Celica strut retrofitting

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NickC809
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My tercel:: 1985 T4WD
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Celica strut retrofitting

Post by NickC809 »

So I've been creating a list of compents needed for the Barto/Synth lift. I've been measuring twice and trying to buy only once...unfortunately I do believe I've run into a bit of a snag. I recently found a 1990 Celica down in the Pick-n-pull and grabbed the front struts out of it.

This Celica to be specific:

http://row52.com/Vehicle/Index/JT2ST87N6L0019360

Now that I have them home and cleaned up I started measuring and just generally looking them over. To my eye the strut-through-knuckle bolts seem excessively large. I read the bolt shank needed to be increased from 8mm to 10mm..and lemme tell you, these bolt shanks are quite a bit larger than 10mm. The link provided shows my measurements and what I've picked up. Any tips/hints/foresight/hindsight is appreciated!

https://goo.gl/photos/exkHKevZacXSxF1Q7

I'm hoping to have my lift all ready to go by this weekend so I can go play in the Tahoe snow storms that are coming this way! Woohoo!
jimcrazy
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Re: Celica strut retrofitting

Post by jimcrazy »

if the holes in the struts are the correct center to center distance as the tercel have some step bushings machined up to make the hole smaller and weld them in to the strut
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Petros
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Re: Celica strut retrofitting

Post by Petros »

somewhere on-line I was shown you can buy "hat" washers that bring the hole dia down to the correct size. I do not remember where they were, but they did not cost much. A pack of six only cost like $8. Perhaps Summit raciing, or some similar supplier.

if that fails you can weld on washers with the correct size holes, might need a slightly longer bolt.
'87 Tercel 4wd SR5 (current engine swap project)
'84 Tercel 4wd (daily driver, with on going mods)
'92 Mazda MPV 4wd (wife's daily driver)
'85 Tercel 4wd DLX auto(daughter's daily driver)
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NickC809
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Re: Celica strut retrofitting

Post by NickC809 »

Thanks guys. That's what I had read and was hoping there was more info on. Before I go pulling my car apart, does anyone have the diameter of the tercel strut/knuckle through bolts? I need to spend some time at my local fastenal/hardware store and see if I can find something.
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NickC809
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Re: Celica strut retrofitting

Post by NickC809 »

Can anyone also confirm the celica strut/knuckle bolt diameter? I just want to make sure I am more or less on the correct path before I start pulling apart my DD.
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Petros
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Re: Celica strut retrofitting

Post by Petros »

I seem to recall 8mm dia shank, the hex size is 17 mm.
'87 Tercel 4wd SR5 (current engine swap project)
'84 Tercel 4wd (daily driver, with on going mods)
'92 Mazda MPV 4wd (wife's daily driver)
'85 Tercel 4wd DLX auto(daughter's daily driver)
'01 Honda Civic (other daughter's daily driver)
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rer233
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Re: Celica strut retrofitting

Post by rer233 »

Our cars use 12mm bolts and nuts to fasten the strut to the steering knuckle. Bolt centers are 2 5/16" apart.

Good Luck- hope this helps.
if it aint there, there's a good chance it won't break!
83 SR5 Silver/Blue (Snowmobile/work beater)-totaled but drivable
85 SR5 Blue
88 SR5 White (the 'good' one)-not anymore-totaled
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NickC809
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Re: Celica strut retrofitting

Post by NickC809 »

I'll take all this info and apply it this weekend and see what happens! There was one member who built a pair of celica struts in this thread:

viewtopic.php?t=9250

However, he never reported back on the installation process, so we were all left in the dark. I will soldier on and sail the uncharted seas!

I read your thread Abra and really liked it, I just didn't have the budget/I already had most of the other bits. If this doesn't pan out with the celica stuts I'll just end up using the spring, top hat and mr2 strut insert and go that route.
Thanks all!
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NickC809
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Re: Celica strut retrofitting

Post by NickC809 »

I'm getting closer!
While I was on vacation my friend picked up my custom washers ($150) from the local machinist. The normal through bolt would now be too short, so $20 later at Fastenall, I have some appropriatly sized bolts. Luckily the M12s from Fastenall had almost the exact same diameter as the Tercel originals, as the machinist had made the spacers to match the Tercel bolts. Now the question is, what about the camber adjustment on the top bolt? Is the bolt itself camed or is it a cam insert? I bought a second set of 70mm M12s for extra length..just in case. Either way, once I get back from the bay this weekend, the fun really begins. The photos below show the washers in all their expensive glory.
Hopefully the next update will be with the whole setup installed!

https://goo.gl/photos/E4cXfty6EBk1SsSaA
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Petros
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Re: Celica strut retrofitting

Post by Petros »

I thought the camber adjustment would just fit in the same hole. did you get the ones that fit the celcia struts? it would go under your custom washers. if you use the Tercel camber adjusters, I would think it would just go on top of the custom washers.
'87 Tercel 4wd SR5 (current engine swap project)
'84 Tercel 4wd (daily driver, with on going mods)
'92 Mazda MPV 4wd (wife's daily driver)
'85 Tercel 4wd DLX auto(daughter's daily driver)
'01 Honda Civic (other daughter's daily driver)
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NickC809
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My tercel:: 1985 T4WD
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Re: Celica strut retrofitting

Post by NickC809 »

The celica struts didn't come with camber adjustment, just large diameter through bolts. I didn't even think about the camber being adjustable until I got the finished washers back..oh well, we will see how it goes in a few days time.
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NickC809
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My tercel:: 1985 T4WD
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Re: Celica strut retrofitting

Post by NickC809 »

So, today was the day.
and my car was lowered not lifted. by about an inch and a half.

https://goo.gl/photos/KHVQvmsjYhUzgWdK7

Time to go spend more money again

Noah, I'm doing it your way this time.
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NickC809
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My tercel:: 1985 T4WD
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Re: Celica strut retrofitting

Post by NickC809 »

Waiittt, is the tercel spring supposed to go on the celica strut? Or did I miss something completely?

EDIT:
I read that Synth is using celica springs on the terecel strut with tercel strut inserts. That does not seem like it would work to me. Is there confirmation that this does indeed work? I know that different springs have different rates, but the celica springs seem to be lacking about 3 inches. I would like to salvage what I have laying around before I go spending more time in the picknpull.
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NickC809
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My tercel:: 1985 T4WD
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Re: Celica strut retrofitting

Post by NickC809 »

Well, I scrapped the celica struts and did Noahs new parts lift, and I couldn't be happier.
No more digging around at the picknpull for me!
Thanks yall for the input and guidance.
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NickC809
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My tercel:: 1985 T4WD
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Re: Celica strut retrofitting

Post by NickC809 »

http://imgur.com/UzF2c8n

I promptly drove straight into the local irrigation ditch thinking I could make it, turns out it was a bit deeper than anticipated. Even the tractor couldn't pull me out!

Lifted car ≠ Go anywhere mobile
Last edited by NickC809 on Sun May 14, 2017 9:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
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