KYB GR2 vs OEM, ST205 Options

[TheChildOfTheSea]

Well, I was given a pair of KYB for my ST205 (yes you've read it right...given...free).
And now I'm hesitating to install them on my car (wth are you hesitating for?).
Well the thing is, I've ordered an SSIII replica kit and I got it here, too.

So now I have to chose because, if I drop the car with the KYB, the body kit will be 1 inch from the ground...which is very bad in canada's roads.

So compared to the OEM, is there a good difference in handling and performance?
Another thing is, in long term will it hurt the SSS or other mecanical parts due to hard road bumps and holes?

[SwissFerdi]

You shouldn't have any change in ride height whatsoever if you're just replacing a strut, unless said strut is blown and therefore, your car should actually be higher after installation.

[TheChildOfTheSea]

The car is came from was actually lower...I assume it was from the springs then...

[opie_7afe]

springs lower ride but of course if your lowering you want struts capable of going lower. so you should be fine doing a direct replacement with oem springs and ride height will be the same, but yeah what ferdi said is about spot on, good luck

[TheChildOfTheSea]

Ok, so let's say I end up with those kyb with lowering springs. Will it hurt my car in long term? (damage to the SSS arms and bushings, swaybar issues? etc...)

edit: the coils are RS*R

This post has been edited by TheChildOfTheSea: Jun 23, 2011 - 4:45 PM

[RabidTRD]

GR2's are a KYB Factory replacement strut. They're not any stiffer than the factory ones. They just last longer and will take the abuse and lowering.

[TheChildOfTheSea]

but having the car lower will still increase the performance anyway...

Now having a car lower, will that hurt the body, frame, chassis, mechanics in log-term?

[jordisonjr]

It won't hurt the body unless you really really low and are scraping the frame on the ground.
It shouldn't do any mechanical damage, it may cause other suspension componants to wear slightly quicker such as endlinks, bushings, etc. but not too much.

Its defiantely worth it though.
Celica's come with a HUGE amount of wheel gap from the factory.
IMO lowering it is the easiest (best bang for your buck) way to change the look of it and make it look more aggressive.
A good set of wheels helps too.

[TheChildOfTheSea]

Yeah! I think i'll install them after all, and put only the front and rear spats and maybe try to sell the side skirts...
I'll keep the OEM rims, I kinda like them and they are amazingly solid, which is perfect for canadian conditions

[jordisonjr]

What springs are you planning to drop the car with?
The SS-III splitters to make it too much lowered compared to say TRD splitters.

If you're worried about the splitters hitting the ground, if you get bigger rims, the wheel gap will be reduce but the actually body of the car will sit higher so it won't risk scraping, if that makrs sense.

So you could always go that way if you're worried about the splitters scrapping the ground.

[TheChildOfTheSea]

I will lower the car with the current spring I have on my KYB: RS*R

yeah, well the splitters shouldn't be so bad from what I've seen...

[delusionz]

I'm not sure if the struts differ in mounting, but the SSS arms are different sizes between SS-III and GT-Four

found that out when Toyota once sent the wrong arm

[BonzaiCelica]

I'm not sure if the struts differ in mounting, but the SSS arms are different sizes between SS-III and GT-Four

no frigin way dude! The only thing different about gt4 and SS-III superstrut is the rear Mcpherson suspension found on both celica's. GT-4 Rear Mcpherson suspension shock is shorter...

what do you mean by sizes??

This post has been edited by BonzaiCelica: Jun 24, 2011 - 3:12 PM

[delusionz]

arm doesnt fit, ball joint slightly larger, arm slightly longer.

believe me theres alot different that you find by owning such cars than you do by researching internet forums about cars u'll never even see in your country

[delusionz]

That and it's just my luck that Toyota would **** it up twice and first send me a Corolla arm, then send me an SS-III arm before finally sending the correct GT4 arm.

[BonzaiCelica]

discussion moving over to Superstrut thread......

[TheChildOfTheSea]

discussion moving over to Superstrut thread......

Yes guys please stay on topic

This post has been edited by TheChildOfTheSea: Jun 24, 2011 - 7:15 PM

[delusionz]

LOL, I thought you said you bought a replica set of SS-III KYB GR2's

[TheChildOfTheSea]

LOL, I thought you said you bought a replica set of SS-III KYB GR2's

lol, maybe I mis-typed?

I meant the SS-III side skirts and splitters replica
but I'm affraid it will hit the ground with the KYB + RSR springs...

[delusionz]

What do you mean a pair? 2 front struts? if u got it install it, may aswell, no question at all lol//

ss-iii splitters will be fine, i mean unless u slammed so far that your wheel lugs are hidden in the guards then yeah maybe but your bodykit will be the least of your worries

i cant imagine 1" from the ground, the celica is way too high up, someone has been exaggerating u would scrap a million other things before scraping ss-iii splitters

[rave2n]

I got the SSIII splitters running on KYB's with the eibach sportlines. Can't remember the drop, but its like 1.5 if I remember correctly. Running OEM rims, regular street tires.

I've scrapped them once going through a traffic circle, but they've never just slammed on the ground from being lowered. Just take stuff at an angle if you are unsure if it'll scrape.

[TheChildOfTheSea]

I had those shocks on my car last winter:
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp156/t...ea/PC170003.jpg
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp156/t...ea/PC170003.jpg

this is how low it will be if I put them back on...

[SwissFerdi]

What's the drop rating for your springs? Know that GR-2 struts will do well with any drop up to 1.5", reportedly failing beyond that point. Having said that, that drop looks quite low. I'd guess 3". Sure something didn't go wrong in installation, or else is defective? Let me try to dig up some numbers on those springs before I go further...

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Jul 1, 2011 - 1:13 PM

[TheChildOfTheSea]

What's the drop rating for your springs? Know that GR-2 struts will do well with any drop up to 1.5", reportedly failing beyond that point. Having said that, that drop looks quite low. I'd guess 3". Sure something didn't go wrong in installation, or else is defective? Let me try to dig up some numbers on those springs before I go further...

Thanks, I'd appreciate, I've got those for free, but after winter I reinstalled the OEM shocks, but now I thought of lowering the car again...

[95CelicaST]

You'll be fine. If you end up bottoming out just reinstall your stock setup... But the SS-III splitters don't add much, so again you'll be fine.

[TheChildOfTheSea]

Ok Thanks!
Now decisions...decisions...Should I do it...Would you?

[95CelicaST]

Slam it.

[TheChildOfTheSea]

Slam it.

added to wishlist!

Thank you everyone for your answers! this pretty much answered my question

[Galcobar]

What's the drop rating for your springs? Know that GR-2 struts will do well with any drop up to 1.5", reportedly failing beyond that point. Having said that, that drop looks quite low. I'd guess 3". Sure something didn't go wrong in installation, or else is defective? Let me try to dig up some numbers on those springs before I go further...

More specifically, KYB will honour their warranty for defects on cars with up to 1.5" of lowering. Going lower than that voids the warranty -- which tells you where the manufacturer's confidence ends.

[99gt3sge]

just my two cents, but i had bought a set of some cheap shocks due to the fact cuz the sales rep came to my shop and sweared that they had redesinged their shocks, so i tried them out and with a month the front gave out and my car was bottom-in out on dips, ect. so i took them back of and they replaced them with kyb's and its like night and day. and i forgot to mention im runing eibach springs, but so far im happy with them. so u cant go wrong with kyb's. IMO

[BonzaiCelica]

Are kyb Gr2 and bilstein gas filled shocks?

[TheChildOfTheSea]

Are kyb Gr2 and bilstein gas filled shocks?

I think yes...I'm not sure...

following the topic, will dropping the suspension be harder on the lower control arms and figure8?