Shocks for my All Trac...TURTCEL

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TURTCEL
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My tercel:: 1985 4WD SR5 Wagon, Brown (TURTCEL)
Location: Everett, WA

Shocks for my All Trac...TURTCEL

Post by TURTCEL »

Any of you Corolla Allt Trac owners or previous owners have any advice on what shocks I should get for the rear on my 1988 Corolla DLX All Trac Wagon? I am wanting to get a stiffer shock so that the back end doesn't sag so much with a load. I know most of the forum members here seem to like KYB for our Tercs but I can only seem to find OEM style replacements from KYB for my All Trac...hence still looking for a heavier duty option.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Peace
1985 Tercel 4wd SR5 Wagon, WEBER Carb, Brown (TURTCEL)
1988 Corolla DLX All-Trac Wagon, 4 speed AT, Silver (Wife's new car)
1993 Ford Escort Wagon LX, 5 Speed, Smurf Blue (Smurfette)...selling
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dlb
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My tercel:: '87 sr5, '83 dlx parts car
Location: bc, canada

Re: Shocks for my All Trac...TURTCEL

Post by dlb »

hey john. the back end of my ae95 was sagging a little bit, not too much but enough that with a full load of people the shocks would bottom out going over some bumps. i replaced the shocks first but it made no difference so i looked into replacing the springs but everything is NLA. you can order king springs from australia for huge $$$ or find some other spring and trim it but instead i tried splatterdog's suggestion and installed a rubber donut spacer between the top of the spring and body of the car. it worked like a charm! the rubber is extremely stiff so the car handles the same as before. here's his post on it.

https://tercel4wd.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2& ... 268#p67369

i used a hacksaw to trim the upper lip from the spacer so it would sit flush against the car. i also used the hacksaw to angle the upper outer face of spacer because it was too tight a fit between the upper spring mount and part of the body. didn't take much and then it fit perfect. i've had them in for 2 months now and have tested them lots with full loads of people, no more bottoming out the shocks.

i used munroe shocks, no complaints.
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Mattel
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My tercel:: 1988 Corolla 4wd Wagon (AKA Corolla All-trac) 5speed, AC, Power Sunroof, Windows, Mirrors, Steering, Locking, Diff Lock, 14" Corolla SX Alloys with Silica Hankook Tyres, 4afe, King Springs, Upgraded Headlights, Full Synth oils, 210,000kms
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: Shocks for my All Trac...TURTCEL

Post by Mattel »

I found some old but new monroe air adjustable shocks that are able to be pumped up when I need them. Have left the old springs on as the shocks are now doing a bit more work. they fit tercel and some other old cars as well and have a air valve that I can increase the pressure on when I need them. cheers
Previous: 83 Tercel SR5 4wd, 84 Tercel SR5 4wd
88 Corolla 4wd Wagon 5speed, All power options, Fact Sunroof, Diff Lock, 14" SX Alloys, Hankook Tyres, 4afe, King Springs, Upgraded Headlights, Full Synth oils, Tow Bar, 210,000kms
TURTCEL
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My tercel:: 1985 4WD SR5 Wagon, Brown (TURTCEL)
Location: Everett, WA

Re: Shocks for my All Trac...TURTCEL

Post by TURTCEL »

Mattel wrote:I found some old but new monroe air adjustable shocks that are able to be pumped up when I need them. Have left the old springs on as the shocks are now doing a bit more work. they fit tercel and some other old cars as well and have a air valve that I can increase the pressure on when I need them. cheers
Any idea of the part number on those Monroe air adjustable shocks?

Peace
1985 Tercel 4wd SR5 Wagon, WEBER Carb, Brown (TURTCEL)
1988 Corolla DLX All-Trac Wagon, 4 speed AT, Silver (Wife's new car)
1993 Ford Escort Wagon LX, 5 Speed, Smurf Blue (Smurfette)...selling
teranfirbt
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My tercel:: '86 SR5 4WD, 5AFE, lifted rear, 195/70/14 tires
Location: Seattle, WA

Re: Shocks for my All Trac...TURTCEL

Post by teranfirbt »

Putting stiffer shocks in won't fix a sagging issue, you need to replace springs for that. Stiffer shocks can help with rubbing issues on bumps, but that's just a bandaid...
Air adjustable shocks will solve the problem, but need more attention since they won't stay pressurized forever.
Might be able to get factory replacement springs from Rock Auto. If you take the springs out and measure them, you could probably find some with a similar diameter and height from another car.
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Mattel
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My tercel:: 1988 Corolla 4wd Wagon (AKA Corolla All-trac) 5speed, AC, Power Sunroof, Windows, Mirrors, Steering, Locking, Diff Lock, 14" Corolla SX Alloys with Silica Hankook Tyres, 4afe, King Springs, Upgraded Headlights, Full Synth oils, 210,000kms
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: Shocks for my All Trac...TURTCEL

Post by Mattel »

I haven't got a copy of the model number (they are 25years old anyway) but they are in the same style as these http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/RV1-SV1-AP5- ... 632&_uhb=1

I don't expect the air shocks to last forever ( In my first car (holden kingswood wagon) they were old and would collapse after only a few kms and were very worn). But in the meantime they will be great. I drive only about once a week anyway but when I need extra height is usually when I have the most weight in the car. like when going camping down a bumpy dirt track or towing my caravan, the rest of the time I have hardly any pressure in them at all (about 35psi) and the car rides at standard height. I think this will wear out the shocks a lot less than having them pumped up all the time.



Just for contrast - this is what they look like at 1oopsi!
1957454_10151888099602595_963406379_n.jpg
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Previous: 83 Tercel SR5 4wd, 84 Tercel SR5 4wd
88 Corolla 4wd Wagon 5speed, All power options, Fact Sunroof, Diff Lock, 14" SX Alloys, Hankook Tyres, 4afe, King Springs, Upgraded Headlights, Full Synth oils, Tow Bar, 210,000kms
TURTCEL
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Posts: 662
Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2012 11:42 am
My tercel:: 1985 4WD SR5 Wagon, Brown (TURTCEL)
Location: Everett, WA

Re: Shocks for my All Trac...TURTCEL

Post by TURTCEL »

My car doesn't actually sag at all...but when you put a load in the back it definitely drops down a bit. I am going to try the round rubber spring spacers mentioned by DLB...looks super easy to do and I will do a set of shocks at the same time as well. The shocks are the factory ones so the are ready to go for sure.

Peace
1985 Tercel 4wd SR5 Wagon, WEBER Carb, Brown (TURTCEL)
1988 Corolla DLX All-Trac Wagon, 4 speed AT, Silver (Wife's new car)
1993 Ford Escort Wagon LX, 5 Speed, Smurf Blue (Smurfette)...selling
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Petros
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My tercel:: '84 Tercel4wd w/extensive mods
Location: Arlington WA USA

Re: Shocks for my All Trac...TURTCEL

Post by Petros »

the RWD corollas use the same rear axle, there should be lots of performace suspention parts available for the GTS rwd corolla that will fit on the all-trac. Be preparted to pay big bucks, but they are avialable. the rubber spacer and air shocks are a much less costly and workable solution.
'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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