A Newb in need of some help- AE86 Suspension

Jezza_HR

Jezza_HR

Member
Heya guys i've just come from SXOC and posted this

Heya everyone, it's been a while since I've been around. I got my AE86 back in July and it has been idle (apart from the odd start up and drive around the block) ever since. I am taking my test in January and hope to sort out the suspension before I pass (fingers crossed) I know that the rear near side arch is scraping a little (hence why I want to sort it) I believe the problem is the wheels, due to not being standard, being a little too wide for the arch. I believe an adjustable panhard rod could fix this problem but I figured if im going to do something to solve that I might aswell redo the whole thing.

The problem here is where to start. I think some new bushes is in order, along with some new springs, shocks, top mounts and strut bars, which ones to go for is also a problem. yet i'm unsure what else I may need for the proccess. I was wondering if anyone here could recommend them to me. Without looking under the car though i'm not entirely sure what is essential.

Fitting could also be a problem. I feel fairly confident that with the right tools I could fit it all myself but then the wheel alignment could cause some problems at the end of it all. I wouldnt know how to check. Just in case though can anyone recommend a place in the guildford/woking area to fit it all for me?

Thanks in advance for any help. JZHR
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It was recommended to come here and point this question at Paz, if anyone else has any input though please share it since any help is appreciated. JZHR
 
welcome to the forum :wave: :)
Do you know if the arches have been rolled? This can help loads with getting wheels to fit and is an absolute must if you want it to look perfect :)
 
Looking into it. I really dont like the idea of using rolling on the arches. Due to the age of the bodywork I would rather not run the risk. IIRC there is for some reason a secondary arch underneath the nearside rear. I have a feeling that the current arch is a replacement but the old one has rusted away slowly behind the new one :confused:

EDIT: The car can also ground out at times so, I think the suspension is mostly to blame. If anyone has any other ideas as to why then please let me know.
 
Regarding the scraping.. First of all you 100% need an adjustable Lateral/Panhard Rod. Whenever you lower/raise the rear of the car the axle will move, so you'll always need to trim the axle back to centre.

Regarding the wheel size, can you find out where they are scraping? Those wheels that are on the car are a very high offset if i remember the car and so they could be scraping on the inner arch.. Not likely but its something to consider. If they are scraping on the outer arch id be surprised if its due to the wheel size (ive ran and run silly sizes on all arch styles and havent had much rubbing problems), its gotta be the Lateral Rod. Or perhaps tyre size. What size do you run? I recomend a 185 or 195 MAX for AE86's... 185/60/14 and 195/50/15 is the norm.

Suspension, depends how far you wanna go but www.stageoneimports.com can get Tokico HTS Short Strokes if you want to go pretty far with the suspension, and they also do a Tokico shock tuned by Techno Pro Spirits and they seem to be a bit more girly, not as short and not as hard... Springs, just get TRD or KG/MM for a decent drop in hieght, or a UK make of springs for a crap ride and a small drop :p

Bushes, new OEM ones from Toyota are probably your best bet and they work really well anyway.

Some links anyway:
www.autornd.com
www.stageoneimports.com
www.technotoytuning.com

Should get you started :)

Paz
 
Thanks very much Paz. If I ever see you at a drift event, remind me of the drink I now owe you. :D

EDIT: While I'm here you couldnt probably give me an estimate on how much all of this would set me back would you? I have about £500 ready before the end of january.
 
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Jezza_HR said:
£500
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Hmm, i think £500 wont be far off covering the HTS, Springs and Panhard Rod? Cant be sure as shippnig and Customs is always a random factor it seems but i think you'll go a fair way... Fitting would probably be pushing it but AE86's are easy enough to work on so id suggest having a go yourself first :nod: (oh and as a side note, with HTS you'll need a spacer in the front struts to run them, technotoytuning makes them.. depends if you go with HTS, check out all of those links to decide)

Actually, another thought just occoured to me.. Speak to "Driftybolox" on here regarding the "Spax HTS" that they might be developing... Dont know if its available to buy or not but it cant hurt.

Paz
 
Thanks again mate. Very helpful :)

EDIT: I was thinking of running the spring rates at 6 for the front and 4 for the back would that be recommended for mainly street use and the odd bit of track use?
 
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