front coilover spring rates - early celica

[Toy77]

G'day all,

with my fancy new strut tops on their way from america as we speak, i am tossing up doing the coilovers while i am at it.

what i am interested in is any experience or sugestions people have as how to choose spring rates to suit.
either what you have used or if there is some rule of thumb.

i have a 28 with a 1g in the front.

any advice is appreciated.

Cheers
Stew

[TurboRA28]

Hey mate, I run 275lbs/in springs in the front of mine. But i'm guessing the 3S may be a bit lighter then the 1G. So maybe 300lbs.in would be better suited for you.

I've found that a good compromise between street and track. It can have a fang around the old pac quite happy and absorb the rather average road surfaces. Out on the track it feels good too and the adjustable swaybar I have is backed off a far amount so the springs are doing their job.

Don't let people talk you into stupidly stiff springs, while fine on the track, as soon as you are on a average road the car just wants to skip & bounce around I've found.

For the rear I find the 2/3rd ratio works well in the 28. Along with the AE86 for that matter.. So 300 front, go for 200 rear. Thats a rough guide anyway I find is good.

Cheers
Joel

[Stefan]

Fancy strut tops from the U.S.? If T3, you *need* to go coilovers; don't work with stock upperhats.

[ra23celica]

Joel,
Did you do some corner weight calculations to determine the best springs for your car?
Thanks,
Mitch.

[LeeRoy]

Could you please tell us where you got your strut tops from?

- LeeRoy

[MWP]

Could you please tell us where you got your strut tops from?

They are probably T3... TechnoToyTuning.
Nice items, ive got some too.

http://technotoytuning.com/products/camber_plates.html

BTW, on topic, im going to run in my RA28:
Koni Yellow Inserts
King 200mm long 300lb/in 65mm ID springs
Whiteline 100mm long 2kg/mm 65mm ID tender coils

Im going to be running a 1UZ, so a little more weight, hence the 300lb/in springs.

Photo of the setup:
http://www.overclockers.com.au/~mwp/...g&x=1024&y=768

And a closeup of the T3 tops:
http://www.overclockers.com.au/~mwp/...g&x=1024&y=768

[emp?]

im running 300lb/in springs with the 1G in my Ke30 and i think its good, its still but still gives an ok ride on the street

[TurboRA28]

No corner weight calculations on mine.. More just the good old trial and error one thing I like about coilovers is not the height adjustability but the range of off the shelf springs. Makes trying different rates a breeze.

[Toy77]

G'day there guys,

thanks heaps for the real world experience.....

yeah i have ordered the t3 camber tops.

will keep people posted as to how it works out.

are the springs different length? is there much of an advantagegoin to the twin spring (tender i think)? i understand it gives soft movement at the start then firms up, but anyone who has tried both on any vehicles.

Cheers
Stew

[roadsailing]

all tender springs do is keep your springs captive (generally) you can get springs that work as you have described, but i wouldn't reccomend it. Just go with a rate that will be tolerable on the road and fun on the track. I agree with joel's reccomendations, have driven similar cars with slightly harder rates, and comfort will come down to shock selection/adjustment too.

[jeffro ra28]

Hey, M.W.P. have got a part number for the noltec coilover setup?
Or is there any other brands available since the noltec prices have just gone up!
Are you using corona struts M.W.P?
Im trying to refer to the brake upgrade on the old forums but they are down atm!

[Toy77]

heya,
i have new koni adjustable shocks.

as for other kits, importbitz have kits listed as koni kits.

cheers
stew

[LeeRoy]

I need to find some strut tops too so i can run coil overs but i was under the impression that t3 didn't make them for a celica? Did the ones you bought come blank or did they make them for your celica?

- LeeRoy

[Pube]

I have 6kg or 350lb in the front of my rona with the 1G I find it fine on the street and track. Im using them with koni reds adjusted only 2 turns. Not too stiff at all!!

[MWP]

Hey, M.W.P. have got a part number for the noltec coilover setup?
Or is there any other brands available since the noltec prices have just gone up!
Are you using corona struts M.W.P?
Im trying to refer to the brake upgrade on the old forums but they are down atm!

Nope, i dont have a Noltec part number, and i dont know about other brands.
The place i bought them from had different sizes in stock, so i just asked for the one to fit my strut tube OD.