Long Stroke Springs - Espelier 40mm Tokico ???

[Jezza_hr]

Really? That long ago? When I first got onto the AE86 scene 5 years ago, I could have sworn there were quite a few about

[jondee86]

AFAIK there are still Koni suspension kits available, but not for the AE86.
I made some enquiries 10 years ago when I bought my present car, and
all I got from the Koni agents was blank looks

If I could have bought the same kit I got the first time, I would have got
another one. Instead I have had to mickey mouse around cuttings struts
and trying to match components. What I have now is more track oriented
and may ultimately prove to better than the Koni kit. I have to get to the
track first, before I can make that call

Cheers... jondee86

[4000GT]

Koni can supply the parts to do a full coilover kit or just dampers. They can use 30 series shocks in the rear and cut a grove for a circlip to hold the sleeve.

[juantonwan]

So should I just buy some Tanabe springs? Are these the best option for something that can swap right on and work the the Tokico 5-way Illumina's?

[juantonwan]

juantonwan Wrote:So should I just buy some Tanabe springs? Are these the best option for something that can swap right on and work the the Tokico 5-way Illumina's?

Are stock springs okay to run with Illumina's?? Even on the stiffest setting??

[Uzelac]

There are no Illumina for AE86, but some people put MR2/Camaro Illumina's to AE86, same as KYB AGX shocks.

Anyway, my bet is that stock springs won't be sufficient for stiff aftermarket shocks as Illumina's.

[max_ae86]

juantonwan Wrote:Not sure if coilovers are an option or not.

Go for coilovers - you just can't go wrong!

[juantonwan]

I already have the Illumina's and have been running them, I just want to swap on a spring to run the stiffest setting.

Should I just go with Tanabe?

[SekiguchiUeno]

Yes you can, dont bother what other say about coilovers, if you use the car on the road.

Tanabe claims 2,5/2,7kg/mm which is 30% above stock springs and the F/R balance of the stock setup is kept. Lowering is 20-25mm which is still acceptable for gas shocks. I think it will be good match. Definitive better as stock 25year old tired springs. I use similar springrates (apex) and with this setup can hit also very bad (also gravel) roads without any hesitation.

For occasional track use and very good roads i would choose 4/3kg/mm setup which is more understeery but stabler under gas. Shame is the espelir springs which alows the use of longstroke shocks have 40mm lowering which is def. to much.

[jondee86]

SekiguchiUeno Wrote:Shame is the espelir springs which alows the use of longstroke shocks
have 40mm lowering which is def. to much.

There are spacers available that fit between the spring and the perch to
adjust the ride height. I have seen urethane spacers (with different
thicknesses) advertised in the USA. And I have heard of aluminum ones
from Japan. Could be worth considering, if you can get the Espelir springs.

Cheers... jondee86