Whats The Best Suspension Setup Under $1000

[ke70_sa]

ive got a topic on 86DC which is similar, but i really want more answers than "mod this" and "mod that"

 

id really like some more definate answers as to what i can buy for under $1000 that will set my car up, front and back, with a decent suspension upgrade.

 

i know shocks are going to be a fairly large cost of the upgrade as i want new (ish) parts.

 

so far i have:

- xt130 corona control arms with new fulcrum bushes which i need to put in

- castor rod bushes

 

I'm planning on getting corona stock springs cut for the back because i run it daily & i don't really feel like having VL or EB springs killing me on every little bump. plus itll kill my shocks quicker & i want a more grip set up, rather than drift.

 

anybody with experience & knowledge is welcome, because thats all I'm lacking!

haha

 

 

cheers

[silverra23]

I would think you can probably get some KYB shocks that will do a nice job for your budget. By them time you have bought them and your other components you will be pretty much done with your budget, thought you might be able to sneak a sway bar in there too. Having not had your model don't know what difference that will make to handling though.

[ke70dave]

1000$ eh...

 

unfortunately you can't do much with the stocko front suspension.

 

you need to get bigger struts to put in decent shocks.

 

for bigger struts you need either AE86 struts or ke30/55 (i think?) had that same size strut tubes as ae86..

 

either way your probably better off getting ae86 struts since youll get slightly bigger brakes with them too (jdm brake upgrade available, or various others)

 

complete ae86 struts and brakes can be had for about 200-250, depends what you can find.

 

now you can be naughty here and get some springs from EB- AU falcon, cut them in half and put half a spring at each corner of your car...cost...like 50$

 

or you can be not so naughty and get proper springs from reputable spring manufactures/suppliers, about 100$/corner...cost 400$

 

assuming you went for the 2nd options, 400$ + 250$ = 650 for struts and springs (using non dodgy method, ie not cut falcons)

 

now shocks, have a look on ae86dc at the rear suspension article, i got shocks from some commondore wagon, for the rear (model number 343113 i think) KYB jobs...150$ brand new.

 

now for front shocks, expect to pay the same amount for shocks that fit in the front, I'm not sure what exact shocks to use as i put S13 gear in my ke70 (alot more than 1000$), but something short stroke should be around ....150$ brand new again.

 

so if you get proper springs thats 950$ spent, if you get falcon springs you got another 350$ to play with. i would suggest new bushes all round, nothalane or whatever they are called. ooh ooh almost forgot, youll want to get yourself a adj panhard rod as well (110$ whitline ebay). keep that diff of yours inline.

 

thats pretty much your 1000$ gone, modifying cars is expensive....

 

this setup above will get your car driving around on rails though!!

 

if you got more cash..

 

strut bars are good

fender braces are also good (talk to littleredspirit about these, he raves about them:P)

sway bars are good, a little over priced for what they are, i wanna try welding 2 stock ones together one day!

camber plates for that tunability, longer control arms if you wish to be cheap

 

 

but first of all, you want to get some 14/15" wheels, with some DECENT tyres on the road, not 400$ each, just 120$ each jobs will be fine. no point having all this awesome suspension on crappy 165/70/R13's!!!!!

Edited May 8, 2008 by ke70dave

[ke70_sa]

cheers for your help mate.

good to get a solid response. if anybody else has helpful comments I'm all ears !

[Boost+k]

cheers for your help mate.

good to get a solid response. if anybody else has helpful comments I'm all ears !

 

i'd also tap abit more thread on the caster rods to make the most of them

 

i'd use ae92 shock inserts in the front to keep those falcon springs captive

 

i'd buy some RCA's to get the lower arm at a better angle (cheap from techno toy tuning)

 

if you fit the ae86 shocks then you'll also need the steering arms because they'll be a different bolt spacing unless you got the latest ke70, fit the power steering arms which are shorter so give you quicker steering and more lock (good for when you get to tail happy on wet days)

 

i'd also fit some spacers to bring the rear track the same as front or you'll get more oversteer

 

and a home made strut brace, the differance from fitting one is unbelieveable... i used to get massive understeer in my stock ke70 (years ago) but making a strut brace helped heaps

[bLinded_]

I don't know if it is the "BEST" setup for under $1000, but XT130 Corona struts and LCA's work a treat for the front end. With the Corona struts you can use the stock brake setup which is twin piston calipers and 266mm(I think) solid discs and also you will have a wider variety of shocks to use, as opposed to the standard strut(KYB AE86 shocks fit). Although solid discs won't be the best if you plan on going out to the track much, they will do a good enough job for street use. Also, by using Corona struts, they will leave you with the ability to move to larger brakes with the Hilux/Peugeot upgrade if you feel more stopping power is necessary. The XT130 LCA's are a good investment as you will gain a nice amount of neg. camber and some more track, which is always nice :hmm:

 

For the rear, I think it would probably depend on how low you go as to what springs/shocks to use. If you plan on going really low, I believe that Suzuki Sierra shock work well, and if you want a nice in between height, use VN? Commodore stationwagon shocks(343113 KYB part number). Spring wise, I don't really know of any cheap fits other than the cut Falcon springs which you said you don't want, and, the other option being getting custom springs made for a higher fee.

 

With the struts complete with brakes and LCAs being easily sourced from a wrecker, I'd say that they only other major costs would be new shocks(front and rear), a new set of rotors/pads for the front and some springs for the rear. Lets say <$200 for struts and LCAs, $350 for shocks, $150 for rotors, and $60-200 for springs in the rear, You should be able to get a decent upgrade for <$1000. It will really depend on what price you get parts for and what you actually decide to run as to what figure it will cost. Just shop around for best prices and you will have change from $1000

 

Edit: Probably should add that I use this setup (struts converted to coilovers) and it works very well. Also, I currently use stock KE70 springs in the rear but cut down. I didn't mention this at first as I didn't want to start a flame war about cut springs being bad etc. But LittleRedSpirit is spot on with soft keeping grip. I can throw my car around corners and still not loose the back end. I did use Falcon springs at first, but changed as they seemed to not seat right and made weird sounds when I hit bumps ;) Will invest in some custom springs when I have the time/get motivated.

Edited May 9, 2008 by bLinded_

[LittleRedSpirit]

As said above. The best budget upgrade is probably corona fron suspension, and cut standard springs with commodoore shocks. I have cut standards in my spirit, and they are phonomenal for grip. Most people do not get the softer is better thing for grip, they have a misguided assumption that stiffer is better. Its good to see someone who knows better. The shocks I have are GT gas monroes, the same fitment as above (KE70Daves Suggetion). Keep my springs nice and captive. I used to have cut corona springs but they were far too stiff for grip.

 

Font end wise, XT130 Struts and Lower control arms, all complete with brakes and steering arms will work fine. For a little extra security you may want to use the turnbuckle style adjuster tubes and tie rod ends from an RA40 to connect the rack to the steering arms. This gives you the 51mm od tubes which fit all the good shocks. It also gives you negative camber as you know. It will also look far too factory for a cop to ever pick up on. The stud pattern will remain the same too, so its win, win.

 

May the force be with you.

 

The total cost of the above mods including all new shocks should be 5-6hundred, leaving money over for either better dampers, or swaybars, etc. If it was me Id buy a Prothane bushing kit from T3 and do the lot myself, then spend the rest on decent tyres.

Edited May 9, 2008 by LittleRedSpirit

[LilSlvrRolla]

I don't know if it is the "BEST" setup for under $1000, but XT130 Corona struts and LCA's work a treat for the front end. With the Corona struts you can use the stock brake setup which is twin piston calipers

 

If you get the Corona struts, make sure they have the twin piston calipers. My ones came with the same girlock's that the KE70 already had, caliper bolt spacing seemed like the only difference to me between the two cars. I've ditched the Corona brakes for HiLux 4spots.

[bLinded_]

Oh yes! Should have specified that. If you do go wreckers hunting, make sure you get the 2 spot ones, not the singles :D Thanks for pointing that out SilverRolla :)

[ke70_sa]

well!

cheers guys...

haha i should have mentioned that i had already been under the assumption of corona struts and the brake upgrade.

i was just re-thinking the corona move because i didnt know that they are that decent an upgrade!

well this is all good news and i will follow on as planned..

if anybody would like to help me with the actual conversion of the parts that would be awesome!

I'm in brighton area, but regularly in blackwood/coro valley as its my old area + mates + the missus in belair.

so any S.A boys that would be willing to help,

a cartons there for ya if ya can haha.

cheers

 

edit: yeah i don't really need the drift spec - therefore the reason behind wanting softer setup. good to see it aint all d-spec on here and i can get the help.

Edited May 12, 2008 by ke70_sa

[st.nick]

Ok,

 

So what model Corona is the twin-round-headlight model?? Its a 1976??

 

And more importantly, will the front struts fit for the "front strut upgrade". Are they the same as an XT130??

If so, will the struts fit the bottom knuckles (ie the bits that have 2 bolts in them, that connect the ball joint to the bottom of the strut) on the Corolla. I have

fitted GE Sigma LCAs to my Corolla, which give excellent negative camber.