GT w/ Sports option suspension, SUSPENION OPTIONS Options

[operative]

I have done my research and have come to the following conclusions regarding my suspension options.

From 6gc info page (http://www.6gc.net/index.php?action=information&itu=4): “The GT hatchback does has the option of having the Sports Package on it, which utilizes special shock absorbers with two-stage valves, which give the car better dampening force for better handling stability. The Sports Package is not available on the ST model.”

I have a 97 GT with the sports option. (Toyota dealer told me so)

I have purchased the KYB GR2 from tirerack. $220
I have purchased the Tein S Tech springs from Ebay. $140

Now realizing that the KYB front inserts wont fit.

I have the following options (correct me if Im wrong):

1. Buy additional Brand new struts without sports package (UNSEALED) from partznet.com for 115.81 a piece(x2) = $232. Or used struts for $$??. Im guessing this will fit my car. Total parts cost $600. handling will be great, but ride will be bumpy.

2. Buy brand new struts with sports package (SEALED) for 115.81 x2 = $232, and lower the car with stock sports package struts. Return the KYB front inserts. Total parts cost = $490.
Have anyone lowered their car with the sports package struts??? Maybe I’ll be the first. Who knows what problems lay ahead, but will be better ride quality than KYB front inserts.

3. Faak KYB, get Tein SS coilovers and not have these problems. Total cost = $1250. Good handling and ride quality but double the price.

I am mainly interested in Have anyone lowered their car with the sports package struts??? and Is my options correct.
I also have 225/45/17 tires, I am assuming that the 1.5 drop in front wont scrap based on conversations with many 6gc member.


Thanks for the help.

This post has been edited by operative: Dec 26, 2005 - 4:13 PM

[LewFX]

sports struts are just sealed struts, you cant change the insert in them at all, only for the fronts tho. you can pick up some ST front strut housings for cheap and insert the kyb inserts, the kybs are just oem replacement (macphersons) so no real difference between the 2. now if u get a better strut like bilsteins, they are allot better imo. but once u lower the car, you will feel every bump unless you get some really good strut bars to tighten the chassis.

This post has been edited by LewFX: Dec 26, 2005 - 3:44 PM

[operative]

"you can pick up some ST front strut housings for cheap and insert the kyb inserts"
When you say "ST Front strut housing" do you just mean regular celica strut w/o sports option? Cuz there is no part in the catalog called "ST front strut housings"

But Im really interested in option 2, I know for sure that strut with sports option feels way better than normal. I just dont know the consequence of dropping 1.5" on the sports option strut.

[TTE]

I had sport option, put TRD springs on and ride become very stiff and bumpy so soon struts died and I bought KONI inserts. I had to buy different housings from junkyard for $50 a piece, you can find cheaper, because mine were sealed.

[LewFX]

what tte said, just go to a junk yard and find non-sport struts for the front, i bought some st versions and worked out fine.

[macavely]

if you need the fronts PM ...

[operative]

So the most popular option is used normal sturts with new GR2 inserts.

Mac u have PM.

[LewFX]

seems like it, if you must go gr2s

[elvasoshexai]

ok. i was just talking to kyb.

if this performance suspension is in fact JUST sealed struts then they DO make sealed strut replacements for GTs with performance suspension.

Most places don't carry them yet because they just introduced them a few months ago. but the person i talked to said they had them in stock.

The part numbers for them are FR: 334378, FL: 334379.

I just ordered them from http://www.importrp.com but you should be able to get them at your local shop if you ask them to get it direct

they are a bit more expensive than the cartridges but it's really not too bad

[operative]

elvasoshexai, good find. post updates on how the install goes.

[lagos]

i had the same problem with mine. ended up getting Monroes for the front. its the whole sealed strut and not just an insert. so thats probably your cheapest option.

if you are thinking of going with new toyota ones, then just return everything you bought and go out and buy the tein system. the oem stuff dosnt last long on a lowered car and youll just be kicking yourself in 2yrs wishing you had just done it right the 1st time.

[LewFX]

monroes are way to soft and they are sealed as well, i say get 2 front non-sport strut housings, more options to work with

[Silver94CelicaOw...]

....and go out and buy the tein system.....

Art....you said the "T" word.....

This is the best money spent on suspension on our cars, period. I've had my coilovers for about 4 months now and its the best mod I've done yet. It changed the attitude and feel of the car from feeling like a sporty coupe to an all out track car.....VERY fun to drive now with the suspension and my GReddy exhaust. I love it.

This is a good thread though. I had no idea my old suspension was the Sport option until I read this. To all the GT guys on a budget, this is some great info to have an inproved suspension setup, one of the best things you can do for our cars.

[sugarfree]

i had my eibachs on the sport package struts. They were fine, just drive as any other lowerd car is driven. Meaning watchin out for rough, bumps, pot holes, speed bumps ect. Then i hit a curb really hard one time and bent the control arm. The guy at the shop told me it was my strut, so i changed them out, and i really didnt need to because it wasnt even the strut. The strut lived. But i changed them to some Monroes because thats what he told me to do, and they suk, they blew quicker then the stock struts. KYBs were good, they lasted me a long time. And now i dont want the springs, i want TEIN SS.

[operative]

My suspension setup is finally installed.

Front: NEW OEM Toyota strut w/ spt
Rear: New KYB GR2
Tein S tech
also changed to hawk track break pads
Took the mechs 2.5 hrs and $300.
Perfect install, no noise from anywhere.

This post has been edited by operative: Jan 14, 2006 - 12:14 AM

[Negative]

i had my eibachs on the sport package struts. They were fine

Same

[elvasoshexai]

for those that said kyb didn't make front struts for sports suspension:

[celicarus]

hey elvasoshexai --

that's probably new - because when i had bought kyb in the past they surely didn't have the entire front available - just the inserts

its true - kyb website

but i'm still happy with my tein ss

[Shigexile]

i got kyb with sportlines and no problem. BUT, i would of loved it if i payed that extra and gotten the tein coilovers. i wanna go lower now. if you're gonna be going lower any time in the future, i would consider option 3, tein coilovers.

[SiN_CeLi]

Kind of a noobish question I dont know a whole lot about suspension. I have a 96 gt and I need to change my shocks. How would I be able to tell quickly if I have the sport package. Another question are the stock springs supposed to be red cus mine are.

[Willy2o9]

Kind of a noobish question I dont know a whole lot about suspension. I have a 96 gt and I need to change my shocks. How would I be able to tell quickly if I have the sport package. Another question are the stock springs supposed to be red cus mine are.

call the dealership and have your VIN handy.. they can look it up for you...

[Manta5x]

this thread was very helpful to me.
thanks elvasoshexai

[Manta5x]

Ups just dropped off my KYB Gr2 full front struts from Import replacement parts, excellent service.
They cost less than what my local Advance auto parts store were charging for kyb inserts. Now I'm ready to drop her with my TRD springs.

[WALKER]

That was an excellent post. Thank you very much for the information. Thanks for finding the KYB sealed setup for the sport package as I am pretty sure that I have that setup on my GT-S. I am about to phone the dealer and find out from them if that is the setup I have. Thanks also for the link to the import replacement parts as they are all on sale for 55% off right now.

[KAOS]

another Newb question about the Tein Coilover package... does anyone have a link to specs on these? and are they the total package or just the cheap coilover? I'm looking for a Strut/Coilover complete package for the GTS, any information would be helpful, tnx!

[celicarus]

another Newb question about the Tein Coilover package... does anyone have a link to specs on these? and are they the total package or just the cheap coilover? I'm looking for a Strut/Coilover complete package for the GTS, any information would be helpful, tnx!

http://www.tein.com/ss1damp.html

[BonzaiCelica]

ok so since dustin and batmann brought it up in the podcast. whats the deal with the rear end control arms on gt sport suspensions from 96-99?! anyone got solid info...

[BonzaiCelica]

AT200 rear end
http://toyotamarket.ru/us/252470/001/2/4804/1/48740F/

ST204 rear end
http://toyotamarket.ru/us/252470/019/2/4804/1/

everything seems to be the same. so whats gives? the rear bushings are spherical bushings according to dustin n batmann podcast for 96+ ST204 chassis that came with sport suspension.

taking a look here it looks as this is what you guys are speaking of. a bushings here according to this uk ebay page??!!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOYOTA-CELICA-2-...1-/181079418814

This post has been edited by BonzaiCelica: Sep 4, 2013 - 11:36 PM

[richee3]

My '98 GT does not have the Sport suspension.

[BonzaiCelica]

wheres your proof source ? if you just talking about the front sealed struts thats not good enough

[richee3]

Stef ran my VIN today to check.

[BonzaiCelica]

ok its not your car or that i didn't believe you. i just want to specifically see what the rear end sport suspension control arms. like pics of non spherical bearing vs bushing control arms.

[BonzaiCelica]

bump

[Batman722]

Daniel's car doesn't have sport suspension.
Stef looked up the vin at the dealership (as she did with our Beams and Manny's car). Manny's and our car had the sport supension listed as an option, Daniel's car didn't. Eod.

Here are some pics of the 96+ sport suspension sperical bushings in the trailing arms.
The arms on the top are the non-adjustable and the bottom are the (camber) adjustable.



2 things about the arms:
1. there are sperical bearings in them with a small rubber boot over them for protection.
2. the adjustable arm's heads are smaller than the non. Look at the width of the heads.

Here's another shot.

and the poly bushings


Look at the size of the bushing in the adjustable trailing arm (left) and the size of the bushing in the non (right), the holes in the arm heads are different sizes.

Now, for 94-95 non sport suspension (or STs too), all of the bushings are rubber. The heads of the trailing arms are the same size and the poly bushings fit in perfectly.
For 94-95 w/SS, the heads are the same size but you have sperical bearings, not rubber. They need to be pressed out and the poly bushings fit perfectly.

96+ w/SS, you have sperical bearings, and your adjustable trailing arms are different. They suck, the poly bushings won't fit.
96+ w/o SS (or STs) I assume you have the same size heads on the trailing arms and rubber bushings, poly bushing fit perfectly (Stef has a 97 ST and that was the case, no issues with poly bushings.

FYI here's pics of the poly bushings in the Beams (94 GT w/SS)









Here's a link to Manny's pics, 94 GT w/SS and now poly bushings
Notice all of his trailing arm heads are the same size)
http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=90536

And Stef's link to her poly bushings
http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showto...amp;hl=hurley97

And moar !
http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showto...mp;#entry860146

If anyone needs more clarification, post up some questions.

This post has been edited by Batman722: Sep 12, 2013 - 5:57 PM

[njccmd2002]

hmm reminds me of

[BonzaiCelica]

OK Great info lets get this stickied!!

got this off here http://www.alltrac.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=21366

I'm not sure if these oem bushing will fit into rear 6gc control arms. look a bit big??

[Rusty]

not sure if its the angle, but this looks smaller than the ST202 part?

[Batman722]

not sure if its the angle, but this looks smaller than the ST202 part?

It's the angle.
Here's the same part from the top/front in another pic.



New revelation, Stef's 97 ST doesn't have one of those.
It could be a GT thing, or a 94-95 thing, or a sport suspension thing.
Doing research now.

[njccmd2002]

just to confirm these are not sports package right, they almost look the same... and they came out of st

[Batman722]

Looks like sport to me and they'll have to be pressed out.

Under the rubber, is there metal or just rubber all the way through ?
Rubber all the way through is non-sport, metal bearing is ss.



Look at the top right, the metal bearing between the bolt and the arm.

[njccmd2002]

Yeah, metal between. But the other one the adjustable one does not look like the pic u posted.. Why would an st celica have sports susp. Beats me... Unless the p.o. Swapped.

The adjustable arms head is not smaller, it looks the same.. Ill have to measure tomorrow...

[Batman722]

So all the heads look the same, right ? (same size)
But they all have metal instead of just rubber, right ?
Easy, press them out, pop in new polys.

[njccmd2002]

yeah, funny thing, i dont want to go through this with my vert

[BonzaiCelica]

So I checked my rear trailing arm that adjusts camber and it has the skinny end points like batman posted. However if I understood correctly, we have a total of 8 spherical bearings on the rear trailing arms?

This post has been edited by BonzaiCelica: Oct 20, 2014 - 8:06 PM

[mi645]

any benefits?