RT142 Handling - Suggestions?

[avante]

G'day All

I have an '86 RT142 Corona with IRS.

Was wondering what would be the best way to improve handling, whilst keeping it streetable? This is my daily ride.

Would RT142 spec Replacement KYB struts/shocks with Lowered King Springs be a good start?

Or is there some other combination of non RT142 parts to get it handling better?

I intend on replacing the springs / shock absorbers initially, then perhaps a swaybar or two later on.

Thanks in advance for your input

Cheers

Alex

[Assailant]

Your definetly on the right track here mate, I have super low kings in my corona, yet to do the shocks... all bushes and sway bars replaced by k-mac. but it handles like its on rails...eventually I will go for coil overs, replace everything once again and get front and rear strut braces.... I guess if your trying to keep cost down just ring a few places and get prices, so you know what your up for. Good luck!

[Stefan]

Better dampers, definitely. I'm not convinced about king lows... VERY uncaptive at front, and I'm not sold on the fronts being progressive either. Having said that, the car did feel balanced. I don't know what 'replacement' KYBs are like (do you mean stock replacement, or just RT142-specific?), but Tokiko's can be bought from the US rather cheaply and a few people on here seem happy with them.

I drove around for years with Monroe GTs (stock replacements) and king lows, the springs were underdamped, and it wasn't good. I now have stock springs (temporary thing) with superb externally-adjustable KYBs (not easilly obtainable) and, apart from the spring rate being a little too soft and missing the lowering, the ride is great. It depends what your roads are like - you can get away with stiffer springs on reasonable roads, but not on rubbish roads IMO.

Strut brace makes a lot of difference, surprisingly. If you do lower, use RCA blocks. Haven't tried sways yet.

Hope this somewhat helps.

[avante]

I don't know what 'replacement' KYBs are like (do you mean stock replacement, or just RT142-specific?)

Just wondering if there is anything out there that's better to use apart from what's specified for the RT142... Doesn't Pube's 1G powered RT142 run commodore rear shocks? I was just wondering if there any advantages in running components from other cars, or should I just stick to what's specified for an RT142?

If you do lower, use RCA blocks.

Pardon my ignorance and n00bness, but what are RCA blocks?

all bushes and sway bars replaced by k-mac

Are they nolathane (or nolathane like) bushes? How do you find them? Do they make excessive noise/creaking? May I ask how much a full re-bush costs with K-Mac?

Many thanks for your responses so far

Cheers

Alex

[roadsailing]

replace all the bushes and shocks.

don't be afraid of swaybars, they do some funny things but overall they are of great benefit.

if you can find a spring maker, consider cutting half a coil off your springs and getting the cut end re-squared (don't cut enough to make them un-captive)

[sam-131]

my recipe for cheap handling

sigma lcas,nolathane bushings,commodore front shocks and ht holden ute rears with crappy king springs = teh allright did under a lil bit on the gravel or the crappy roads but other then that i found that too much caster is not always a good thing this my current set up
camber -6.25deg
caster -5.05deg
toe set to std specs

i am going to back the caster off a deg or 1/2 and see if i can claim some steering lock back if not the toes off its head

add a ra65 front sway bar and doubled over rear bar and your in no body roll country

but be warned camber and a widened / lowered track does nothing but look nice and handle but your open for one theses every time a friendly tmu sees you

[Assailant]

May I ask how much a full re-bush costs with K-Mac?

I did it quite a while back but i'd say for complete set of bushes fitted you'd look at about $300+

[Pube]

Definately on the right track if going for a simple setup. However when I used lovells springs up front I only had about 60mm travel before the shock would totally bottom out and thats with the bump stop removed for a bit extra travel. You know th quality of roads around sydney....

I used commodore shocks in the rear to try and stiffen up the back end. Using shocks from a heavier car will mean the shocks will be stiffer as the shocks have different valving.

My initial setup consisted of Lovells springs and KYB shocks all round with K-mac sway bars. It handled ok for the street but way too soft on the track!! Street compared to the track is a totally different ball game. Id suggest skimping out on re-bushing for now and just go shocks and springs and go have some fun and find the cars new handling limits.

[avante]

So Pube, what do you reccomend for an Ideal Beginner Setup?

XT130 Corona front struts - do they help with the 60mm of travel?
Any particular commodore struts on the rear? Any modifications to get them on?

[Mr Multivalve]

I am soon to upgrade all of my suspension on my 1GGTE RT-142.
KyB front and rear shocks
King Springs Low

If you want to do it on a tight budget, then you can do the following. I could have gone all out if I wanted to but I think what I have done and am going to do will be sufficient as my car is a daily driver and I want it to be reliable.

The car did not even have a front swaybar on it when I bought it but it still handled all right but I bought a soarer(mz10 I think) front sway bar and got a custom sump made up. But the sway bar bolted straight in and is about 19-20mm.
That cost me $20 for the front sway bar and I am going to get a rear one test fitted from a mz10 or a ma61 either way they will be cheap as chips and should hopefully fit. You can go custom but you end up paying ten fold what I did.

As for shocks well my rear ones have been put in but the fronts I am yet to do as once I take the front shocks out then I am going to put some spacers in to make sure my shocks have a bit more room to travel and do not bottom out. As the ones I am putting in, well I am pretty sure they are a bit shorter than the ones I have.
I got a full set of king springs for $180 and with my $1.20 spring compressors I will put them in soon.

Have fun mate and take pride in your corona, brother
They actually handle alright for a grandpa car.

[Pube]

I recken for simple fun street setup go low king springs and KYB's all round. The KYB front inserts will be the same im pretty sure as most older toyota front shocks from early celica, corona, etc. so the 60mm travel will be the same as if you used an xt130 or rt142 strut. Thats what you get when you lower a car. Just stick with the stock strut for now. I used an xt130 strut as I wanted a bit of free neg camber and easy brake upgrade for the 1ggte.

I used commodore wagon shocks from pre VT. VT and onwards use a different lower bush so the older ones are straight bolt on. I used these as the car was built for the track and I wanted to try and stiffen her up. It helped a bit. The shocks are cheap as (bout $125 a pair) but id go corona KYB replacements as the rear might go a bit stiffer than the front.

You could even try a soarer MZ10 front sway bar like Mr Multivalve, if it clears the stock sump. But im sure just shocks and springs will be fun enough, cheap and make the car look a bit tuff!

[CrUZida]

I did it quite a while back but i'd say for complete set of bushes fitted you'd look at about $300+

I wouldn't be so sure about that.
On the MA61 (I assume all the RT142 bushes are the same), for SuperPro bushes, you'd be up for $300 PLUS fitting.

Fitting would be a good $500 for drive in, drive out, or probably $200 for you remove everything, and give to them to press out/in.

[Stefan]

Personally, I would go for dampers valved to suit your chassis (or one similar). Mixing and matching from a diffent application - completely different cars which happen to have similar fitment, and approx ~the stroke you want - the curves won't be right IMO. There is a lot more to damping than 'stiffness'.

[Assailant]

I wouldn't be so sure about that.
On the MA61 (I assume all the RT142 bushes are the same), for SuperPro bushes, you'd be up for $300 PLUS fitting.

Fitting would be a good $500 for drive in, drive out, or probably $200 for you remove everything, and give to them to press out/in.

I know what you mean, but i did do my bushes 6 years ago...

[CrUZida]

There was probably only half the available bushes back then.

Now there is inner swing arm, outer swing arm, rear swaybar stays, rear crossmember/subframe, LCA, strut bar, front swaybar stays, front swaybar mount.
All up about $300 retail.
I know half of those weren't available 2 years ago.