 GT & ST Suspension Comparison, similarities/differences |
  |
 Feb 6, 2004 - 11:59 AM
|
 
|
|
Enthusiast  Joined Nov 25, '03 From Mizzeri Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%)  |
I was wondering how similar or different the GT and ST suspensions are. I know they probably have different spring rates and shock valvling, but was curious if the mounting points were the same. The sway bars are of different diameters, but I know they interchange fine. Tie rods? End links? Anything or everything swaps fine?
For instance... say I picked up a nice set of aftermarket springs/coilovers, would they be interchangable between the GT and an ST? Assuming that the mounting points are the same, it seems that a nice upgrade to an ST might be a set of struts from a GT (could likely find them cheap in a junkyard). |
|
Feb 6, 2004 - 12:39 PM
|
|
 Enthusiast Joined Aug 29, '02 From Dallas, Tx Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
Front bars are different. Shock valving and spring rates are the same except for the 'sport package' which was available on the GT. All mounting points and all geometry are the same. Everything is interchangeable.
Don't get struts from a junkyard. |
|
Feb 6, 2004 - 9:40 PM
|
|
 Enthusiast Joined Aug 31, '02 From Philadelphia, PA Currently Offline Reputation: 8 (100%) |
how would you know if your car has the spors pack?
-------------------- 15PSI - 30MPG - Megasquirt Tuned
|
|
Feb 6, 2004 - 11:09 PM
|
|
||||
|
Enthusiast Joined Nov 25, '03 From Mizzeri Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
If you are lucky enough to have the window sticker, it will show up there as a line item option; otherwise, you can take you VIN # to any Toyota dealership and they can tell you what the original equipment was on your car. From what I understand, the 'sports package' came with leather seats and a 10 speaker sound system, in addition to different springs/struts along with some suspension components.
I am not sure I agree with you on this. For sure the shock valving is different... not so positive about the spring rates, though. It was a common 'upgrade' for some of the (then) ES Celica ST guys to run a set of GT shocks up front and a set of GT convertible shocks out back. Jeff Cashmore comes to mind, and iirc, he won a national championship in an ST on that combo. Valving was different because of the weight differences between the models. See this link for more details : Per Schroeder's Celica - 10/9/2002 journal entry (near the bottom) SpedToe169, you did answer the main thing I was hedging at, which was interchangability between the models. I have seen a guy on here trying to get rid of his GC coilovers, and had been really thinking hard about them, but he has an ST, and I have a GT. Looking at the GC site, there doesn't seem to be any distinction between the two, so i figured they were alike... but I wanted a bit of confirmation before I made a $$ commitment. I am still waffling on whether I want to do GS or STS this year. Short term, GS wins out money-wise... but STS has a lot of plusses. Also, the Koni's going on my car either way are going to be custom valved for autocross, and that is the high-dollar investment, and the first in line. Out of curiosty, what spring rates are you running, F/R, SpedToe169? i saw in another thread that they were %50 stiffer than recommended for the street, but that doesn't tell me much. Judging by what some front-running Neons are using, I was thinking 550-650 on the front, and about 250-350 on the rear, but that was going to be more a starting point than anything. Thoughts on what you have/what you'd change? Note that I am running a bit more weight than you as well... Offhand, if I pick up a set of used GC coilovers, do you know if they will let me send in the old springs in exchange for a set of my choosing (perhaps for a small fee...)? |
||||
|
Feb 7, 2004 - 2:09 PM
|
|
|
Enthusiast Joined Aug 29, '02 From Dallas, Tx Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
Ahhh, you're exactly right, I forgot about the 'vert struts. You're probably right about the GT valving as well.
Yeah, the GCs will for sure work. STS is going to be expensive, but you're doign the shocks anyway, so you might as well go STS because thats the major cost. I'm convinced that the car can be competitive in STS, or at least could have been a couple years ago...I'm not quite as up on the scene now. You'll have to find a way to drop some weight. Get your spring package sorted out, which could take a couple sets, and get your shock valving right. I'd go with the ST swaybars if you can still find them, they work pretty well. I'm running 450/375. If I was going with custom valving, I'd probably go higher. Maybe 550-600 in the front and 400-500 in the rear. Its going to be rough on the street like this, but not unbearable. Having the shocks right will help a lot. Just to give you an idea what it really takes to get the shock valving right... I just had to do this for our ITA car. You need to know the following things: -unsprung weight front and rear -motion ratios front and rear (they're not 1:1 like you might think!!!!) -swaybar motion ratios front and rear -swabar rates front and rear None of the stuff is that hard to measure, just really time consuming. It took me 3 full days to do it all. I ended up with an excel file thats about 15 sheets of data and graphs. You'll need two dial indicators, a jack, an accurate scale, and a few other odds and ends to test the swaybars. The Shock Shop in Portland is doing our shocks. Talk to Chris, he really knows his stuff. |
|
Feb 8, 2004 - 12:49 AM
|
|
 Enthusiast Joined Jul 31, '03 From GA Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
would you be reffering to me about the used Ground Controls?
i lost track of the other thread where i mentioned them for sale. cormudgen |
|
Feb 8, 2004 - 9:47 AM
|
|
|
Enthusiast Joined Nov 25, '03 From Mizzeri Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
*grin*
Yes, I was. check your PMs |
|
Feb 8, 2004 - 11:48 AM
|
|
|
Enthusiast Joined Jul 31, '03 From GA Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
recieved and replied to
|
|
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:
| Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: September 13th, 2025 - 4:31 AM |