Towing and new struts for an '88

[excelent3]

I need to replace the rear struts on my '88. I also want to tow a light trailer ( ATV) I realize this unit has unitbody construction. I took a Class III hitch which has a 2" receiver tube on it and custom mounted it to the "frame" of the car utilizing the 4 existing bolts. We welded the hitch on also.

My trailer and machines will weigh no more than 1500 lbs.

I am in need of some good quality, heavy duty struts on the rear end to accomodate the tongue weight ( 150 lbs) Need advise on a good setup to accomplish my goal here....

Thanks in advance! EX3

[Chris Corolla S]

Perhaps Konis would be a good choice. Which model Corolla do you have?

[REN69]

1500lbs on the back of a Corolla??? woah.. that'll be one slow car.

[fredk]

struts dont hold the weight the springs do

[virtualkuz]

Originally Posted by REN69

1500lbs on the back of a Corolla??? woah.. that'll be one slow car.

I had a 400 lbs trailer and 450 lbs bike behind my XRS. 950lbs and I barely felt any slowdown. As for 150 lbs tongue weight, I wouldn't worry about your rear suspension having a problem with that as long as its in good shape.

It really doesn't take much to tow light loads like motorcycles and atvs. I wouldn't tow another car or a boat with a rolla though You need at least a tacoma V6 to do that.

[REN69]

Originally Posted by virtualkuz

I had a 400 lbs trailer and 450 lbs bike behind my XRS. 950lbs and I barely felt any slowdown. As for 150 lbs tongue weight, I wouldn't worry about your rear suspension having a problem with that as long as its in good shape.

It really doesn't take much to tow light loads like motorcycles and atvs. I wouldn't tow another car or a boat with a rolla though You need at least a tacoma V6 to do that.

yeah but you got an XRS.. he got a Corolla with a 4AFE.

[Absin]

Originally Posted by REN69

yeah but you got an XRS.. he got a Corolla with a 4AFE.

Ya but if it's a 88' then it's much more likely to be a 4AF.

But at least it has a low first gear.

[excelent3]

I have a basic carbed '88 plain jane with air...that's it 1.6 liter engine, 5 speed manul, nothing fancy. I hear you can get Moog cargo springs to put over your struts...that may be the option for me. Are these struts difficult to install? I know I will need new ones......

[virtualkuz]

to put struts in you need a spring compressor, you can rent them for free from autozone, it shouldn't be too difficult. the only problem you may have is rusted bolts on the suspension parts. try liquid wrench first, then a torch if that doesn't work !

[automatic]

Yeah, that new XRS is a 3,000 pound car, darn near.
I was going to suggest the Moog cargo coil springs, but I see you've found them, I would recomend buying for all four corners if you can(they're about $60 a pair). The oem struts should work fine, better than aftermarket KYBs ever will, so don't be tempted to buy those. The Konis have adjustable rebound(keeps the bounce down)and are very nice, but pricey.

[Chris Corolla S]

Originally Posted by automatic

Yeah, that new XRS is a 3,000 pound car, darn near.

Actually they are only about 2,670 lbs.

[excelent3]

I will price out the OEM's before buy, but that leads me to another question......you mentioned putting the springs on all four corners. Why do you need them(coils) on the front struts....? My front struts seem to be in good shape but is it good idea to replace the front struts also,aslong as I amdoing thr rears?

[automatic]

OK, drive one over a scale sometime; will be around 2,900, I'm afraid you can't go by what the advertised curb weight is and expect the car to actually be the same. The ea92 is around 24-2500. I was surprised when our Acura GSR weighed that much also.
The rates of the Moog Cargo-Coil springs are pretty high as they compress(about twice stock), and the car won't have the same safe handling without adding some roll-resistance to the front as well. The front springs are the cheapest, easiest way to keep the car safe.
Those springs are the actually the best secret in stealth-performance springs around, and they don't even lower the car and screw up the roll centers of the suspension, let the struts bottom out etc.
Police cars have used these for years, and so have I on the family trucksters.

[Chris Corolla S]

Originally Posted by automatic

OK, drive one over a scale sometime; will be around 2,900, I'm afraid you can't go by what the advertised curb weight is and expect the car to actually be the same. The ea92 is around 24-2500. I was surprised when our Acura GSR weighed that much also.

Obviously curb weight means dry and empty. It sounds like you know gas weighs quite a bit and all the little things is your car add up as well, so as a point of comparison, curb weight is fine to use. As long as you are comparing curb-weight to curb-weight and not curb weight to wet weight.
But I don't buy that an empty XRS Corolla with no people in it weighs 2900 lbs up on a scale even with a full tank of gas (6lbs/gallon). But maybe I am wrong I've never seen one on a scale myself

What's an ea92? How much did the GSR weigh on a scale? was 2 or 4 door? and what year?

[automatic]

These new cars are heavy, all the safety imrovements, reduced NVH cost somewhere! What's amazing is how well they go regardless.
I still want to find an old Datsun 510 and put a late model engine, trans. in it, S2000, or 3SGTe. A friend once had an X-19(1,900) with a pumped up 2.0 Fiat engine, Lancia transaxle, was quite fast with only 180hp.
Our Acura was a 2000, 2dr,GSR was right around 2,900.
I have used a scale for twenty years now to compare, because the book numbers can vary so much from what the car actually is(optional equipment, changes from year to year), and you can't guess by looks alone.
You can get the axle weights also at the same time, handy for doing suspension calculations.
As a rule, the first year of a model run will be the lightest, those busy engineers, marketing types will find things, to add.