Friday, January 16, 2009 - 10:11 pm, by: Jason Munro(Jason_munro)
Hi all.
i will start by saying that i have searched for this info before i posted this question.
recently, i spent about $1000 on replacing the bushes in the front end with new factory toyota parts.
list of parts replaced is
LCA bushes (both sides front and rear) rack bushes (both of them) rack boots.
the upper bushes were not replaced.
this made a huge improvement in the ride quality, but i still have rattling in the front when on uneven, surfaces.
i have come to the conclusion that the struts probably need replacing too. i have price new TEMS struts from toyota at $190 ea.
my question is, is there a viable alternative for a NON TEMS strut ? (non coil over) and if so, what are they, and how will it affect the TEMS test on start up ?
will the use of NON TEMS struts create an error code ? or should i just bite the bullet and but the OEM struts ?
keep in mind that this is for a '91 GT-TL with non air TEMS.
Friday, January 16, 2009 - 10:41 pm, by: Piers McDonald(Drp)
Well no kidding eh. It seems they are back to sane prices again.
When I tried to replace mine 12 months ago, Toyota wanted $800 - $1000 each! and yes, that's for the standard TT non height adjustable, non airbag TEMS shocks.
I got OEM non TEMS shocks, I didn't like them, but now that I've added whiteline swaybars, they are bearable.
Some people also like KYB, probably cheaper than Toyota.
Saturday, January 17, 2009 - 02:01 pm, by: David Ormsby(Phoenix)
I stuck in four new TEMS struts about 5,000km ago. It improved the ride and handling - previously had diagnostics 'trackday' setting on permanently. Perceptible difference when hitting the PWR button, have tried track day setting and was bearable but think the springs are bit of mismatch with dampers that firm (running standard springs).
I got them here for about NZ$145 incl GST and postage ($120ea + GST of 12.5%). Not sure if you'll get much of an arbitrage benefit sourcing them through NZ but with the NZDAUD at 80c and some predicting 59c it may be a goer?
Saturday, January 17, 2009 - 05:49 pm, by: Jason Munro(Jason_munro)
thanks for the info and tip. i will look into it.
i think the new struts will make heaps of difference to my ride, as i am fairly certain that at least one of them is completely stuffed, and the other is not far behind. the funny thing is that it does not bounce all about the place. there is just noisy rattling on bumpy roads.
the noise is really disconcerting, and annoying. hopefully it will be sorted in the newt two weeks or so.
Jason.
Phil Gibson Goo Roo WA '91 UZZ31 track bunky, '94 blk/blk UZZ31
Sunday, January 18, 2009 - 12:02 pm, by: Phil Gibson(Sciflyer)
Noise over bumps and generally a loose and soft feeling suspension (assuming its not bushes, etc) is consistant with stuffed shockies, its the same whether TT or airbag
Sunday, January 18, 2009 - 08:41 pm, by: Jason Munro(Jason_munro)
that's the thing.
it is noisy over bumps, but it feels ok (to me) it's not bouncing all over them place (like some cars i have had that had bad shockies).
like if you push one of the front corners down, it will rise back up, then settle back down then stop. it dose not continue to go up and down.
i still think it is the struts that need replacing though. and as i have had all the lower bushes replaced, the only thing it can really be now is the struts.
i should also mention that the sway bar rubbers were replaced at the same time as the other stuff listed in the 1st post.
guess I'll find out when they get replaced. process of elimination i guess.....
Thursday, January 29, 2009 - 04:52 pm, by: Jason Munro(Jason_munro)
finally an update.
Turns out the problem was not the struts. Appears as though the suspension place I went to left out the Spacer rings that go on the front of the lca mounts !
This allows the lca to move fore and aft about 10mm ! I have ordered the spacers from toyota and will be having them Fitted this weekend. I am currently in Brisbane on holidays, so I can't really go back to the place that stuffed it up.
I won't be returning to that place anyway. They are a big chain franchise operation that is supposed to know what they are doing. Can't believe they stuffed it up this bad.
I'll post an update once it's all fixed properly. I just hope my new bushes are not rooted because of not having the spacer in place. (both sides were completely missing)