Suspension Upgrade Journey
Part 1 - Upgrade Rear Absorber to TRD
Early March 2003
A set of AE86's type TRD coils and absorbers was bought for the KE70 at an extremely attractive low price. It was warned that all 4 coils had been cut one round and is too low.
After much checking, thanks to Moto-P of www.club4ag.com for providing the information on the forum. The rear (right pair) is 6 kg/mm while the front (left pair) is 8 kg/mm. Both placed up-side-down for easy standing to take pictures.
According to coil's mathematics theory, cutting one round will yield in 11% stiffness increase. Therefore they are suspected to be 6.66 kg/mm rear and 8.88 kg/mm front.
Still, they are passed to the mechanic to be installed but was told they don't fit properly and the coils both front and rear have many free play spacing, which allow the coils to fall out of place on a jump. Since this is dangerous the installation was abandoned. At this stage the absorbers were also not installed.
After a few days they are installed and risk noted and taken.
After installing the rear left coil, the car "sunk" too low, 2/3 covering the tire. But hey the tire cleared the mud-guard so proceed to the right side.
This time the tire is in "direct" contact with the mud-guard and deemed un-acceptable. When checking back the left side, it is too in contact.
This is confusing, until someone said on the 1st attempt, the old coil was much higher on the opposite side therefore tilted the car, which at that time cleared the mud-guard. It was understood immediately and .......... accepted the fact ............... so out it goes :( ....................... back to the original 20 years old KE70 oem coils :(
End up only managed to install the rear absorbers :( It is
TRD KYB
48531-14080
8-stage adjustable rate
Oil
Height - max = 502mm, min = 337mm
Setting 4 has compression 83kgf and rebound 32kgf
short stroke
Before installing it, It was pulled and pushed at different settings to compare against the old stock absorbers just to make sure there is a 'harder' / 'stronger' / 'better' setting.
Don't even know which word to describe absorber's performance :(
Anyway, setting no. 6 was decided. However the absorber is a little too good. After the car is pressed down down, it rises slowly to equilibrium and produce a gassiest sound. Oil liquid kind of sound ??? I wonder if it is damaged ???
Anyway, took it for a spin and was extremely pleased with the performance improvement to road handling. It even improve the braking performance, this was totally un-expected. Although thought by famous Bill Sherwood.
So, now,..................... how to use the rest ?????????????????? agony agony agony agony agony agony agony agony agony agony agony agony agony agony agony agony agony agony agony agony agony agony agony
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