SiriusBlack Posted May 26 Share Posted May 26 Hey all. I'm needing new front suspension assemblies for my 86 BRAT, and of course have been unable to find any new assemblies. However for those of you that have gotten suspension from GorillaOffroadCompany, have you looked at their offerings for the subaru Sambar? The assemblies look shockingly close to a BRAT's. So has anyone ever tried fitting any kind of Sambar suspension to a BRAT? Are the upper mount spacing and lower tube diameters right for direct bolt in? I bought a set of silverback limited coilovers for my STi some years ago and love them, so if anyone has tried this, I would be extremely curious to know how it went. As always Thanks in advance for any help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushytails Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 A sambar is a bit lighter than a brat, so the springs might be too soft. They give the lower tube diameter as 50mm, no other specs I can see. Email? You also might try finding some used/junk sambar parts and seeing how close they are to bolting up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiriusBlack Posted June 1 Author Share Posted June 1 @bushytailsIf I get complete assemblies from Gorilla, they offer three different spring rates. So I could get firmer springs. My primary concern outside of them bolting up, is travel. I'm pretty sure sambar coilovers don't have as much travel as a BRAT. I'd love to get some used sambar struts just to see if they'll bolt up, but I have no idea where to find some. I did email Gorilla for further specs, but have yet to hear back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushytails Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 Stock ones look a *lot* shorter... There's tons on ebay, like https://www.ebay.com/itm/167537573301 , and they look like half the length... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiriusBlack Posted June 1 Author Share Posted June 1 Yeah, that's what I was concerned about. Unfortunately I don't have any other ideas for new BRAT suspension that don't involve a five lug swap. ISC used to build struts to order, but they don't seem to anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushytails Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 I just braved the mosquitos to check, and a well-used 1984 ea81 gl wagon 2wd strut measured 44.62mm at the end, so probably 45mm nominal. a 50mm sambar strut is too wide as well as too short. And, of course, 45mm seems to be an uncommon size... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushytails Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 (edited) I'm finding conflicting information on whether early '80s bmw 318i/325i struts might be somewhat compatible. Possibly also some newer bmw models. Will need to do more research when not falling asleep. Edited June 1 by bushytails Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushytails Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 I really should be in bed. lol. But my car also needs struts, and I keep looking them up... I found what may be an exact-ish replacement: Front struts for a new Renault Megane II. Wtf, really? lol. 44.5mm diameter, 545mm/21.46in extended length, 357mm/14.06in compressed length. According to https://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/157099-front-struts/?do=findComment&comment=1313458 , a 4wd strut is "Extended Length 21.25" Collapsed Length 14.00"". Spring diameter looks similar, bottom lock bracket is... different, of course, but may be able to be bent to the right place. Haven't seen specs on the top nut. Fairly cheap, but not available in the US, due to said Renault vehicle never being sold in the US. Some part numbers: BILSTEIN 22-132390 KYB 333718 KYB 633718 MONROE G16387, though the monroe comes up as 2" shorter than the others. The KYB 633718 seems like it might be the premium version, and the 333718 the maybe better excel-g version, not sure what's really different... you'd be installing them with all the subaru top hardware, of course - spring perch, bearing, mount. Want to buy a pair and let me know how they work? lol And now bed. really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiriusBlack Posted June 3 Author Share Posted June 3 I may just have to, my BRAT really needs new struts. At the very least I'd be adding new knowledge to the old gen scrolls, lol! *sigh* I was really hoping for some gorilla units, as I adore the ones in my STi, but no matter how many times I email them, they never agree to make actual BRAT parts... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiriusBlack Posted Tuesday at 12:07 PM Author Share Posted Tuesday at 12:07 PM Tough to tell from the one pic, but could it be? A direct bolt in? It claims a tube diameter of 45mm like you said. https://bilstein.com.au/shock-absorbers/bilstein-coilover-kit-shock-absorber-206/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushytails Posted Tuesday at 01:55 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 01:55 PM Searching seems to say it's 55mm, not 45mm? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushytails Posted Tuesday at 02:05 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 02:05 PM (edited) If (and until someone tests a pair, that's a big if) the renault ones are indeed a good fit, coilovers for that vehicle would also fit, like https://www.apmotorsport.co.uk/product-page/megane-2-rs-ast-5100-1-way . But they're waaaay out of my budget, so I haven't been looking at anything similar. If searching, be warned most seem designed to lower the vehicle, because non-subaru owners are weird. Edited Tuesday at 02:08 PM by bushytails 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostbrat Posted Friday at 12:22 PM Share Posted Friday at 12:22 PM Do they not make struts any longer? I see the upper mounts are available on eBay. I have a nice set with fairly new struts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushytails Posted Friday at 02:42 PM Share Posted Friday at 02:42 PM No, they do not. And haven't for a while, so the supply of old stock has dried up. And lots of us need struts... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiriusBlack Posted Friday at 02:45 PM Author Share Posted Friday at 02:45 PM So, so, SO many of us need struts :(. And yet not a single aftermarket company seems to make them in any way shape or form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiriusBlack Posted Friday at 03:09 PM Author Share Posted Friday at 03:09 PM I've been looking at 80s era Citroen struts, as apparently the air struts in the XT were sourced from Citroen. Knowing that the XT and other Subaru's of the 80s shared the same suspension mounting style (minus the three bolt top mount on the XT) I think some Citroen struts may be a good lead to check out as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuspiciousPizza Posted Friday at 03:15 PM Share Posted Friday at 03:15 PM Forgive my ignorance, I'm not yet fortunate enough to own a BRAT. Are the BRAT struts different from the L-Series struts? I know there were a few different mounting styles throughout the years. With the BRAT being it's own standalone body style I could see there being different mounting requirements. But from a financial perspective, why would Subaru use a different strut? It's easier to make cheaper cars when they all share parts. Thanks :] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiriusBlack Posted Friday at 03:24 PM Author Share Posted Friday at 03:24 PM @SuspiciousPizza I'm not sure about an L series, as I'm not sure what you're refering to. If you mean a loyale, then no it won't fit a BRAT. The BRAT along with the Leone Sedan, wagon, and hardtop all shared the same suspension mounting through the 80s as far as I know. Even the XT (minus the XT6 which was different thanks to its 5 bolt hubs and the three bolt top hat of the XT4) had the same suspension mounting style as the Leone line. This stems from the BRAT not actually being its own thing, but rather being built off the 4WD Leone wagon, and sharing its underpinnings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuspiciousPizza Posted Friday at 04:04 PM Share Posted Friday at 04:04 PM Yes, L-Series I was referring to any of the Leones/Loyales/DL/GL, etc. I didn't know the wagon shared suspension components. It makes sense. One thing you could try, and it's helped me track down parts before, is searching for what you want on eBay and changing what model nomenclature you use. For instance try "Subaru Brat Strut", then "Subaru L-Series strut", then "Subaru Leone strut", then "Subaru Reone strut" (not a typo, on Japanese sites, they call it a Reone, my guess is this is for linguistic differences). You or anyone searching may get lucky. These vehicles were known as so many things that depending on where the listing is from, the regional model names may differ while referencing the same model. :] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiriusBlack Posted Saturday at 01:00 AM Author Share Posted Saturday at 01:00 AM Well they aren't upgraded like I was hoping to get, but rockauto has sachi struts under 86 GL 1.8 OHV. Only right hand, but the spring cup isn't offset, so it should fit both sides. I've ordered two while we conduct further research into aftermarket alternatives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now