Wednesday, December 04, 2013 - 06:24 pm, by: Louis Attard(Z00se)
I have been reading the threads and i just want to check my understanding of some things before i go spend cash and maybe buy the wrong thing...
First i want to change my TEMS airbag suspension in my 94 v8 uzz30 because the front left sometimes makes a knock over bumps. I am going for the most economical option that i can do myself and so the car is not too low that it scrapes all the time. I have my TEMS always set on normal (not low) otherwise it always scrapes.
It appears jza80 shocks and springs will be the best bet but since i hear there are different sized parts for different year models as long as i get springs and shocks all from the same model car i should be fine right?
Is there any jza80 springs that will have the car sitting very low or will they all make my soarer sit about the same height and i don't need to worry about the model year car i get them from?
Will soarer springs & shocks bolt straight on also - ie. can i use this tutorial for soarer springs & shocks too?
In the tutorial it says it is for the uzz31 soarer, will it be identical doing it on my uzz30 soarer?
When i call people about buying the shocks i only need the shocks and springs from a jza80 supra right? i don't need any other parts so that it will fit, is this correct?
Finally if anyone has anything suitable that they would like to sell send me a message please.
Wednesday, December 04, 2013 - 07:04 pm, by: Ali Saeed(Ali)
1. I think the knocking noise might be your LCA ball joint being stuffed. Do the airbags hold air alright?
2. all soarer (1991-2000) suspension will bolt on. So springs and struts go straight on.
3. all jza80 (1993-2002) suspension will bolt on. so sprigns and struts go straight on. Note, jza80 suspension is approx 1 inch lower. Note: JZA80 springs MAY not work on soarer struts and soarer springs MAY not work on Jza80 struts.
Disassembly of suspension is pretty easy just time consuming. There is a tutorial for removing airbags somewhere here
Wednesday, December 04, 2013 - 07:31 pm, by: Louis Attard(Z00se)
My mate had a look at it, hes a mechanic because it was making a knocking. First i thought it was the steering because when i moved the wheel back and forth with the car jacked up it knocked, but on both sides, but then found out that was just the steering lock, with the key in it didn't do it.
There is some oil or something or other coming out of the shock. That front left airbag lets air out slowly. A little overnight, but if i don't drive it all weekend it goes down quiet a bit, maybe 2 inches. It's been doing it for the last 5 months or so, ever since i bought the car.
How could i know if it was LCA ball joint?
It sounds like soarer suspension would be better since it will sit a bit higher, but also seems more rare. I think i really need to get it off a low km wreak too otherwise in 6 months might have similar issues.
It handles fine so i'm not in a hurry to change it over, but if i start looking now, then i can do it sometime in the next 6 months when i find something decent at a good price.
Wednesday, December 04, 2013 - 09:24 pm, by: John Street(Rex2ce)
I just used this tute to change the front airbags on my car http://alscforum.com/discus/messages/116/3553.html?1289636368 Two new front airbags cost $1335 incl post from NZ.Both my old ones were leaking oil and were rattling over bumps but bags were OK. If you put new airbag struts on it you'll never be sorry, except for the hole in your wallet. BTW if your car has airbags it is a 31, 30's had springs and shocks hope this helps
Friday, December 06, 2013 - 09:45 am, by: John Jantzen(Taslex)
John, I'd like to endorse your comments about new airbags. When I bought my latest Soarer it had just had a set of new airbags, and it's been a delight to drive. In fact, 30k km on, it actually feels more responsive than it did originally and I think it will be many, many kms before I look at going to a spring setup. Having said that, I did a UZZ30 spring conversion on my previous UZZ31, and liked the way it felt. I've experimented with Supra struts and springs, and yes, using the complete units works, but the front and rear heights are wrong if you mix Supra and Soarer components. "Thumbs up" for that link,too, John! That's a great step-by-step on the changeover!
John Street TryHard NSW VE Calais V8,97 UZZ31, 2009 Saab 9-3 Turbo
Friday, December 06, 2013 - 06:34 pm, by: John Street(Rex2ce)
Only takes 45" per side John. I ruined my last 31 by installing coilovers, now I have a 97 model which I intend to keep , so spent the money that I should have with the last car. Hows Tassie, spent an enjoyable 14 days in Golf TSI touring in May just gone.
Friday, December 06, 2013 - 06:51 pm, by: Louis Attard(Z00se)
Yeah my airbag ride is very smooth and responsive, especially when i stick it into the sports mode. I think i will just keep it now and ignore the knock until the ride suffers because i know i'll probably end up putting new shocks in and won't like the ride as much.
Jap cars though, they're great in the city but out on the country roads in australia they don't like the rough stuff, or going for camping trips. Even with my old rx7 it didn't like the rough either, especially bumpy gravel roads. Aussie cars have got alot going for them for Australian drivers who travel, my old ef falcon was wallowy around the corners but it rode through the bumps very well.
Friday, December 06, 2013 - 07:01 pm, by: John Jantzen(Taslex)
John Street wrote on Friday, December 06, 2013 - 06:34 pm:
Hows Tassie, spent an enjoyable 14 days in Golf TSI touring in May just gone.
Yes, it was nice then. Winter has hung around, so has Spring. At present it's 16 max for a few days with rain and/or wind, then maybe 24-27 for one or two days. Even had light snowfalls on some higher peaks earlier this week.
Monday, April 28, 2014 - 08:27 pm, by: Louis Attard(Z00se)
Hi Guys, I just have another question regarding this removing the airbags and installing shocks & springs. In the article "Removing airbags on a UZZ31 and installing Supra shocks." on this site it says that i can remove a couple of fuses or maybe also need to remove suspension ecu to stop getting warning messages up on the dash.
I noticed in some pictures of some jzz30 soarer shocks (and perhaps also uzz30?) there are wires on top of the shocks. I gather this has to do with TEMS? So i'm just wondering if i used either uzz30 or jzz30 shocks would i not remove those fuses / suspension ecu and would they plug in the same plug and work fine? Would i have error messages come up on the dash all the time?
Tuesday, April 29, 2014 - 08:02 pm, by: James Johnson(Jimbo)
TEMS ECU is located in the left rear passengers wall so you will need to take the rear seats out then pry the wall off as it is only held in by plastic clips then look for the labelled TEMS ECU and do not mistake it for the fuel pump ECU.
You will need to remove the TEMS ECU to stop the error messages on the dash.
Ian Johnston Goo Roo South Australia 1995 UZZ31, BA XR6Turbo Ute. 2007 VE GTS.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014 - 08:07 pm, by: Ian Johnston(Ted)
I dont agree with having to remove the ECU. Unless I have done something weird(no comment on that), I removed the fuses, and turned the switch in the boot back on, and no error coming up.
John Street TryHard NSW VE Calais V8,97 UZZ31, 2009 Saab 9-3 Turbo
Wednesday, April 30, 2014 - 06:58 pm, by: Louis Attard(Z00se)
Ok so the wire at the top of the uzz30 shocks doesn't need to be plugged into anywhere because the fuse will be out anyhow so the wire will be doing nothing. Correct?
Wednesday, April 30, 2014 - 07:01 pm, by: Louis Attard(Z00se)
I've actually just changed my airbags to sports mode and it seems to have stopped alot of the knocking that was happening before. It seems perhaps the extra pressure is helping, although it's probably putting extra stress on it and it will deteriorate faster. Oh well will do for the moment.
John Street TryHard NSW VE Calais V8,97 UZZ31, 2009 Saab 9-3 Turbo
Wednesday, April 30, 2014 - 09:22 pm, by: John Street(Rex2ce)
If you remove your airbags and replace with coilovers or conventional springs and shocks the wire you mention does not need to be connected.The tutorial you mentioned has a diagram of which fuses to remove if it is the same tute that I once used.