track suspension setup (everything)

[meanmecordia]

hey guys as title says im after a track setup for my ae71 but want to know wat frount end stuff to use like rca and power steering arms and stuff, kinda looking for the perfect drift package if there is one, as for the rear im unsure on it as its been so long since i played with rollas.

thanks in advance

josh

[Jonny Rochester]

I think this is the generic shorthand answer your after. Easiest bolt together package anyway:

Front:
AE86 front stuts, shortened 40mm.
2" ID 65mm spring coilover kit.
65mm ID 200mm long springs. 7kg/mm or 8kg/mm rate
TRD or Koni "short shocks" to suit JDM AE92.
20mm spacer in bottom of strut tube.
Cusco strut tops.
Roll centre adjuster blocks.
"Power steering" AE86 steering arms.
"JDM" vented AE86 brakes
Polyurathane bushes on control arms and swaybars.
strut brace

Or for more money (for the track):
replace control and radius arms for ball jointed items
use RX7 brake calipers and AJPS bracket, Honda disks.
TRD blue adjustable shocks.

Rear:
Stiffer springs, maybe 4 or 5kg/mm
shorter shocks. Adjustable. TRD blues.
ball jointed panhard rod. Maybe Cusco.
bolt on brackets between diff and lower arms (forgot the name).
That is all.

[meanmecordia]

thanks for the quick reply johnny im intrested in a bit of explanation on above said bold bits photos or explanation is great and also is the coilover kit one of the ones ya weld on ect???:



AE86 front stuts, shortened 40mm.
20mm spacer in bottom of strut tube.

[Javal]

Firstly, a suggestion:

Use capital letters and correct punctuation when posting. It helps people understand what you're trying to say and makes look less like an idiot.

Anyway -
Step 1 - Remove wallet from pocket
Step 2 - Open wide
Step 3 - ???????
Step 4 - Skids!

Seriously though -

Starting from the front working back - a true full package.
Rose Jointed Castor rods
Fatter swaybars (size of your choice) with new bushes - OR - Rose jointed swaybar links
Rose Jointed length adjustable Lower Control Arms
AE86 power steering arms
Twin adjustable tierod tubes
Quick Rack
Roll Center Adjusters
Height and Damper adjustable coilovers
Camber tops / Camber & Caster tops
Strut brace

Rose jointed adjustable trailing arms -OR- Rose jointed equal length trailing arms -OR- IRS Conversion
Uprated Rear springs + Adjustable shocks -OR- Height and damper adjustable coilovers
Rose Jointed Adjustable Pangard rod
Rear strut bar

Rollcage.

That's probably not even everything, but it's most of the suspension covered.

Search next time.

[Javal]

40mm is removed from the length of the strut so it:
a) is closer to the correct length for the shock
b) enables you to lower the car, and in combination with a RCA, keep your lower control arm angle correct and keep a decent amount of travel in your suspension.

The 20mm spacer sits in the bottom of the strut tube to:
a) make the strut length correct for the shock cartridge
b) seat the shock cartridge in the strut correctly.

[meanmecordia]

thanks javal

i was never good at english in school so my grammer is crap sorry mate will try clean it up a little next time.

[Javal]

All good man, it just helps people understand what you're asking with more clarity.

[ke70dave]

i would suggest not going striaght from a completely stock ae71 to one of the above setups, because

1 ) - it will cost you a absolute crapload up front
2 ) - you wont learn anything

my suggestion woud be: -

1) get a full bush kit
go and drive it
2) get some decent sized wheels with good tyres
drive it more
3) get a set of coilovers for the front with camber tops (with the ae86 jap brakes)
4) get some stiffer rear springs and shocks to suit
5) panhard rod and RCA to keep it all in check
6) new rack ends and tie rods will keep everything nice and tight
7) a decent wheel alignment

drive it alot more than the first 2 times and learn what the car is doin and the feedback that it gives

now go and drive it more (you will have spent like 3k minimum so far)

then you can fine tune with such items as roll bars, rose jointed items, traction brackets (i think thats what you mean johnny).

i think braces are good to have as well, but dont go and buy 10 of them and put them all on. put them on one at a time and feel the difference of each one.

car setup is a very individual thing to create, throwing money at a car wont make it handle perfect. you have to learn the car and design the cars suspension around the way you drive. what works for someone else prolly isnt gonna work for you (to the same extent)

hope this helps anyway

[Javal]

Dave, i entirely agree with most of what you've said - going out and purchasing all that crap would be a terrible move for a beginner - however it is, as was asked - almost everything you'd want to have a 'complete' drift setup.

For a starter drift suspension setup my recommendation would be, In order of purchasing -

Pack 1:

AE86 Struts w/brakes
Short stroke shocks, f+r (KYB is a good cheap shock)
8 + 6kg springs -OR- 6 + 4.5kg springs f+r
Adjustable panhard rod
Lock Spacer
Strut brace
14 x 7" zero-ish offset wheels (MA61's are a good choice)

Other essentials-
Locked borg warner (factory xe7x diff) or Locked S-series (factory ADM AE86 diff)
Steering wheel and boss kit
Seat, if you want

This is a good starting point - plenty of people don't feel the need to fit any more components apart from a few select items from pack 2. Some other people do. It's a very well rounded package.

Pack 2:
Rebuilt Corona control arms
Replace castor rod bushes
Replace trailing arm bushes
Camber tops
Uprated swaybars f+r
P/S arms

Other essentials -
T series rear diff + tailshaft to suit
LSD to suit

Just an building block on package 1. Offers more adjustment, more refinement, more steering lock. Set it up how you like it. Do skids.

Pack 3:
Start replacing all the gear from pack 1 and 2 with the big list of stuff from earlier.

This is a good way to do it, i'm sure some others will have something to say, everyone does everything their own way - but that's my suggestion to you.

[meanmecordia]

all inputs are great guys, i have had a ae71 before that was track prepaired but not by me so as said its been a wile, but all is good as this thread could maybe be used in the tech section for other starters, or people looking for a diffrent type of setup to wat they have.

thanks again guys

josh