My 98 corolla - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

RinconRolla98 · 10-31-2009, 05:25 PM

Today I up graded the front door speakers ....

First you un - screw the handle

Very carefully pull the tab from over the small bar

Then pop up the Handle from where you close the door .

Remove the 2 screws

Then pull up to remove the panel

There is the speaker

You have to chisel the Rivet off Very easy

Then turn the speaker on its fron and on the back you cut off the shell off from the frame , Because you can reuse the frame .

Once you have it removed

Then you stick in your new speaker just as it is ..

Mark the hole spots and make 3 holes

Screw the speaker to the frame that was with the car

Then you put the splash protector back on then hook up and see if speaker is working .

Re-rivet the frame back on

Then you are finished and put the panel back together ... and there you have it my upgrade on a 8th gen .

RinconRolla98 · 10-31-2009, 05:42 PM

Today I changed out my Rear Struts ....They were messing up my rear tires .. Auto Zones Gabriel Lifetime Warranty .

This is what the old ones look like ...

First you remove the clip for the brake line

Then you remove this Satbilizer link like this

Then you remove the two bolts on the bottom

Then inside the back seat you pull the panel down and there is the top nut for the strut

You dont have to hold the bottom cause its flat and it will keep the shaft from spinning .

There is a left and a right for the rear struts so make sure you put them on the correct side

If you have coil over like me then you have to remove the flat piece on top the strut

By using a drill dont drill to deep

Tap it with a hammer till it comes off

You have to cut a little piece off that way you dont have to take the brake line apart and bleed your rear brakes

Then you put the clip back

And there you have it a new strut ....

abrown0809 · 10-31-2009, 05:56 PM

Hey man, what exactly was happening to your rear tires? I have a problem where the inside of my rear tires wore out to the point where its bare. Got my tires replaced, then it happened again within 5 months. And I got the wheels aligned before I got the new tires. I heard that the struts could be bad but I just want to make sure. I drive a 96 Corolla.

RinconRolla98 · 11-01-2009, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abrown0809

Hey man, what exactly was happening to your rear tires? I have a problem where the inside of my rear tires wore out to the point where its bare. Got my tires replaced, then it happened again within 5 months. And I got the wheels aligned before I got the new tires. I heard that the struts could be bad but I just want to make sure. I drive a 96 Corolla.

WHat you just describe is what happen to me ... Yes you are gonna need knew struts

abrown0809 · 11-01-2009, 08:55 AM

Oh ok, thanks. Is there a certain brand I should get?

Danimal7 · 11-01-2009, 10:50 AM

I don't suggest getting parts like that from autozone. Got 2 rear Gabriel Ultras from there myself and ended up replacing them within 2 months. They're cheap but have lifetime warranty, so AutozoNe will keep giving you new parts but you have to mess with labor everytime.

Spend an extra 40 bucks and get some KYB GR2 struts from Rockauto.com
I replaced all four corners and it cost me 320 with S&H for the parts. Don't forget to replace the upper strut mounts as well, that's another 30-40 dollar part but vital to keeping your strut out of the interior compartment if you nail a bump if you know what I mean.

***PhatRoyale*** · 11-01-2009, 11:15 AM

Great posts!

I copied them to the Stickied FAQ just in case other members might want to refer to them in the future.

RinconRolla98 · 11-01-2009, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhatRoyale

Great posts!

I copied them to the Stickied FAQ just in case other members might want to refer to them in the future.

No Problem thanks ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danimal7

I don't suggest getting parts like that from autozone. Got 2 rear Gabriel Ultras from there myself and ended up replacing them within 2 months. They're cheap but have lifetime warranty, so AutozoNe will keep giving you new parts but you have to mess with labor everytime.

Spend an extra 40 bucks and get some KYB GR2 struts from Rockauto.com
I replaced all four corners and it cost me 320 with S&H for the parts. Don't forget to replace the upper strut mounts as well, that's another 30-40 dollar part but vital to keeping your strut out of the interior compartment if you nail a bump if you know what I mean.

To be honest with you everyone has a different experience with the same items . I have never had a problem with Gabriel shocks , For someone to spend $320 and another $40 on a car that is only used as a Daily Driver is crazy . You just have to learn how to drive , I dont beat on my cars , I keep them in a garage , I watch out for pot holes , Yes I do take them to the track every once and a while but other then that it gets me to work and they look clean . But if you have the money then go for it . But you cant beat life time .

Danimal7 · 11-01-2009, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RinconRolla98

No Problem thanks ...

To be honest with you everyone has a different experience with the same items . I have never had a problem with Gabriel shocks , For someone to spend $320 and another $40 on a car that is only used as a Daily Driver is crazy . You just have to learn how to drive , I dont beat on my cars , I keep them in a garage , I watch out for pot holes , Yes I do take them to the track every once and a while but other then that it gets me to work and they look clean . But if you have the money then go for it . But you cant beat life time .

It sure is a daily...
After the factory struts crapped out I had Gabriels on the front and then did the back, too. As soon as I got the rears replaced they went out, I'm leaning more towards a defective item. So, when I decided to replace them with GR-2's I went ahead and replaced all 4 corners. Autozone gave me a full refund for all 4 Gabriels (which cost $316 without tax, check their website).

KYB GR-2 struts are OEM replacement. These aren't your top of the line performance struts, but after riding on Autozone struts for a couple of months (the front ones were good, as opposed to the rear), I noticed a big difference in handling, going over speed bumps, ride quality, and even cornering. And to do the math correctly, at Rockauto.com I got all 4 KYB GR-2 struts for $306+$20S&H(maximum)=$326 not including tax.

So if you know how to drive, you assure yourself with lifetime warranty as opposed to the manufacturer saying that.

When you were replacing the speakers, did you use a special tool to get the rivets out? Or did you chisel them off and buy some replacements and install them?

Danimal7 · 11-01-2009, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RinconRolla98

Today I changed out my Rear Struts

You have to cut a little piece off that way you dont have to take the brake line apart and bleed your rear brakes

Then you put the clip back

....

The biggest pain with replacing the rear struts, was having to get around that closed clip. The front struts have an open clip. Had to disconnect the brake line and then bleed the brakes. I have also thought about using a zip tie to get the brake line to attach to the strut piece, but decided to just go ahead and do it right.

RinconRolla98 · 11-01-2009, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danimal7

The biggest pain with replacing the rear struts, was having to get around that closed clip. The front struts have an open clip. Had to disconnect the brake line and then bleed the brakes. I have also thought about using a zip tie to get the brake line to attach to the strut piece, but decided to just go ahead and do it right.

This was so much easier when I cut the piece out and it still clips on and holds the line ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danimal7

It sure is a daily...
After the factory struts crapped out I had Gabriels on the front and then did the back, too. As soon as I got the rears replaced they went out, I'm leaning more towards a defective item. So, when I decided to replace them with GR-2's I went ahead and replaced all 4 corners. Autozone gave me a full refund for all 4 Gabriels (which cost $316 without tax, check their website).

KYB GR-2 struts are OEM replacement. These aren't your top of the line performance struts, but after riding on Autozone struts for a couple of months (the front ones were good, as opposed to the rear), I noticed a big difference in handling, going over speed bumps, ride quality, and even cornering. And to do the math correctly, at Rockauto.com I got all 4 KYB GR-2 struts for $306+$20S&H(maximum)=$326 not including tax.

So if you know how to drive, you assure yourself with lifetime warranty as opposed to the manufacturer saying that.

When you were replacing the speakers, did you use a special tool to get the rivets out? Or did you chisel them off and buy some replacements and install them?

I'm not disproving you about the struts , I guess because I get a 20% discount on my parts I see it differently , Plus its so much easier to run down to the local Auto Parts store then try to find KYB for replacements .... But moving on from that topic , As you see I used a Scraper I had or anything flat will snap it cause there Rivets are plastic ones and I replaced it with metal Rivets .... Its real simple , you need help just let me know I will help ya

CJCride · 11-01-2009, 06:57 PM

Nicely done Rincon & a double header at that.

Do you think that riveting the speaker to the original speaker bracket might be an idea. I plan replacing mine with a Pioneer set also.
Was the sound significantly improved?

***PhatRoyale*** · 11-01-2009, 06:59 PM

Any aftermarket speaker will offer a sound quality upgrade over the crappy stock speakers, assuming that you have already done a headunit upgrade to something better.

CJCride · 11-01-2009, 07:29 PM

Thanks Phat, had the Pioneers for a bit, think I'll get them before it gets too cold.

Danimal7 · 11-01-2009, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RinconRolla98

Today I up graded the front door speakers

Re-rivet the frame back on
.

I replaced them last winter with some Polk Audio speakers and didn't use the factory set up. Just took a few more drilling holes...but I have always wondered if there was some special tool that you put inside the rivet's hole to bang it out or something similar to that effect.