AE92 Strut conversion - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

PrizmGSi · 04-13-2010, 10:12 PM

A while back there was a DIY instruction thread with pics that explained how to convert your OEM GT-S' sealed rear struts to replaceable cartrige type, like the GT-S fronts. I think the guy that did it used a Ground Control coilover kit and koni cartriges. The reasoning for doing this mod was that the OEM GT-S struts are way beefier than the KYBs he was comparing them to, so therefore, more stable and durable - and cheap.

I thought this DIY was on Carl Valderama's ae92gts.com web page but now I can't find it. No Google luck either. I can't understand why this mod isn't more popular? Adjustable coilovers/dampers on ToyotaTough struts seems like it should at least register on the mod-radar.

eage8 · 04-13-2010, 11:14 PM

it's not really a custom job, it's how you install the rear koni's as per koni's instructions. anyone with rear konis on their car (including me) installs them this way.

here is the website you're thinking of:
http://www.corollaae92gts.nl/the_suspension.htm

it's not more popular because konis are $200 per corner

PrizmGSi · 04-14-2010, 10:14 AM

I guess that's the DIY I was thinking of, but I thought I remember that some minor welding was involved too. Would the Ground Control coilover kit require welding for this modification??

So just cut off the top of the OEM cartridge housing and drill a hole to through-bolt it from the bottom to secure the cartridge insert.

If $$ is the reason people don't do this, is there a more affordable brand than Koni?

How about using less expensive none-adjustable insert? Is there a $50-$100/per corner alternative?

I'd like to do this mod to my GSi. The Eibach/GR-2s are okay but I'd like the versatility of a adjustable coilover setup without spending $1500-$2000.

Blof-fan · 04-14-2010, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrizmGSi

I guess that's the DIY I was thinking of, but I thought I remember that some minor welding was involved too. Would the Ground Control coilover kit require welding for this modification??

So just cut off the top of the OEM cartridge housing and drill a hole to through-bolt it from the bottom to secure the cartridge insert.

If $$ is the reason people don't do this, is there a more affordable brand than Koni?

How about using less expensive none-adjustable insert? Is there a $50-$100/per corner alternative?

I'd like to do this mod to my GSi. The Eibach/GR-2s are okay but I'd like the versatility of a adjustable coilover setup without spending $1500-$2000.

Yes, Carl used ground control coilovers and than you need to modify the struts a bit more. (Grind of the 'dish' that supports the springs and weld the threaded part to the strut

)
The KONI's don't need any welding. The KONI's are one of the best shocks you can buy, but there are alternatives...just not a lot of them for the AE92.

And sometimes the quality isn't all that good. So watch out for that when diciding on new struts

@Eage8: Thanks for linking my site!

PrizmGSi · 04-15-2010, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Yes, Carl used ground control coilovers and than you need to modify the struts a bit more. (Grind of the 'dish' that supports the springs and weld the threaded part to the strut

)
The KONI's don't need any welding. The KONI's are one of the best shocks you can buy, but there are alternatives...just not a lot of them for the AE92.

Okay, thought it was Carl's DIY. He took great pics of the mod. I wanted to find it because it explained where to weld the sleeve on the strut housing, where to cut the top of the housing for the inserts, and the size of the hole drilled into the bottom of the housing.

In his DIY, he also ground off the spring dishes/perches(?) too. But when I went back to his site the old DIY was replaced with a similar mod to his friend's car. This time they left the dishes on the housing. It looked alot cleaner ground off and painted but they must have had a reason for leaving them on. I wonder if they did it to provide support of the threaded sleeve rather than welding it.

BTW- Your build project is really impressive! You're breaking down and restoring/replacing everything from the o-rings up. And your attention to detail...man. Nice work.

toyotaspeed90 · 04-16-2010, 02:25 PM

I'll have to look at my spare gsi suspension lying around...

I'm pretty sure the gt-s and gsi have serviceable rear struts and the sr5's & 4 door's don't (sr5's are in the front... probably due to sharing front suspension identically with the gt-s)

deeoh · 04-20-2010, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toyotaspeed90

I'll have to look at my spare gsi suspension lying around...

I'm pretty sure the gt-s and gsi have serviceable rear struts and the sr5's & 4 door's don't (sr5's are in the front... probably due to sharing front suspension identically with the gt-s)

Could you please check on those rear struts of yours? I'm looking for a set of rebuildable rears.

At the moment, I'm working on using a set of AGX's for the SW20. The fronts use the same p/n's, but the rears do not. Will post my results soon...

eage8 · 04-21-2010, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toyotaspeed90

I'll have to look at my spare gsi suspension lying around...

I'm pretty sure the gt-s and gsi have serviceable rear struts and the sr5's & 4 door's don't (sr5's are in the front... probably due to sharing front suspension identically with the gt-s)

no corolla has serviceable rear struts... you have to hack up the rear strut (saw it in half) in order to get the koni strut in...

some sedans are serviceable in the front, it's just a different size thant he GT-S. The SR5 is also that same smaller size and is not the same as the GT-S front strut.

eage8 · 04-21-2010, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deeoh

Could you please check on those rear struts of yours? I'm looking for a set of rebuildable rears.

At the moment, I'm working on using a set of AGX's for the SW20. The fronts use the same p/n's, but the rears do not. Will post my results soon...

front SW20 AGXs work fine, lots of people are using them. there is no AGX for the rear though, you'd have to get a koni if you want something adjustable.

deeoh · 04-21-2010, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eage8

front SW20 AGXs work fine, lots of people are using them. there is no AGX for the rear though, you'd have to get a koni if you want something adjustable.

That's good info to know, thanks! So now it looks like I'll have to sell off the rear agx's and get koni's. You saved me some time searching at the jy. The experiment saga continues...

eage8 · 04-22-2010, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deeoh

That's good info to know, thanks! So now it looks like I'll have to sell off the rear agx's and get koni's. You saved me some time searching at the jy. The experiment saga continues...

you'll need rear GT-S struts I'm pretty sure to put the konis in though, they're bigger.