance all the shocks are now screwed, but he could really put it on the shock tester as it was.

I have the stock springs, but don't really want to spend a bunch of money just to put it back to standard. I drive the car every day so would like it to be more comfortable, I'm not sure if this will be achievable with the eibachs. So was thinking of getting some king springs low (2 inches lower than stock?). Can anyone recommend some shocks which would be good for this? Not looking to break the bank, just something decent for daily driving.

Also I can't do this work myself, but the quote seemed much too high to me $500 labour + cost of bump stops, this is with me giving them the stock springs to put in, and assuming the shocks didn't actually need replacing. Anyone know a good place in the hills to go to for this?

Cheers,
Chris

[jonathan yee]

Yeh that's a ripoff! If they're charging 100 an hour then that's 5hrs just to replace springs. I could do it sit load quicker than that in my driveway.

If the shocks are stuffed then cheapest decent shocks would be kyb.but they'd still set you back about 500 for all 4, tho I've seen them on ebay for quite cheap tho you have to pay shopping from US.

[LeeRoy]

Chris, I put all new shocks and springs in my corrola about 2 years ago, king lows and KYB's all up $1000. Did all the labour myself which was pretty easy. Took around 3hrs to do all 4 corners.

[parrot]

If you do end up needing dampers, I have just bought some SW20 KYB AGX adjustable front inserts off ebay for $280 inc postage. That is the going rate for a couple of the big US sellers, such as jdmwerks13. Rears are the same price. Much cheaper than here.

What I think are KYB Excel G's are substantially cheaper again.

Search under MR2 KYB on US ebay.

[mynameisrodney]

Thanks guys,

I looked on ebay (and then on the kyb website) and everything says 1990 - 95, I have a 1999 bathurst.
also looked at Koni, they go to 1990 - 1996, bilstein just had the one set so probably same story.

[Joshstix]

Those dates are based on the US market because they only got the SW20 for part of it's model run. Check the EPC to see if the part numbers change for the different years.

[mynameisrodney]

Ahh thanks josh, I'll have to hunt around for my epc (I had forgotten I had it).

[LeeRoy]

I should also add that on my corolla I the shocks came as a full replacement strut which makes changing them significantly easier. You just need to remove your old struts and strut tops, put the springs and bump stops on the new ones, put the tops back on, then insert into the car.

If that online EPC still works try www.toyodiy.com

[mynameisrodney]

Yeah just found that EPC thing. There's a change in part number at Dec 1991, I cant tell from the pics if there is any actual change.
'8912-'9112

'9112 -


both look to be full replacement struts like you say, but all the pics on ebay look like inserts.

EDIT: and KYB website says cartridge only as well.

[WHITCHY]

Some of the later model SW20s had sealed struts, do you know if yours are? There is a guide around somewhere to cutting them open and threading them for a gland nut so you can replace the inserts. Or just find some earlier ones.
It might have only been the JDM cars that got those struts tho?
I did a fair bit of reading before I upgraded my front shocks, most of the info I read said the KYBs were pretty average so I just sucked it up and got Koni inserts. I freakin love them, very comfortable on soft and I have some mega shitty roads around my house. Plenty of adjustment in them to find the perfect setting for street or track.

[mynameisrodney]

Don't know If mine are sealed or not I'll try to take a look tonight.

[jonathan yee]

pretty sure the KYB's come as a complete strut not an insert. undoubtedly due to the US only getting certain model's they all had sealed units as well.

all suspension strut's from sw20's are interchangeable, IE there's nothing different about the mounting positions.

[mynameisrodney]

The kybs are inserts according to their website. I looked this morning and mine are inserts so all is good. will order kybs this weekend.

[parrot]

Mine should arrive early this week via that ebay seller. According to the USPS tracking number supplied, they had left the US mid last week.

If you want to wait, I will be able to confirm positively that they are inserts, measure up etc

But yes, according to the listing, I am expecting inserts.

[parrot]

Inserts are what arrived today, via the seller mentioned in my post above.

Fully tracked all the way.