Getting some extra ground clearance from the Corolla . . .
So, it seems that my front struts and all of my springs may need replacing. i replace the rear shocks about a year ago, but not the springs. But even though the car seems to pass the "bounce test" it still dips and bottoms out on some uneven roads, so I assume the springs. I had a friend who is a Camry (not Corolla) owner (and DIY repair fiend) check my car out; he thinks the springs and the front struts are due for a change -- there's 207K miles on the car so far.
And while I know many AE92ers want to lower their Corollas, I want to raise mine a bit so I can get over some larger objects, not bottom out on high speed bumps and topes (the Mexican speed bumps -- I drive my Corolla in Mexico occasionally) and to clear snow better.
If I can get it high enough, maybe I can then be able to slide under the car without putting it up on jackstands.
Yea, likely new struts and springs. I recently got stuck in the major snow storm we had on the east coast around D.C. It was like 6 or 7 inches that kept holding my car back.
Increased bottoming is almost always a STRUT or SHOCK problem.....not necessarily the springs. At 207,000, I'm sure your front struts need replacing. It certainly couldn't hurt to replace the springs as well. However, springs do NOT "sag" as many people think they do. They do "take a set" of about 1/2" over time....but they do NOT sag more than that (unless the wire is defective, in which case they sag very quickly....and you'd have known this a long time ago). Springs also do not get "softer" over time (again, as long as they are not deffective). The point I am making is that your bottoming problem is from worn out struts, not the springs. Stock springs on these cars are rather soft, anyway.....so, without good shock control....bottoming becomes much more likely.
As I said, replacing your springs couldn't hurt. I would replace them, if I were you. I just wanted to clarify that point of misinformation about springs (lots of people don't understand that aspect, it would seem).
OEM-type struts and springs will restore the ride height to normal. Be advised that, if you try "jacking up" the car, you'll only get suspension geometry problems and compromised handling (unless you totally re-work your suspension to accomodate the change, however). I'd recommend that you simply replace your struts and springs....and leave it at that. The car isn't a 4WD, after all.
Mine is sitting on 15" rims that someone had put on the wagon before I bought it. And the guy I bought it from said on his listing that there are new "tires, shocks, struts" on it within the past year... surely he means only the struts? I think when I looked under the car last, the struts in the back were two different brands. Is that bad?
Increased bottoming is almost always a STRUT or SHOCK problem.....not necessarily the springs. At 207,000, I'm sure your front struts need replacing. It certainly couldn't hurt to replace the springs as well. However, springs do NOT "sag" as many people think they do. They do "take a set" of about 1/2" over time....but they do NOT sag more than that (unless the wire is defective, in which case they sag very quickly....and you'd have known this a long time ago). Springs also do not get "softer" over time (again, as long as they are not deffective). The point I am making is that your bottoming problem is from worn out struts, not the springs. Stock springs on these cars are rather soft, anyway.....so, without good shock control....bottoming becomes much more likely.
As I said, replacing your springs couldn't hurt. I would replace them, if I were you. I just wanted to clarify that point of misinformation about springs (lots of people don't understand that aspect, it would seem).
OEM-type struts and springs will restore the ride height to normal. Be advised that, if you try "jacking up" the car, you'll only get suspension geometry problems and compromised handling (unless you totally re-work your suspension to accomodate the change, however). I'd recommend that you simply replace your struts and springs....and leave it at that. The car isn't a 4WD, after all.
+1
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TURBO Das Automagazin
A BRZ, a curvy mountain road makes one liter of happiness hormones.
OK.....I stand corrected on that (I didn't notice that in the OP's post). Anyway.....the car isn't an SUV ! That's what I SHOULD have said. But, I suppose, even that can be argued. The point is - the car was not designed for heavy off-road driving. If one wants to convert it to a RALLY CAR..... then that is different.
Mine is sitting on 15" rims that someone had put on the wagon before I bought it. And the guy I bought it from said on his listing that there are new "tires, shocks, struts" on it within the past year... surely he means only the struts? I think when I looked under the car last, the struts in the back were two different brands. Is that bad?
If you have 15" wheels, then you already have more ground clearance than stock. And yes, it certainly IS BAD to have more than one brand of strut mixed on one end of the car. You certainly could use one brand on the front...and another on the back....or vice versa..... but NOT mixed brands on one end of the car. There is no way to know whether the shock valving is the same on both - in fact, it probably is NOT.
If you have 15" wheels, then you already have more ground clearance than stock. And yes, it certainly IS BAD to have more than one brand of strut mixed on one end of the car. You certainly could use one brand on the front...and another on the back....or vice versa..... but NOT mixed brands on one end of the car. There is no way to know whether the shock valving is the same on both - in fact, it probably is NOT.
+1
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TURBO Das Automagazin
A BRZ, a curvy mountain road makes one liter of happiness hormones.
Just because you have 15in wheels doesn't mean the ride height will be higher. It all depends on the tire size. You could have tires that equal out to the same size as stock with just a lower profile side wall. The stock size is like what... 185/60/14 or something? I have 205/50/15s on mine that are pretty much the same overall height.
But yeah +1 to that longer post about it mostly being the front shocks or the rear struts or whatever. Those are what really wear out. Springs can sag over a period of years being that there's always some kind of load on them so of course they're bound to drop a bit, can't hold the same forever.
Yea, likely new struts and springs. I recently got stuck in the major snow storm we had on the east coast around D.C. It was like 6 or 7 inches that kept holding my car back.
we got like 20 inches up where I am and even my subaru had issues if I drove into unplowed snow. it's all about ground clearance at that point.
I have no idea how you would raise a corolla, they're not on a frame like most trucks are. I know there is a guy around here with a hilarious raised fiero though, so I know it's possible. I would google what people have tried on other cars.
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Actually, RogueMoog is correct. My car is an AE95 not an AE92, which brings up a question that I've been trying to answer. What front struts do work on the AE95s. I know of Toyota rebadged KYBs, Monroe Sensatrac & Monromatics, and Gabriels.
>> Does anyone know if any KYBs GR2s fit? The regular Corollas take 234035 and 234036 front struts, but will they work on the AE95. I've posted to the All-Trac site but no one seems to know, and KYB's website only mentions strut cartridges (363060).
>> Since my car supposedly "passes" the bounce test, does this mean that I am doing the test incorrectly or perhaps the struts are still bad regardless of the "test" results?
>> Did some Corollas come with removable strut cartridges instead of single unit struts?
we got like 20 inches up where I am and even my subaru had issues if I drove into unplowed snow. it's all about ground clearance at that point.
I have no idea how you would raise a corolla, they're not on a frame like most trucks are. I know there is a guy around here with a hilarious raised fiero though, so I know it's possible. I would google what people have tried on other cars.
I've seen a really lifted sedans, but frankly, I think that the owners are doing it for the novelty factor rather than to improve ground clearance as I am.
I'm not looking for anything that tall; that defeats the handling ability as others have said. I am looking for better bump/snow handling; I suppose I could get an SUV but then gas mileage suffers.
Larger tires would work if they went with larger diameter rims but ride comfort and longevity of the tires can suffer.
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