hi all looking around atm for an upgrade of the suspension on a 1985 turboed touring wagon plz help been looking for a bit and no luck.
After any info/advice on what people have done or where i can find some coil overs? thinking mite have to get some made.... been throwing the idea around of getting impreza coil overs and slotting/ modifying the tops on the L...anyway fire away with any advice
cheers Ben
L SERIES EA82T.... COIL OVERS??? HELP
You are not going to find any pre made L-series coilovers, but the generic parts (adjustable platforms, top hats etc) are readily avaiable to put a set together.
You'll also need to get the top of the shock tube cut off & a threaded collar cut into the strut tube to allow you to use aftermarket inserts (or I seem to remember that the 2WD struts have a removable nut? Can anyone confirm?). 35mm Bilstien inserts are around $500 each.
But, I guess it depends on what improvements you are trying to make. What is the current problem that you are trying to fix? As Chubby has suggested, building a proper set coilover struts may still only give you the same end result as a set of new 'normal' springs & shocks, for three times the cost....
You'll also need to get the top of the shock tube cut off & a threaded collar cut into the strut tube to allow you to use aftermarket inserts (or I seem to remember that the 2WD struts have a removable nut? Can anyone confirm?). 35mm Bilstien inserts are around $500 each.
But, I guess it depends on what improvements you are trying to make. What is the current problem that you are trying to fix? As Chubby has suggested, building a proper set coilover struts may still only give you the same end result as a set of new 'normal' springs & shocks, for three times the cost....
hey thanks for the reply the main thing is to improve the handling charateristics of the car, ideally love negative camber with some adjustment and poss castor adjustment too.. would like the car to sit a bit lower and get a proper off set wheel to fit mite search around bout that insert thing maybe just create my own sping nd shock set... cheers Ben
If you are lucky you might find some old rally shocks around. Typically height adjustable 35-38mm Bilsteins. Normally would need a rebuild though.
As far as camber goes you will need a kit - either a KMAC weld on bolt type for the bottom arm pivot point or if you can get some shocks with small enough springs (eg some bilsteins) you can use a top plate type adjuster.
As far as camber goes you will need a kit - either a KMAC weld on bolt type for the bottom arm pivot point or if you can get some shocks with small enough springs (eg some bilsteins) you can use a top plate type adjuster.
85 Leone RX EJ20T Rally Car - plus spare rolling shell
91 Facelift 2.2 GX 4WD Legacy - SOLD
96 RSB Legacy
91 Facelift 2.2 GX 4WD Legacy - SOLD
96 RSB Legacy
does anyone know where to get the bilistein inserts then?
i have tried emailing them about it , and all they are prepared to do is say "NO we dont do that"
have tried numerous different suspension manufacturers and all come up the same
i have basically come up with 2 ideas of how to make it work... but it all involves someone going out and measuring things, which noone seems to be willing to do.
either get some coilovers for a wrx or something that has a 45mm body, and take off its mounting brackets so it fits in the steering knuckle
or use a L series strut body, get a decent insert for it, threaded sleeve to go over the strut, couple spring seats, coilover spring and a wrx adjustable top mount
either of these options i will be happy with, so does anyone know of anywhere that could make any of this happen???
cheers
i have tried emailing them about it , and all they are prepared to do is say "NO we dont do that"
have tried numerous different suspension manufacturers and all come up the same
i have basically come up with 2 ideas of how to make it work... but it all involves someone going out and measuring things, which noone seems to be willing to do.
either get some coilovers for a wrx or something that has a 45mm body, and take off its mounting brackets so it fits in the steering knuckle
or use a L series strut body, get a decent insert for it, threaded sleeve to go over the strut, couple spring seats, coilover spring and a wrx adjustable top mount
either of these options i will be happy with, so does anyone know of anywhere that could make any of this happen???
cheers
I don't get it....
L Series Suspension
Sub-Lover,
I gather you are trying to lower the ride height to improve centre of gravity. This is what I did succesfully on an RX. Sourced front and rear suspension,struts springs and shocks off 2WD L sedan, took springs to blacksmith and had them heated and compressed around 10mm. Took Struts to suspension joint and had lower spring plates sweated off and rewelded 30mm lower down strut tube. Had struts and shocks re-conditioned with stiffer valve settings. fitted superpro bushes to sway bars for extra stiffness. Whole excercise cost around $400 and loered ride height F/R by around 40mm. Any lower than this and you start having issues with shocks bottoming out without shortening and rethreading shocky shafts.
majordad
I gather you are trying to lower the ride height to improve centre of gravity. This is what I did succesfully on an RX. Sourced front and rear suspension,struts springs and shocks off 2WD L sedan, took springs to blacksmith and had them heated and compressed around 10mm. Took Struts to suspension joint and had lower spring plates sweated off and rewelded 30mm lower down strut tube. Had struts and shocks re-conditioned with stiffer valve settings. fitted superpro bushes to sway bars for extra stiffness. Whole excercise cost around $400 and loered ride height F/R by around 40mm. Any lower than this and you start having issues with shocks bottoming out without shortening and rethreading shocky shafts.
majordad
subelover was posting for my bus... he beat me to it
what im trying to do is lower the car so the wheels sit nicely in the guards, stiffen it up a bit, and have some sort of decent shocks.
it would be nice to have it adjustable, so if i dont like scraping everywhere i can always just lift it back up till i get a suitable compromise.
i will also be going for whiteline swaybars and decent bushings all round
ps. i already have cut springs on the front which still sit a little higher than id like, but the shocks are no good, might as well be riding around without them.
on the rear i have the 3 position coilovers on the lowest setting, with standard springs and they sit a little too high, and are too soft for my liking
what im trying to do is lower the car so the wheels sit nicely in the guards, stiffen it up a bit, and have some sort of decent shocks.
it would be nice to have it adjustable, so if i dont like scraping everywhere i can always just lift it back up till i get a suitable compromise.
i will also be going for whiteline swaybars and decent bushings all round
ps. i already have cut springs on the front which still sit a little higher than id like, but the shocks are no good, might as well be riding around without them.
on the rear i have the 3 position coilovers on the lowest setting, with standard springs and they sit a little too high, and are too soft for my liking