Hi guys. Routinely swapping tires front to rear yesterday and planning on changing the tired wheel studs on the front while the rims were off but found stuff that could explain my lackluster steering/handling.


This is the suspect shock - moisture/greasiness around the lower section - OSF




NSF, less muck and moisture



Also noticed but not visable in the first picture is a dent in the lower shock reservoir which can't be healthy, both upper all joints appear to be torn too.

Inspecting tyres too and found that the older ones still with 4mm even'ish tread are starting to crack, also not good.




What do you guys think to this OSF shock, past it's use by date or worth re-application of a new upper ball joint? Handling is pretty crappy and wallowy if I'm honest and feels like it's 'searching' in a straight line and the front washes out under fairly normal cornering. Just doesn't feel like it did 4 years ago and I'm assuming that even with the TRD lowering springs it shouldn't bottom out too easily? Because it can, and feels slow to re-damp.

_________________
Per Ardua Ad Astra

∞ 1995 ST205 JDM ∞

If you 'bounce' the front of the car that may give you an indication of the state of the shocks. If the shocks are worn badly then the car will bounce up more easily than if the shocks were doing their stuff. If you have a set of spring compressors you could check the state of the shocks with the front end of the car jacked up until the suspension is on full droop and then unbolt the top of the struts from the turrets. Compressing the springs should then allow you to check if the damper piston can be pushed in and out easily by hand. If this is the case then shocks are knackered.

Your perished tyres certainly won't help your handling either and then theres the safety aspect to consider as well. It wouldn't do much for my peace of mind if it was my car!

_________________
Don
GT4DC Chairman
1994 Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205WRC JDM 269bhp @ 0.9bar
1994 Toyota Celica GT-Four Special GT 590bhp @ 1.8bar
1989 Van Diemen RF88/89 Formula Ford 1600
2008 Nissan Patrol GU 3.0L ZD30DDTi 154bhp

Leaking shock absorber is an MOT fail so even if the handling was spot on you,d need to resolve that
With a car that feels wobbly to drive replacement of both shocks is a no brainer. Note that the new shocks (you will have to change both fronts as a pair) will not come with upper ball joints - these are desperate items

KYB front shocks do come with upper ball joints, and I believe a slight uprate over standard which is good if you also have uprated springs. When I bought mine recently, Fensport were slightly cheaper than TCB.
Get new bump stops while you're at it as they normally get beaten up, especially if the car's been bottoming out.

_________________
If at first you don't suck seed, try drier grain.

Thanks guys, yes I've been looking for a reason to get rid of those tyres as the grip is appalling compared to the new Falken 452's. I'll either get some more Falkens or some Eagle Asymmetrics. Researching the KYB excel G struts they seem to be 25% extra damping over standard and include new upper ball joints thankfully and come in at roughly £107 each plus delivery from http://www.buypartsby.co.uk/details/TOY ... -absorber/

That's the best price I can find and seems pretty reasonable. 5 years with the current shocks isn't too bad I guess, especially of late on these Irish roads. Bumpstops on order too, thanks Nibbles.

During my research I've stumbled across interest in Noltec solid pillowball top mounts... Does anyone have experience with these?
Found here at Mocom Racing http://www.mocomracing.com/product_deta ... t=4&sub=44

_________________
Per Ardua Ad Astra

∞ 1995 ST205 JDM ∞

I have a set of the Noltec top mounts for my ST185 (yet to be fitted) and they are a well made bit of kit. IIRC someone else has fitted them to their ST205 and may care to comment.

IMHO for a road car pillow ball spherical bearings are not really ideal and will take aout a level of absorption from potholes etc, additionally the spherical bearing is more prone to wear I suspect.

I am not sure if you can actually still get them as IIRC they were bought out by Whiteline of ARB fame.

_________________
JP
GT4DC Treasurer

Grey St185 RC
Silver BMW E46 M3
Multicolour yawn Honda VFR400
Silver Honda Civic Type-R

One guy on the OC seems to really rate them (just the one guy so far, mind) and uses them on the road noticing no more harsh a ride than standard kit. But I would have no idea about wear etc, which is of course a concern when spending a couple of hundred pounds.

Whiteline and Noltec (along with one other I can't recall) have been bought and consolidated by one company but the individual manufacturers still retain their products - or so I've read while searching. However people have been complaining about the shoddy quality of the Whiteline adjustable camber bolts since. I have a Whiteline adjustable ARB though and it seems to be fine.

I should really inspect the rear set up too, if it's all kaputt it could be worth my while going for BC if the price difference isn't chasmic!

_________________
Per Ardua Ad Astra

∞ 1995 ST205 JDM ∞

My front shocks were in similar nick, and i've just replaced them with KYB (ball-joint incl.), whilst adding Tein lowering springs and new TRD top-mounts.

I got the shocks on ebay for £200 all in, from this seller...
http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/miss-alia/&_t ... 1439.l2754

Big improvement, but it only serves to highlight the pressing need for new front tyres and the looming fig. 8 change.

Thanks, Lorro. They seem to be out of stock (only Hilux items currently) but another ebayer can do them delivered to NI for £218 which isn't bad, plus I've just ordered bump stops from Paul at TCB who was ever helpful

In two minds about replacing my top mounts too, they don't seem to be cracked as such but they are bulging.

_________________
Per Ardua Ad Astra

∞ 1995 ST205 JDM ∞