General consensus is that AE86 front brakes work good - but I don't have personal experience in them.

If you are going to convert to coil over then get a RT13# struts, add a pair of LN10# Hilux/Pickup 4 spot callipers over a Peugeot vented disc (machined down by 5mm and converted to 4 stud). A friend has done this to his RA23 and it is excellent. Convert the RT13# strut to coil over or just leave it stock with aftermarket RT13# springs.

A complete MX73 strut and front brakes end fits easily for a modest increase in braking power from a larger vented disc (but not as large as the Peugeot vented disc).
Use RA2# steering knuckles (most Toyota knuckles do not bend inwards and so the steering rods are too short and the bolt pattern is different on most other Toyota knuckles).

Rear brakes:
On your trip to Japan you might be able to find an RA25 GT or RA28 GT rear end.
This has the same brakes but has an F series diff and the complete housing is a direct replacement on your '73.
Note, F series diff does not fit any other A2# Celica housing.

Hilux N2# rear end has 10" drums (Celica has 9") and a super strong (and heavy) G series diff.
You will need to relocate the suspension mounts.

Similar for the Landcruiser rear end, except you also need to shorten one side.

A Skyline (circa 1985) rear end has disc brakes, a strong diff and the same bolt pattern as your current wheels.
You also need to shorten one side.

On my RA28 I used a JDM spec MA45 Celica XX rear end with disc brakes and LSD.
Mine only came with the T series diff but other Celica XX/Supra rear ends have the stronger F series diff.
Slightly wider than the A2# rear, so you might have to flare and roll the wheel arches depending on your wheel size (I flared and rolled mine to suit Soarer 15x6" rims with 225 tyres).
You will need to relocate the suspension mounts.

The AE86 rear end fits.
Gives you disc brakes.
You will need to relocate the suspension mounts.
Axles have a habit of breaking if you increase HP.
Disc brake axles are different to drum brake axles, so you will have trouble replacing them in America.
Only has the lowly T series diff.

Crown (circa early/mid 1980's?) rear end has F series diff and disc brakes.
You will need to relocate the suspension mounts.
These have 5 wheel studs but that suits the front 5 stud Peugeot vented disc.

Personally, I would leave the rear brakes alone as the 9" drums are quite good.
Just upgrade the fronts - which are not very good.

Haven't found an IRS that fits the 2# Celica's narrow rear chassis rails without a lot of effort (eg building new rails).

Master cylinder is easy to upgrade to a Hilux, Corona, Cressida or Crown 15/16" MC to give a stiffer pedal for better control.

- Stepho

 

Master cylinder is easy to upgrade to a Hilux, Corona, Cressida or Crown 15/16" MC to give a stiffer pedal for better control.

Which year/model of the Hilux, Corona, Cressida or Crown to swap master cylinders? I have a leaking MC on my RA25 Celica and need to replace it asap.


EDIT
Update: I found a used MC from a EP91 Toyota Starlet (1996–1999). It shares the same MC as the Tercel (as does the Toyota Paseo, and the Toyota Cynos), and it fits perfectly in the Celica. It also has a much firmer pedal than stock, and is great. For anyone wondering, it is a non-ABS MC with just 2 port holes for brake lines.

The problem is that the bolts from the stock brake line didn't easily go into the Starlet's MC. The size and thread is the same, but the stock Celica bolts have this weird extra little flare on the end which won't go into the Starlet MC without a huge amount of force shoving it in there. I managed to get one brake line in that way, and the other just wouldn't go, so I got a pipe cutter and a flaring tool and cut the Celica bolt off the line, put one that came with the Starlet on it, and then re-flared the brake line following instructions from this video:

 

Wow, thanks for the info. The GTS modification requires that I would have to shorten the axle shafts in order to mount the rear-end parts within the stock Celica rear end according to a friends suggestion.

He said that in order to make that assembly fix his old Celica that he pulled the axles and measured the shafts, spline spacing was the same, but the shafts themselves where longer than required. He machined them to size. The Disc brake hardware was able to be adapted and he was running with the GTS rear brake system. But he added that this was back a while ago and that a better addition might be available.

 

Which GTS do you mean?
I know several Toyotas that have GT-S options (Celicas, Supras, Corollas, from a few different years).

I didn't need to shorten the MA45 rear end to fit it in my RA28.
With stock size rims and 205 tyres it should fit inside the standard body (might need the wheel arches rolled).

Sounds like your friend fitted Supra axles into the RA2# housing.
That would require shortening the axle.
But disc brake rear ends also require a 45mm wide bearing while drum brake rear ends only use a 15mm bearing (disc brakes tend to wobble more, so the larger bearing keeps them stable).
Personally I find rear discs unnecessary unless you do circuit racing.
I'd concentrate on replacing the front brakes.

- Stepho

 

I'll research this more since the brake system upgrade via newer style Upgrades is the application I have planned for this vehicle.

The only thing I want old in that car (Other than myself) is the type engine that I'm running. New fuel delivery system, newer brake system (Internal of the car) that removes the brake booster from my engine bay. Always disliked that the brakes where in the way of my V-Stacks. Like that brake system that I seen in Redline Magazine.

 

Rear disc brakes are easier to service which is why I want that upgrade. i service my own vehicle. Why pay someone for something that I can do. Thats the joy of wrenching, right?

 

 

Oooooh, nice Corona.
RT114 GT hardtop with 18R-G ?
('75-'77 judging by the bumpers and wheels).

- Stepho

 

Model: C-RT122-SMQG
Engine: 18R-GU
1977
Color: 990
Trim YR41
Trans/Axle W51 F292

 

Better Picture on the corona site

 

 

 

GTV,
Are you sure you got the right build plate for that black Corona?
A number of things don't match:
- Colour code 33 is white, not black.
- The C pillar in the picture matches an RT11# C pillar but is completely different to a RT13# HT C pillar (which should have a thin window embedded within it).
- The grill is an RT11# HT style grill (RT132 grill is much shorter)
- The RT132 has wrap around indicators next to the headlights.
- All 18R-G/GR/GU/GEU engines have the P51 gearbox instead of the 18R's W50 (both gearboxes share the same case, so they are hard to tell apart).
- The RT132 wasn't introduced until Sept 1978.
- The 18R-GEU wasn't introduced until Sept 1978.

Either way, I'm jealous.

- Stepho

 

 

Thanks for pointing out my mistake, we where both wrong. After I blew up the picture, I saw my error. This should be under the Corona page.

 

 

This was the engine bay of the 1972 Celica. A note that models are produced a year earlier in Japan compared to the export date for each model. After all, they always have first crack at the goodies.