Ke30 Brake Upgrade Query

[Banjo]

I acquired a beautiful little 2 door KE30 sedan a few years ago, with 96,000 klms on it. I use it as a daily drive. It originally had a 3K & 2 speed auto, but now has a 5K & K50 (KE70) 5 speed gearbox, so is a lovely car to tour in. As these early Corollas were not known for their brake performance, I've had on my list, a brake upgrade for the past 6 months, and have been looking around at my options.

 

I recently had the opportunity to acquire a set of Celica RA65 struts complete with vented disks, LCAs, steering knuckles, less calipers. I have measured them up, & the struts seem to be exactly the same length, as are the LCAs. As the RA65 springs will not fit inside the strut towers, so I will have to change the spings over.

 

I intend to have the KE30 lower spring perches professionally welded to the RA65 struts, as I'm a "weekend welder" only. However, I'm a bit concerned at the cutting & grinding off of the lower sping perches without undercutting or damaging/weakening the strut tube. Also, how do you open up the central hole in the removed KE30 lower perch, to fit on the slightly larger diameter (51mm) RA65 strut tube ?

 

Any advice or tips from anyone who has done this previously would be appreciated.

 

I've gathered together a complete set of neoprene bushes for front & rear end, a set of new lower ball joints, and can get hold of a new set of new standard KE30 "King" spings. I think the KE30 dserves new springs after 36 years !

 

I've also ordered one of those little electonic inclinometers from ebay, so I can check the camber & castor angles before & after the modification.

 

The RA65 strut stub axle angle seems to be slightly different to the KE30, and should hopefully provide 1 or 2 deg of negative camber. I also intend putting an extra inch of thread on the castor rods, and getting a little more castor, which others on Rollaclub have advised, improves the steering greatly.

 

As the RA65 struts acquired has the original Celica oil filled shockers, I intend fitting a good set of new fron shockers. Gas ??? if the budget can afford it.

 

I will top the mod off with either a new early Camry or Pajero master cylinder. Should make for a very straight forward & hassle free mod.

 

I need to get a new set of calipers, so would love advice as to what 2 or 4 pot calipers will bolt directly onto the RA65 caliper mounting brackets, with little or no required mofications, other than possible spacing.

 

Any advice or recommendations greatly appreciated.

 

Regards Banjo.

[Jono.C]

I *think* ra65 gives positive camber in a corolla?

 

The steering knuckles are way too long, i'd go for some ae86 p/s knuckles

 

Just watch you don't put so much camber on that the wheels hit the guards.

 

 

As far as the perch issue i'd cut it as close to the ke30 strut as you can, mark out the ra65 size hole in it and do it neatly with a Dremel

[Banjo]

I think I read about camber issues elsewhere on Rollaclub, when I was researching this, but it was in relation to fitting RA65 struts into a KE70, which required "modified" Sigma LCAs. I haven't read anywhere that the RA65 struts have any ill effects on a KE30/35/55.

However, when I get the KE30 & RA65 struts side by side, and check the stub axle angles in relation to strut tube, I should have a better idea. If it looks good, I'll measure camber before, fit RA65 struts, then measure camber again, & post the results here.

 

Cheers Banjo

[kickn5k]

Instead of playing around with spring perches, why don't you just get a coilover sleeve kit?