Quick update on my suspension mods, '87 GTS racer!

Okay guys, just a few tips on what I've found thats working good so far on my car. First off, my struts are KYB AGX's up front with GR-2's out back. I've added Drop-Zone coil-overs to all four corners, with 450 ft lbs. of rate in front and 350 ft lbs. in the rear. I'm running a Whiteline 19mm rear bar with urethane bushings, I've yet to install my complete urethane bushing package, but it's in my grubby little hands. I've also installed Cusco camber plates at the front, with roughly up to 3 degrees of negative camber availlible, this without me modifying the shock towers to get even more. I've found as much as 2 degrees of negative camber with stock strut upper mounts, but have had some tire rub issues just bellow the spring perches. Currently I'm running 205/50/15 Kumho Victoracers on 15"x7" Borbet' wheels, I've also got spacers and longer wheel studs yet to be installed, which should cure my rub troubles.

When I ran VIR recently, I set my camber at 2 3/4 degrees negative lf. front, 2 1/2 degrees neg. rt. front, 1 1/2 degrees neg. lf. rear, 1 degree neg. rt. rear. I set the toe at 1/8" toe out front, with a 1/16" of toe in rear, I usually run 0" toe in the rear, but decided a little toe in would help on turn in, which worked perfectly. Additional changes were made strictly through tire pressures adjustments and driving style changes.

Future changes are still in the works, such as upgrading to Koni Sports revalved for racing. Also the addition of Ground-Control coil-overs and camber plates with caster adjustabilty. And installing the urethane bushings finally, along with possible front swaybar removal? The car right now is handling way better the stock, but to be a serious racecar, it's got to handle like a go cart.

I'll take pics of the current set up, including Brembo rotors, painted calipers, braided brake lines, and race seat installation. Hope these things will help you guys get the most out of your Celi's too, they've really brought mine to life!!

racerb

 

Hey guys thought you all were interested in getting the most out of your rides, but no one has even responded to my post. Guess you can live with just plain old stuff, I've spent years trying every type of suspension mod out there, I do know what works! Let me know if theres things you don't understand about car set up, Ive probebly dealt with it before on one of my racecars. But remember, throwing money at a problem ain't always the cure, careful spending can be more productive.

racerb

 

Yea I know the camber settings sound extreme, but both Kumho and Toyo recommend as much as 4 1/2 degrees negative with their tires in race trim. I have found with using a LSD in a front drive vehicle, that too much camber can create more push and/or understeer than desired. Right now without modifying my strut towers, 3 degrees negative is about max for my cars settings.

racerb 8)

 

Hey I'm running a Phantom-Grip with their performance green springs for extra torque out of the turns. Whole unit is just over $300 and is working great on my car with a South Bend ralley clutch set up.

racerb 8)

 

Hey man, my set up is totally street legal, you just wouldn't want run this much camber or toe for very long, it would kill the inside edges of your tires. On the track car, I'm getting even wear across the tread due to high speed cornering, something you really shouldn't see on the street. You can get really close results for the street with just a fraction of these numbers. As for the KYBs, I got mine through The Tire Rack here in the states. The coil-overs came right off this site from another Celica lover, but can be found on eBay just about anytime. My camber plates were another thing all togather, they came from Toysport, and shipped straight from Japan. Happy hunting cause these cars are not the easiest to find performance parts for, but not impossible.

racerb

 

Hey schmoot, anytime you lower a car it's going to affect camber and toe settings. Most of the time these are not huge changes, but changes non the less. Once you have installed your new suspension pieces, take it straight to your local alignment shop and ask for near stock settings. While there, ask if they can show you different camber and/or toe settings for performance that want adversly affect tire wear.

As for your bushings, I've already got this same kit from Toyhead, but have yet to install them. It appears that you will need a press for most of them, but a good bench vise with at least a 5" jaw should do the same job, just be patient and take your time. The hardest part in bushing installation is usually the removal of the old ones, as their usually stuck to the metal parts their in. I have a number of extra control arms and bushing mounts already off the car which I will be working with, and powder coating as I go. I'll try to do a write up and take pictures as I work on mine, to give you guys an idea of how it's done. Also when I ordered, I asked for the 25mm swaybar bushing for my GTS, cause thats what my math said it would take.

racerb 8)

 

Hey guys, here are some pics of my suspension mods, it's just a few of them so I'll take more later. Also check out the wheel and tire set up, plus the caliper paint job!

racerb :wink: