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Location:
Melbourne
Registered:
January 2005
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changing struts n shock absorbers.....
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Wed, 13 April 2005 08:08
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My ke35 has been lowered 2inches all round and now ive decided on getting new front struts and shock absorbers all round. My question is wat should i get keeping in mind its lowered.......
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Location:
cambo
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: changing struts n shock absorbers.....
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Wed, 13 April 2005 11:15
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whats your budget? you get what you pay for, buy the most expensive shocks your willing to blow your money on.
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Location:
Melbourne
Registered:
January 2005
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Re: changing struts n shock absorbers.....
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Wed, 13 April 2005 11:43
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yeh dont want to spend alot $ just something descent for everyday driving...
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On Probation
Location:
North East NSW
Registered:
December 2002
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Re: changing struts n shock absorbers.....
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Wed, 13 April 2005 11:47
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if you want to keep it lowered, and change the struts for bigger brakes, chances are you're going to have to have whatever you use (cressida, celica, corona struts) converted to height adjustables, so get ready to spend some cash. putting in struts from a different model is also illegal
i like pedders or kyb dampers, both good quality and last a long time. alot of people say pedders are a bit stiff for a comfortable ride though
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Location:
On your mum!
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: changing struts n shock absorbers.....
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Wed, 13 April 2005 12:52
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Suspension travel should be the first thing to keep in mind.
Think about whether the shocks are going bottom out, either run out of travel and bind the shock, or hit the bump stops prematurely (you can check the shock/susp travel with the springs off). Any knowlegeable suspension specialist will be able to look over what you have done and recommend possible alternative shocks to fit your lowered car, sometimes you can pack the bottom of the shock absorber so that it fits the length of your strut body.
| Super Jamie wrote on Wed, 13 April 2005 21:47 |
putting in struts from a different model is also illegal
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I didn't know this. I actually have it written on my engineers report that my struts are from a Datsun.
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Location:
Adelaide
Registered:
February 2005
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Re: changing struts n shock absorbers.....
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Wed, 13 April 2005 13:01
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yellow rolla, what datsun struts do you have just out of interest?? i know that most bolt to the ke20 steering arm. Cheers Sean
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On Probation
Location:
North East NSW
Registered:
December 2002
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Re: changing struts n shock absorbers.....
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Wed, 13 April 2005 13:13
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really!? datsuns usually have smaller diameter shocks, so you can make/fit adjustable strut tops and actually use them (unlike corolla springs, which are as big as the tower minus a few mm)
datsun stuff is also really easy to upgrade the brakes on. gtr skyline brakes onto a 1200 strut is almost bolt on. then you just need to fit wheels for it, which is really expensive so realistically you'd fit silvia brakes or something
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Location:
Adelaide
Registered:
February 2005
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Re: changing struts n shock absorbers.....
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Wed, 13 April 2005 13:21
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Wow someone who arent religous when it comes to manufacturers, (tokico make struts for datsuns and toyota anyway) Ive got 280zx struts on the front of my ke10 now, noltec coil over kit and still waiting for the strut top plates to be made up. i got my old noltec 1200 strut tops and am getting new plates made up for them. Yeah datsuns bloody easy to do for brakes, also 280zx struts have a shorter stroke than the ke10 struts, but the spring perch is quite large on the 280zx so that why i did the coilovers, stanza have a real small diam spring. 1200 or 120y wont fit the ke20 steering arm cause its a different spacing between the two bolts. what i did on my 1200 is actaully use stanza control arms and balljoints/steering arms then got the larger datsun struts!
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On Probation
Location:
North East NSW
Registered:
December 2002
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Re: changing struts n shock absorbers.....
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Wed, 13 April 2005 13:47
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i used to be a manufacturer nazi, then i got over it. you won't catch me dead in a silvia, but i have no problem using the engine and other good bits out of one in a proper car (corolla  )
that sounds like a pretty good swap. the worst thing about putting different toyota struts into a ke20/25 is that you pretty much HAVE to change the steering arm, and the ke2x has the shortest of any model, so your steering is only going to get heavier, even if it's only an extra 1/8th of a turn each way
i was hoping to save the expense of changing to coilovers though. i figure -50mm custom stiffness springs and struts bent for camber is going to be cheaper and easier than height adjustables and strut tops
i just hillclimb the thing and drive it on weekends, i don't need it setup fully adjustable. yet 
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Location:
Adelaide
Registered:
February 2005
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Re: changing struts n shock absorbers.....
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Wed, 13 April 2005 13:56
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I was just going to whack in the stanza struts out my 1200, but then i had it all in peices and i thought, nah fark it go the whole hog, 280zx struts have like 10.5"x17mm vented discs and huge floating style calipers, its got old kybs in there at the mo but when i get some more spondoolies then it'll be some konis and then for the rear god knows? i dont know if anyone will do rear performance shocks for a ke10, im sure that something else will fit though. i actually want the steering to get heavier, i was thinking of getting a ke20 steering box rebuilt with 1.5 turns lock to lock and go the whole ke20 crossmember, but thats at a later date, im just itching to get the thing on the road, got a 5k with twin 40mm dellortos 5spd not even turned the key yet.
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Location:
Adelaide
Registered:
February 2005
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Re: changing struts n shock absorbers.....
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Wed, 13 April 2005 13:57
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sorry oldschoolrolla, we so hi-jacked your thread!
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On Probation
Location:
North East NSW
Registered:
December 2002
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Re: changing struts n shock absorbers.....
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Wed, 13 April 2005 14:17
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changing the whole crossmember is a good idea, that transverse leaf thing is stupid. if you remove the leaf, then i'm told you can use a 1200 front swaybar and handling is far better
you might also want the ke20 collapsible steering column, instead of the one in your ke10, which wants to install a steering wheel into your heart when some moron slams his brakes on in front of you
both gt starlet and ford festiva rear SHOCKS fit in a ke10, though they have spring mounts which you'd need to cut off, and i don't think they have the right stroke. you could always cut the shock towers out a bit, use the spring from the starlet/festiva too and use leafs just to locate the diff, or go the whole hog and go 5 link, or 4 link with kaltracks
so just clearing this up - 280zx struts bolt straight to ke20 steering arms? but the springs are too big to fit in the towers? but stanza struts have the same base bolt pattern as ke20 and 280zx and smaller springs?
if you know of anywhere that can rebuild a ke1/2 steering box, i'd love to know where. i've been looking for ages, that's one thing that's always pissed me off about the old corollas i've owned
(ahh it's all useful, polytopic away )
[Updated on: Wed, 13 April 2005 14:18]
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Location:
Adelaide
Registered:
February 2005
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Re: changing struts n shock absorbers.....
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Wed, 13 April 2005 14:35
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Cool cheers for that info! Yeah any datsun strut save 120y or 1200 will bolt to a ke20 steering arm, try it out at a wreckers, i was amazed when i found that out, some of the 240/260/280z cars have a heaps small spring like the stanza and those z cars have really short stroke and heaps of neg camber, i was going that way but couldnt find any so i just went for the 280zx, less the spring! the thread at the top of the datsun shock is a bit larger than the rolla though so something has to be made up there. thats covered cause i got the 1200 strut tops.
Does the ke20 steering column bolt in place of the ke10 one??
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Location:
On your mum!
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: changing struts n shock absorbers.....
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Thu, 14 April 2005 00:15
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200B struts with 240K tops - not the best solution.
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Location:
Melbourne
Registered:
January 2005
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Re: changing struts n shock absorbers.....
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Thu, 14 April 2005 01:02
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interesting convo hehe.....i heard commodore wagon (vn-vp) rear shock absorbers will fit in the rear of a ke35 is this tru???? are they suited even thou its lowered? For the front i was thinking is there a place where they reco the stock ones???
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On Probation
Location:
North East NSW
Registered:
December 2002
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Re: changing struts n shock absorbers.....
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Thu, 14 April 2005 06:34
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i think i've heard something similar about vn shocks. check the monroe catalog, all their part numbers are based on design, and they have full measurement specs available (at least they did last time i looked). they'd probably just have a stiffer damping rate to suit the heavier commodore, i don't think i'd want the back of my car any stiffer?
i know for sure HQ holden and ke30 share the same part number for rear shocks. and you can get height adjustable coilovers for HQs... mmm
if you call any suspension place, they can get you new damper inserts for your struts. as i said above, kyb or pedders would be a good brand to get
if the seals on your stock "wet leg" dampers aren't stuffed and leaking oil, you can fill them up with motorbike shock oil, or 20w engine oil for a cheap (free) reco job
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On Probation
Location:
North East NSW
Registered:
December 2002
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Re: changing struts n shock absorbers.....
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Thu, 14 April 2005 06:36
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i'm gonna start looking for 240/260 and stanza struts then
pretty sure a ke20 column bolts in place of a ke10 column, or at least isn't a major operation
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Location:
Adelaide
Registered:
February 2005
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Location:
Adelaide
Registered:
February 2005
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Re: changing struts n shock absorbers.....
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Thu, 14 April 2005 08:31
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just remember, 280zx are different than 280z, 280z are same as 240/260
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