Think car needs new suspension

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I got to spend some quality time inspecting under my car when it was getting the tire change a while back. I was very impressed with how it has stood up under there. After 3 winters and 120,000 miles (190,000 kilometers) the only things showing even surface rust was the unpainted nuts and bolts. Even they were not bad. All rubber boots and bushing were still pristine. The struts showed no issues at all even on my lowering springs. My poor exhaust has taken a shit kicking from whacking against speed bumps but that was abut all.

Originally Posted by norcalpb

The 86 rubber suspension components are pretty spectacular. After 105k miles I can’t find any wear on the supporting suspension components, including all 4 sway bar endlinks.

Compare that with my old BMWs which needed front control arm, “guibo”, F and R top hats, and differential bushings at 100k.

My front passenger sway bar bushing looks to be melting at 35k miles.

Just finished derusting the front subframe welds.

Rear subframe, differential, and suspension are showing surface rust. Obviously exhaust too.

But most everything else is in great shape.

Maybe I'm doing it wrong?

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Spuds

Just finished derusting the front subframe welds.

Rear subframe, differential, and suspension are showing surface rust. Obviously exhaust too.

But most everything else is in great shape.

Maybe I'm doing it wrong?

……..and …….. maybe your new bride will find more useful things for you to do …..


humfrz

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by RickyRacer

13' FRS with 130k on it.

LOVED the way the car handled when i bought it, funnest car i've owned to date.

Unfortunately now, the ride is much bumpier, harsher, weird sounds here and there.. i think it's time for the suspension to get refreshed (i did brakes last year)

Catch is.. i don't like aftermarket.

I want to do a whole OEM rebuild and hopefully get the car to feel how it did when i bought it

Reason i don't like aftermarket is I drive ALLOT (DD) and aftermarket from my experience doesnt have the same longevity as OEM.


Can someone let me know what I should replace?

I know springs/struts/shocks in the back are standard. But what other suspension components should i replace while everything else is already being replaced?

Any reccomendations from you suspension guru folks? Again, I want OEM feel, daily driver comfort, and longevity.

LAstly, I don't trust myself to do suspension work. How many hours would a reputable body shop typically need for a job like this?

Thank you very much for your help!

How about replacing the tires …… and call it good …….


humfrz

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Spuds

My front passenger sway bar bushing looks to be melting at 35k miles.

Nah. You're doing it fine. Grease melts and spreads out over that bushing because it's close to the overpipe. As long as the bushing is supple, you're golden.

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by humfrz

……..and …….. maybe your new bride will find more useful things for you to do …..


humfrz

Well, I'm not entirely sure how to respond to that...

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Spuds

Well, I'm not entirely sure how to respond to that...

Oh, you will find out and it ain't what you were hoping for.


More like, things like ….. hang new curtains, paint every room in the house, help pick out new furniture, put new floor covering in the bathrooms, wash all windows (inside and out), clean off the roof, repair the back yard fence, save up for a new washer and dryer, ………… you getten the drift ?? …….


humfrz

[ZDan]

Doubtful that you need new springs...

When wife's '05 Mazda3 struts went out I went with new KYB's all around. I think they're fantastic, better (more) low-speed rebound damping but still soak up bumps very very well. MUCH better than the factory dampers (when they worked), which I thought were very good to begin with.

Can't speak about non-PP OEM, but the Sachs dampers are kind of a disappointment. Too little low-speed rebound damping, and way way too much high-speed compression damping.

I'd go with KYB's personally...

[Spuds]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Oh, you will find out and it ain't what you were hoping for.


More like, things like ….. hang new curtains, paint every room in the house, help pick out new furniture, put new floor covering in the bathrooms, wash all windows (inside and out), clean off the roof, repair the back yard fence, save up for a new washer and dryer, ………… you getten the drift ?? …….


humfrz

Yeah, I already do all that... Plus car maintenance. But this is OT AF. So back to... Suspension was it?

[wparsons]

You're going to have to replace the front end links as well if you get new shocks, no chance they come off cleanly. Both links and all 4 nuts are like $60 cdn though, so hardly expensive.


I'd go with 2017+ shocks (and springs if it's a package), new upper mounts if the shocks/springs don't come with them and the front end links.

[RickyRacer]

Originally Posted by wparsons

You're going to have to replace the front end links as well if you get new shocks, no chance they come off cleanly. Both links and all 4 nuts are like $60 cdn though, so hardly expensive.


I'd go with 2017+ shocks (and springs if it's a package), new upper mounts if the shocks/springs don't come with them and the front end links.

thank you very much everyone for your input.

I think this is what i will do

shocks/springs for all 4 courners
upper mounts
front end links


will probably have to buy new from Toyota as i don't see any for sale in Canadian forum

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by RickyRacer

thank you very much everyone for your input.

I think this is what i will do

shocks/springs for all 4 courners
upper mounts
front end links


will probably have to buy new from Toyota as i don't see any for sale in Canadian forum

I have a set of '14 stock springs with about 10 kilometers on them you can have for free if you can figure out how to pick them up. I truly doubt you need springs anyway but if you want to change them...

[RallySTI]

I just installed Koni Yellow's (not the inserts), group N F mounts and the Eibach Pro-plus kit (Pro Kit springs and 22/25mm bars) on my 13 BRZ. The mileage on the factory parts was 83,xxx miles. I commute from Toledo Ohio to Detroit 5 days a week and if you have been to this part of the country you know how rough our roads are.

I am very pleased with the new suspension parts. On full soft the ride is much more compliant than the factory parts and the reduced wheel gap is pleasing on the eye. I think the Eibach spring rate is stiffer than stock. Since 90% of the mileage on this car is commuting on I-75 I was very hesitant on using something stiffer than stock. After a few days of driving the car I am now asking why I waited so long to install these parts.

[Leonardo]

Originally Posted by RallySTI

I just installed Koni Yellow's (not the inserts), group N F mounts and the Eibach Pro-plus kit (Pro Kit springs and 22/25mm bars) on my 13 BRZ. The mileage on the factory parts was 83,xxx miles. I commute from Toledo Ohio to Detroit 5 days a week and if you have been to this part of the country you know how rough our roads are.

I am very pleased with the new suspension parts. On full soft the ride is much more compliant than the factory parts and the reduced wheel gap is pleasing on the eye. I think the Eibach spring rate is stiffer than stock. Since 90% of the mileage on this car is commuting on I-75 I was very hesitant on using something stiffer than stock. After a few days of driving the car I am now asking why I waited so long to install these parts.

I have Eibach prokit springs too. They have a progressive spring rate, which makes them fairly comfortable.


I have been weighing the cost difference between the konis and the bilsteins... Thanks for sharing.


OP, If you are thinking about buying new parts form the dealership. I would price a set of konis and bilsteins to compare to the OEM parts...

I know you said you did not want to install the parts. But there is a great DIY to do so. I was able to follow it and install my parts in just a few hours. The springs/struts install is pretty novice level wrenching.

[RallySTI]

I cant think of any car that I have ridden in that had aftermarket Bilsteins installed however ever car that I have installed or ridden in with Koni's I have liked.