Lift kit/strut/spring install day

Subafury · Post by **Subafury** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 10:21 pm

fredsub wrote:just ordered KYBs front struts,to be rid of the gabriels

what was wrong with the gabriels fredsub?

fredsub · Post by **fredsub** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 8:56 am

theres nothing necessarily wrong with the gabriels....its just that after 2+years I'm tired with how soft they appear to be, need more dampening,
maybe they are failing now...I think I feel its bouncing on the springs if I hit a real pot hole. On road they are probably just fine, I think they don't take well to offroad abuse....whilst the rear Monroes after 6+years are still just fine,
damn I had just found out those Monroes they don't have the partnos no more - Monroe long shocks, they cost a bit a while back too.

Whether the gabriels I have are the same as yours is a wild guess tho, looks like manufactures continually change their build,and where they build them!
Anyway I hope I'll be more satisfied with the KYBs, they cost nearly 2x, so I hope i'm paying for something with those extra $$

subanator · Post by **subanator** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 12:23 am

A trip to the wreckers revealed a couple of things:
The shorter looking struts (base weld lower at 205mm) are from import Vortex, dont know if the Aust ones are the same, but have roughly the same overall length with a longer open spaced spring, and has this adjuster thing in the top of the strut?

I found there some never used Monroes from there old shop and got the pair for $110.

The rear of my wagon seems too high, might be that the spring set sits higher for towing or something, might just need new King springs here.

Got the auto speedo cable from there too, but no indicator RHS front.

Post by **Alex** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 8:58 pm

Thanks heaps to AndrewT and Dave(subarino) for helping out with the liftkit install, we had our problems... i know heaps of people say it, but the sports exhaust is a pain in the arse when putting in a liftkit. The lift-kit people also gave me a steering extension for a non-power steering car(heaps to long!) and some old rusty bolts where hard to get out..So its couped up in Andrew's garage for a little while

this is what a L-series looks like with just the rear 3inches higher...

BrennyV · Post by **BrennyV** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 9:08 pm

lmao! love that rear lift look! spesh witht he 13's makes it look like a drag car

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 9:35 pm

Those are 14s

Look small with those tyres hey.

Post by **Alex** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:16 pm

its a HUGE BITCH!...

haha gotta love it!

Post by **Alex** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 10:02 pm

ok crew,

heres my pretty much finished 3inch lifted L-series

mods
-king springs all-round
-kyb shocks all-round
-75mm liftkit
-205/75/R14 (26.5inch) Nankang beefy tyres

Yes the front is lower...the struts where at least an inch shorter than the originals!

waggaclint · Post by **waggaclint** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 11:45 pm

looks like the front shocks must have been wrong hey...it could come up another 2in i reckon to make it even...

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 2:10 am

Alex fyi......here are the part numbers for the front KYB's I am running.
Driver's side - 33323
Passenger's side - 333233

Unfortunately http://www.kyb.com.au seems to be down right now so I can't get much further info. If your part numbers are different I'd ring up the place you got them and get them to tell you what the difference between yours and mine are.
When I bought mine (probably nearly 2 years ago) I never even knew there were different ones, I just asked for KYB and these are what I got.

waggaclint · Post by **waggaclint** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 8:11 pm

whats it like to drive now..there would be a pretty big difference id reckon in power and handling?

Post by **Alex** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 9:14 pm

to be honest, handling isnt that different, i think my new suspension has compensated for the extra body roll

power has SLIGHTLY gone down at low speeds, but once it gets rolling it cruises very nicely...speedo is out by a mile, when it says im doing 80, im really doing about 100, and fuel economy so far is better! but ill have to wait a few weeks to get the proper results.

Smokey · Post by **Smokey** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 9:19 pm

Was just searching the site for part numbers, and thought I'd update this thread to finish it off for others down the track interested in the part numbers also.

KYB struts & shocks are available in 3 different configurations, FWD and then two other option related ones. Sedan/Wagon seems not to impact on part numbers.

FWD 09/84-12/93:
Front - (Man) 333231, 333230. (Auto) 333159, 333158
Rear - 341214

4WD 09/84-12/86:
Front - 333233, 333232
Rear - (W Psteer) 341216 (WO Psteer) 341065

4WD 01/87-94:
Front - 333235, 333234
Rear - 341216

Looks confusing... But still always better to check their website before u buy.