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Location:
S.E suberbs, Vic
Registered:
December 2003
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strange ae-86 shocker problem
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Sat, 30 October 2004 02:29
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on my car I took out some normal KYB inserts which had about 5000Km on them and fitted some Celica GT4 ST185 shockers with an 80mm spacer. When I tried it out it was softer than the screwed OEM shockers I had before the KYBs. Now I thought it was because I didnt prime them enough, so I took one out again, primed it heaps of times and put it back in, no difference. next I suspected that I was using them out of their working range so I borrowed a pipe cutter and took 60mm out of my struts and shortened my spacer to 20mm. I put them back and tested them, no difference. So I ordered a set of KYB AGX adustables which are intended for a ST-205 GT4, once again on the harest setting they are softer than my first KYB's. Now something out of a heavyweight (relativly speaking) GT4 in a sub tonne sprinter should feel rock hard, WTF is going on here? any help would be appreciated as this is getting expensive and I am starting to get really pissed off. To add to my frustration my sprinter engine decided to suddently lose the function of one cylender and start making a loud sound all while I was doing some testing.
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Location:
S.E suberbs, Vic
Registered:
December 2003
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Re: strange ae-86 shocker problem
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Sat, 30 October 2004 23:08
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common suspesion experts where are you?
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Location:
Tasmania
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: strange ae-86 shocker problem
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Sat, 30 October 2004 23:29
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Its hard to believe all these new shocks are too soft. Mostly, the shock controls rebound. When you push down on the car, the force needed is mostly to do with your spring rate. When you let go, the car should come up and not bounce any further if the shocks are good.
Does the car continue to bounce when you push on one side, or just return to original position with no bounce?
If you want a stiffer ride with less roll you probably want stiffer springs. People talk about shocks matching the springs, but I don't think its a sensitive as some things. The same shocks will be able to match a number of different spring rates, so some extent. Very stiff springs will need different shocks obviously. But adjustable shocks on the stiffest setting will often be too stiff for normal springs.
Beware, cutting your strut as much as you have with Celica inserts will limit your travel heaps. Driving on a hwy or circuit will be ok, but if your on bumpy hilly roads your front wheels will lift off occationaly.
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Location:
S.E suberbs, Vic
Registered:
December 2003
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Re: strange ae-86 shocker problem
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Sat, 30 October 2004 23:39
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yes the shockers are still doing their job but compared to the back their really soft. I am running Commodor IRS shockers on the rear and on the hardest setting the whole car feels well dampened. Either way it doesnt make sense that it feels softer that my orginal KYB shockers that I regretfully swapped.
As for cutting the struts I still have heaps of travel. The wheel drops a full 80mm atleast before it lifts, but the question is would it be bad for a wheel to lift up?
Anyway thanks for the tips jonny
Is there anyone else who has used either a ST-185 or a ST-204 shocker in the 86 before?
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Location:
Adelaide
Registered:
May 2003
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Re: strange ae-86 shocker problem
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Sat, 30 October 2004 23:45
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Sounds like the springs arnt hard enough.
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Location:
Tasmania
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: strange ae-86 shocker problem
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Sun, 31 October 2004 00:06
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My TE37 has similar suspension is some ways.
I have used ST162 Monroe strut inserts I think, on the front. I cut the strut the full 63mm or whatever it was and used no spacer. I also have coilovers with 325lb/in springs (about 6kg/mm) and the spring/shock combo doesn't seam that bad. I have it so the top of the tyre is about level with the top of the wheel arch, but the wheel only drops about 40mm when I jack it up. This is mostly ok, but on Targa Tasmania type roads, a front wheel will skip sometimes, which does not upset the car realy but its a loss of traction I could have used.
The back springs should be softer. I have leaf, and they are probably too stiff. I also have Koni red shocks to suit a Commodore wagon. On the stiffest setting, the car is almost undrivable at speed, over any bumps. The back suspension just packs up and becomes too stiff. I cannot go as fast like that. I now have them on the softest setting, which is probably a similar rate to Monroe replacement shocks. I plan to take the extra leaf out so the rear is closer to standard stiffness.
But with the AE86, I think 6kg front / 4kg rear springs with any shocks in ok condition, and a few polyurathane bushes make for a good handling car. If you have adjustable shocks, you probably still want them on soft with those rates, up the back at least. It depends on the shock.
Try driving fast on a bumpy hilly road, or even off road. You will learn more about suspension that way. The racetrack is more forgiving.
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Location:
S.E suberbs, Vic
Registered:
December 2003
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Location:
Adelaide
Registered:
May 2003
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