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advise on rear shocks and front strut.

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I need to find the tallest and best performing on all Condition. Is Kyb the way to go

  • Author

87 4x4 hatchback

 

That was a lot of info. Your the man

Nice find on the 4-Runner front strut's Jezek! Innovative and different - that's what I like to see and so little of that is found here in the US anymore. You guys in South America always come up with interesting tricks. Some of it is scary but you get points for using what you have on hand. ;)

 

GD

  • Author

For sure. I would never think a 4 runner suspension would be anywhere remotely close to a soob. That's pretty cool And good too know. Makes for a ton of new possibilities for me

  • Author

Ahhhh man. Thanks For ruining my hopes and dreams. . Hahaah just kidding. What would You recomend general.

use FWD rear coilovers on a 4wd car and you get some lift. The mounting point on a FWD rear trailing arm is lower, thus a longer strut. Longer strut plus higer mount on 4wd trailing arm = about 2 inches.

an EA81 uses a plain-jane shock absorber in the rear. measure the length, and order up your preference. We used some Rough Country units in a 4" lifted brat a couple years ago. DRASTICALLY improved travel.....but pretty low-end shocks if you plan to have any speed over the rough stuff. You'd be better off with some Foxs or Bilsteins.

 

 

the front is where you run into a challenge. KYB is probably your best option (only due to an entire lack of competition) there for 100% interchangeable strut assemblies.

 

You might be able to find some Koni or similar inserts that would work with the stock housings.

I think some one on here was running VW struts as they fit in the subarus mount pretty easily, but that was to lower the car. It was Pooparu that did it as seen here

 

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=98829&highlight=pooparu&page=8

 

He got more parts later on in the thread to get it back up to a reasonable ride hight again!

 

Anyway, just another idea.

-SB

that was with a 5-lug swap. the connection between the strut and a 4-lug EA knuckle is the biggest challenge, and he had EJ knuckles. COMPLETELY different.

Ahhh I didn't realize that bit. Sorry for the bad info :drunk:

 

-SB

Amazing write up! Many thanks for putting that together.

 

...That was a lot of info. Your the man

 

Nice find on the 4-Runner front strut's Jezek! Innovative and different ...

 

Oh my God! ... Thank you for your Nice Comments, I Really Appreciate them! :)

Kind Regards.

an EA81 uses a plain-jane shock absorber in the rear. measure the length, and order up your preference. We used some Rough Country units in a 4" lifted brat a couple years ago. DRASTICALLY improved travel.....but pretty low-end shocks if you plan to have any speed over the rough stuff. You'd be better off with some Foxs or Bilsteins.

 

Are you saying this is pretty much a universal application? Just measure the stock shocks then if you want a 2" lift get some that are 2" taller...and on up?

Are you saying this is pretty much a universal application? Just measure the stock shocks then if you want a 2" lift get some that are 2" taller...and on up?

 

No, That's not that Simple; Because if you go with a Very Tall Setup, the Axles angle will be Stressed up, Making the C.V. Joints to worn around 10X Faster, also your car will Loose the Camber / Caster Alignment.

The Idea is to improve the Suspension while Keeping the Axles' Angle as Close as Stock, Possible.

Kind Regards.

^ the shock absorbers have zero influence on ride height in the rear of an EA81.

 

So yea, suspension geometry has to be designed with axle longevity in mind, but once everything is set at the ride height you need, take some measurements of the shortest and longest (full stuff and full droop) shock you need, and then get 'em.

 

 

Here's the Rough country shocks we used on my buddy's brat next to the stockers:

IMG_7471.JPG.jpg

 

a few minutes on the grinder, some lube, and a bench vise, and we got that upper mount swapped over from the old to the new.

 

 

installed:

IMG_7565.JPG.jpg

 

IMG_7578.JPG.jpg

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