Dan_Q Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 Hi All, I've finally managed to fit my low mileage toyota billies to my stock NA. The car feels better balanced, but if anything, to me it seems softer but the damping rate seems better- the car feels more settled on the road. Please note i only finished the job an hour ago so i've only done a few miles! heads not used to it yet It definitely sits higher (i am more bothered about function over form) though, after reading up on here i expected the front to sit higher as the weight of the NA engine is less than that of a TT, but the rears are definitely higher also. Is it possible that my car may have had lowering springs on? or have other people had this happen too? Cheers Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOGIE Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 post pics of how your car is sitting now...and preferably before pics. What springs you got on? The bilsteins should be firmer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 , after reading up on here i expected the front to sit higher as the weight of the NA engine is less than that of a TT, but the rears are definitely higher also. From this can we take it that you fitted springs and Bilsteins from TT? if so why didn't you just swap the shocks onto your original springs and top mounts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 There are a number of different stock springs, J-spec, UK spec, TT, NA, facelift, pre-facelift, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan_Q Posted July 28, 2012 Author Share Posted July 28, 2012 post pics of how your car is sitting now...and preferably before pics. What springs you got on? The bilsteins should be firmer. Not very good with technlogy mate! I may have one or two beforehand and i'll see if i can borrow someones camera for the after shots. I thought it would be firmer too. It does feel different, and less "harsh" if that makes sense? God i'd be a race engineer's nightmare wouldn't I From this can we take it that you fitted springs and Bilsteins from TT? if so why didn't you just swap the shocks onto your original springs and top mounts? Spot on. I remember reading an old Chris Wilson post stating that an NA on stock TT toyota bilsteins makes a great handling car, I assumed he meant complete struts and springs as he mentioned the front will sit higher. Of course I have the option of swapping the springs back as now I've done the job it shouldn't take too long- but if these springs are properly matched to the dampers better then I thought that would be the best way for handling? There are a number of different stock springs, J-spec, UK spec, TT, NA, facelift, pre-facelift, etc. Aye its a tightrope! I'm pretty sure mine had 3 stock NA JSpec dampers (black with red sticker), one aftermarket KYB (silver with red sticker) and the springs are just black with no markings- of if they had they are long gone. IIRC the billies came off an import TT but couldn't be 100% sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merckx Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 If you want to keep the same springs it's possible to lower the spring seat that's on the damper, there's a large circlip that the seat sit's on, machine a new groove in the damper for the circlip. CW mentioned this in a previous post. I machined mine myself, haven't fitted them yet though as I'm busy doing other stuff. (Replacing the reas dampers as they're badly corroded) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan_Q Posted July 29, 2012 Author Share Posted July 29, 2012 thanks for that mate i'd totally forgot- i did read about that a while back certainly an option for the future. Since doin the suspension i've put better brake pads in, so done a few more miles testing those, and i've just got back from a half hour drive just to get some miles on and make sure everythings OK. It feels MUCH better- i'll admit i thought that it wouldnt need much time to settle with it being second hand, but now it feels brilliant. I still maintain that it is softer and higher than before, but i'm starting to think that if the old shocks were worn that maybe it just felt crashy and harsher because of that- maybe rather than softer, what i mean is "more compliant." Still interested to see what may have been fitted before though, so I've managed to find a couple of before pics, and i'll see if i can sort an after pic tomorrow. i think using human measurements i can get an extra 1-2 fingers under the arch from memory. http://www.saidro.com/Blyton_2012/Toyota/62/slides/IMG_2653.jpg https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/225037_10150169369554735_6707148_n.jpg i know its hard to tell, but does anyone think that looks normal for a stock NA? Paul in the red one said he thought it looked lowered compared to his which is also on stock suspension, but its hard to tell from this pic (only one i have of us together where you can see all 4 wheels) https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9k0eNGC_ogI/T7AAMXDS3cI/AAAAAAAAMXQ/TnsTjUDQpSM/s1200/P5131039.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dim Sum Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 I personally think it sits just fine, and looks like stock height. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan_Q Posted August 15, 2012 Author Share Posted August 15, 2012 thanks mate, thats before TT billies though. so, an after pic from this weekend. looking at these pics compared with the ones above, not sure it has changed as much as i thought now its settled, seemed miles higher at first. either that or maybe i'm getting used to it?? http://www.saidro.com/barkston_2012/Paddock%20and%20Prizes/slides/IMG_5429.jpg bit difficult to tell on this one, could be under load on a right hander or something http://www.saidro.com/barkston_2012/62/slides/IMG_5503.jpg it handled nice and balanced though, thats the main thing- i do believe my old shocks were a little on the worn side Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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