Lowering Springs for FWD 81 Tercel

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ariscmarquez
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Posts: 20
Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:53 pm
My tercel:: 1981 Toyota Tercel 3 Door Hatchback

Lowering Springs for FWD 81 Tercel

Post by ariscmarquez »

Good Day.
I dont know if this topic is repost,
My apologies if it is.

Anyways, my concern, is there an aftermarket lowering kit for 81 FWD Tercel?
What particular brand? or has anyone tried installing one?

My second option is to cut my springs to lower my tercel, but also, comfortability will suffer.

Or maybe an adjustable spring.

My target is to lower my ride to 2-3 inches.

Thanks in advance
shogun
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Joined: Thu Mar 31, 2005 1:48 pm

Re: Lowering Springs for FWD 81 Tercel

Post by shogun »

i have mine lowered close to 3 inches, and im using ford explorer front springs cut to size in front and i believe it was jeep cherokee rear springs in the rear

ride is not harsh

but if you want brand name you could go with h&r race springs they lower 2.5 " use the ae86 ones
tercel 4wd custom suspension, under drive pulley, vented brakes, cold air intake, and plenty more to come
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Petros
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Posts: 11930
Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 6:31 pm
My tercel:: '84 Tercel4wd w/extensive mods
Location: Arlington WA USA

Re: Lowering Springs for FWD 81 Tercel

Post by Petros »

cutting the springs is an easy and cheap way to accomplish this, it will also stiffen them slightly. The shorter amount of coils will have the effect of stiffening it. You can also heat it to red hot and bend the spring lower to keep the soft ride. both of these methods you loose wheel travel, but to retain the same amount of wheel travel means a lot of cutting and welding to move all the suspension components up into the chassis by several inches.

The other option is to remove the struts, cut off the spring seat, and install the generic kit with threaded sleeves and an adjustable seat. YOu will have a large selection of aftermarket sping length and stiffness to choose from. the kit is not too costly, perhaps $60 per strut.

A cheaper alternative is to take the measurement off the struts and springs, and walk around a wrecking yard looking for similar struts and springs that are a few inches shorter. IIRC the '92 and newer Tercel struts will bolt into the older Tercel but is several inches shorter. You might have to adapt the brake hose mount and a few other minor items, but it can be made to work.

Good luck.
'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)
ariscmarquez
Newbie
Posts: 20
Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:53 pm
My tercel:: 1981 Toyota Tercel 3 Door Hatchback

Re: Lowering Springs for FWD 81 Tercel

Post by ariscmarquez »

thanks for the inputs sir. will do some hunting on springs.. thanks thanks thanks
terkill
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Posts: 181
Joined: Tue May 06, 2008 8:12 am
My tercel:: 1987 Toyota Tercel 4WD
Location: Hartford, Connecticut

Re: Lowering Springs for FWD 81 Tercel

Post by terkill »

whats this lowering shenanigans? I'm lifting mine 3 inches.
"If parts ain't flyin, you ain't tryin"
ariscmarquez
Newbie
Posts: 20
Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:53 pm
My tercel:: 1981 Toyota Tercel 3 Door Hatchback

Re: Lowering Springs for FWD 81 Tercel

Post by ariscmarquez »

ehehehe sir terkill, just want my tercel closer to the ground... :D
scotisha
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Joined: Thu Jun 22, 2006 9:07 pm
Location: Victoria, BC

Re: Lowering Springs for FWD 81 Tercel

Post by scotisha »

I can see if you are going for the lowered look but why would Shogun lower his? Better for rallying i guess?
Driver: '86 4wd Tercel Wagon
Fun: '98 BMW M3 sedan

Now I have the best of both worlds!
takza
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Location: Tibetan plateau

Re: Lowering Springs for FWD 81 Tercel

Post by takza »

My wagon has sagging OEM springs with rubber boosters and with 60 series 14" it handles very well on road...does fine off road too....just need to dodge those rocks.

All else being equal....probably the primary thing that determines road handling is ride height.
Give a boy a gun-give a biatch a cell phone-and pretty soon you almost got yourself a police state.

Orwell said: War is peace! Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength...

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