Upgrading Shocks/Springs

[2restomod]

I'm experimenting with putting some MKIII struts and springs (coilovers) on my MKI Sc and was wondering what you MKIII guys think of the stock set up and what you go to when you want to improve that set up? Since it's a monotube assembly I assume you have to buy complete new springs and struts, or ?
Also, apparently there is NO sway bar on the front of the MKIII?

[lbridges]

There is a sway bar OEM on the MK III, both front and rear.

The OEM strut is a KYB unit that's not bad given the typical OEM Goldilocks routine...this one is tooo hard, this one is tooo soft, and this one is just right.

For improving handling (struts/springs) there are several choices:

1. just springs (there are some significant variations in spring stiffness - in addition to many vendors Toyota makes three that I know of (OEM, TRD Sportivo, TRD Race, and IIRC there's another one too, but not sure)
2. springs and struts - aftermarket springs and Koni strut inserts or the TRD Sportivo kit (struts, springs & sways)
3. coilovers, various and sundry brands up to Ohlins (mostly race suited, very stiff for street).

And of course there are various sources of differing front/rear sway bar thickness (some adjustable, some not).

[supunna_picta]

The stock set up is really good on pre 03. I changed my 05's out two days after I had the car so I can't tell you if the changes Toyota made were good or bad but the car looked like it rode higher. Anyhow I went with the sportivo - which I guess are getting harder to find so when they give up, I'll try the Koni insert route.

Why (if you are) would you go with a modified Spyder suspension for your MKI? I can see trying out the stock spyder set up for price and potential performance gains but it seems you'd be better off with aftermarket MKI suspension components if you're going the aftermarket route eventually anyhow.

Or - is that you made the stock spyder components fit, so you may as well upgrade them when the time comes? I recall your other thread where you mentioned a problem with the mounting holes, did you get around that?

[2restomod]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm trying the MKIII struts because I bought the whole set on Ebay for less than $100 and though I didn't know much about them I thought the coilover setup would be an improvement over the MKI setup, and give me more options for wider tires. The front sway bar on the MKIII must have a different mounting configuration because there are no tabs on the strut for mounting the links? (that's why I was asking if there even was a front sway bar on the MKIII). Did they all come with front sway bars? Or, do the links mount to the body instead?
As for the holes, I'm going to go ahead and drill out a new hole for the bottom bolt just so I can try them out (might give me some interesting camber adjustment as well!).

[lbridges]

Yes, they all had sways - front and rear.

The front mounts to the body using the typical rubber bushing and to the suspension through a set of links connected to the lower control arm (see pic below - credit for the pic is due to the SpyderMagazine site).

The rear connects to the body in similar fashion and to the lower part of the strut mounting (but still using end links from bar to strut).

[2restomod]

^Ahh well, that explains it then. thanks. I guess that explains why there are no tabs on the shock housing for the links. My springs say Tein; are they stock?

[lbridges]

Originally Posted by 2restomod

My springs say Tein; are they stock?

Nope. Several models of Tein springs were/are made for the Spyder, so not much I could say in terms of spring strength. I also don't know how long the OEM spring is so you could determine the Tein drop... I seem to hear the most about the Tein SS, but that's obviously no gaurantee...sorry.

[2restomod]

Sweet. So I've got a set of aftermarket Tein Springs