AE86 & AE82 Corolla parts swapping to AL25 Tercels?

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Kozuto_98
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AE86 & AE82 Corolla parts swapping to AL25 Tercels?

Post by Kozuto_98 »

So a couple weeks ago I was tearing apart the rear suspension on my AL25 Tercel with a friend when she mentioned that the rear axle and suspension looks identical to her 1984 Corolla GTS AE86.
After we finished tearing down my wagon we jacked up her Corolla to have a look, and sure enough it's the same!

This got me thinking about parts swapping and parts sourcing, so I decided to take a look on Toyota's parts website, and here's what I found!

Here's the diagram for AL25 Tercel wagons
AL25rear.jpg
Here's the diagram for AE86 Corollas
AE86rear.jpg
It's pretty much the same setup!
Now I will point out that there is some slight variations in parts numbers.
What I was mainly looking at were the coil springs, as I've been having a tough time tracking down new ones as mine are completely shot on my wagon.
I ordered some stock replacement AE86 springs from rockauto to test this theory and they fit right in! I think the part number variation is due to a difference in the spring stiffness.
If I had the time and money to test more of the aftermarket parts for AE86 Corollas on these wagons I would, as I'd like to see if things like coilovers or link arms would also swap over, and maybe even swapping the rear brakes from drums to AE86 disc brakes.

As for sourcing some new front springs, I've sadly run into the same parts availability troubles.
But here's where I noticed another similarity to other Toyota models. A few years ago I owned a 1987 Corolla FX16 AE82 that also needed it's fair share of work. When I was tearing apart the front suspension on my AL25 tercel last week I noticed that the shock and spring setup looked very close to what my old Corolla FX16 had. The main difference seems to be the knuckle, control arm design, and sway bar placement.

So again, I went back to Toyota's parts website to have a look, and here's what I found.

Here's the diagram for AL25 Tercel wagons
wagon spring.jpg
Here's the diagram for AE82 Corolla FX16s
fx spring.jpg
The shock and spring design seem to be the same. However, like with the AE86 springs, there is also a parts number variation with the springs.

I have yet to order the front springs to see if they will for sure fit, but I will make sure to update this post when the time comes!

If anyone knows of other parts that can be swapped over to these Tercel wagons please let me know! These cars aren't getting younger and parts must be found!
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1987 Tercel Wagon SR5 4WD
1998 Honda Accord Coupe V6 J35 swap
1997 Acura CL (Sold for 4A-GE money)
RIP 2016 Civic (wrist pin recall)
DanDelion
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Re: AE86 & AE82 Corolla parts swapping to AL25 Tercels?

Post by DanDelion »

How has your luck been with AE86 parts?

I'm replacing the whole suspension and I cannot find coils for my 1985 Tercel SR5. Going to order the Ae86 front and back and see if they work.
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Kozuto_98
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Re: AE86 & AE82 Corolla parts swapping to AL25 Tercels?

Post by Kozuto_98 »

DanDelion wrote: Wed Sep 02, 2020 6:51 pm How has your luck been with AE86 parts?

I'm replacing the whole suspension and I cannot find coils for my 1985 Tercel SR5. Going to order the Ae86 front and back and see if they work.
I haven't tried the rear shocks and coils yet, but looking at the new and old ones they are for sure the same, but the spring rate is for sure stiffer with the AE86 springs. I Don't think any of the front suspension will work from the AE86 and I have yet to actually order AE82 springs to test my theory.
I've also had a slight suspicion that KP62 Starlet parts might possibly work but I need to look into that more.
1987 Tercel Wagon SR5 4WD
1998 Honda Accord Coupe V6 J35 swap
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Re: AE86 & AE82 Corolla parts swapping to AL25 Tercels?

Post by Erikwi »

i saw on ebay a company in Australia was making custom springs at a reasonable price
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Kozuto_98
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Re: AE86 & AE82 Corolla parts swapping to AL25 Tercels?

Post by Kozuto_98 »

Erikwi wrote: Thu Sep 03, 2020 10:39 am i saw on ebay a company in Australia was making custom springs at a reasonable price
Do you know if the seller still has them for sale?
1987 Tercel Wagon SR5 4WD
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Re: AE86 & AE82 Corolla parts swapping to AL25 Tercels?

Post by Petros »

I had made a visual inspection of the GTS corrolla RWD and found the rear axles and suspension almost identical. it means the performance rear suspension parts for the AE86 corolla should also fit in the Tercel4wd wagon. but I have nto tried it yet.

be wary of the front suspension parts, the bushings should all be the same, but the strut could be a different length, but otherwise identical.
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Kozuto_98
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Re: AE86 & AE82 Corolla parts swapping to AL25 Tercels?

Post by Kozuto_98 »

Petros wrote: Thu Sep 03, 2020 5:22 pm I had made a visual inspection of the GTS corrolla RWD and found the rear axles and suspension almost identical. it means the performance rear suspension parts for the AE86 corolla should also fit in the Tercel4wd wagon. but I have nto tried it yet.

be wary of the front suspension parts, the bushings should all be the same, but the strut could be a different length, but otherwise identical.
If the front springs from the GTS at least match up that would be awesome for finding parts!
1987 Tercel Wagon SR5 4WD
1998 Honda Accord Coupe V6 J35 swap
1997 Acura CL (Sold for 4A-GE money)
RIP 2016 Civic (wrist pin recall)
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Re: AE86 & AE82 Corolla parts swapping to AL25 Tercels?

Post by Erikwi »

Kozuto_98 wrote: Thu Sep 03, 2020 12:20 pm
Erikwi wrote: Thu Sep 03, 2020 10:39 am i saw on ebay a company in Australia was making custom springs at a reasonable price
Do you know if the seller still has them for sale?
have not checked
here is some he has listed
https://www.ebay.com/itm/FRONT-REAR-STA ... Swr~lYoVJQ

since they make them in house, ask them
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Re: AE86 & AE82 Corolla parts swapping to AL25 Tercels?

Post by Erikwi »

can anyone verify this is the part for the rear swaybar mount
it looks right in the picture

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3297037 ... 347buk5zOS
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Kozuto_98
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Re: AE86 & AE82 Corolla parts swapping to AL25 Tercels?

Post by Kozuto_98 »

Erikwi wrote: Sat Sep 05, 2020 2:39 pm can anyone verify this is the part for the rear swaybar mount
it looks right in the picture

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3297037 ... 347buk5zOS
Personally I don't think it will work, but, it's always worth trying
1987 Tercel Wagon SR5 4WD
1998 Honda Accord Coupe V6 J35 swap
1997 Acura CL (Sold for 4A-GE money)
RIP 2016 Civic (wrist pin recall)
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Kozuto_98
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Re: AE86 & AE82 Corolla parts swapping to AL25 Tercels?

Post by Kozuto_98 »

I FInally got around to putting the AE86 shocks and springs into my wagon. I can now say for sure that they work.
However, the shocks and springs are a bit more stiff than actual Tercel ones so keep that in mind.
I went with KYB shocks and factory AE86 springs. Next I want to see if the rear sway bar links swap over.
20200908_113727_HDR.jpg
20200908_113746_HDR.jpg
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Re: AE86 & AE82 Corolla parts swapping to AL25 Tercels?

Post by NWMO »

Koz,

I got rid of the rear sway bar all together and don’t miss it.

Chris
Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart"

In remembrance of my friend ARCHINSTL:

T4WD augury?
"Oh, do not ask, 'What is it?' Let us go and make our visit."
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Kozuto_98
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Re: AE86 & AE82 Corolla parts swapping to AL25 Tercels?

Post by Kozuto_98 »

NWMO wrote: Sat Sep 12, 2020 9:33 am Koz,

I got rid of the rear sway bar all together and don’t miss it.

Chris
Nice, does it make much difference?
1987 Tercel Wagon SR5 4WD
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Re: AE86 & AE82 Corolla parts swapping to AL25 Tercels?

Post by NWMO »

I do not notice much difference at all.

Chris
Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart"

In remembrance of my friend ARCHINSTL:

T4WD augury?
"Oh, do not ask, 'What is it?' Let us go and make our visit."
T.S. Eliot - "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"

"Now and then we had a hope that, if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates."
Mark Twain
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Re: AE86 & AE82 Corolla parts swapping to AL25 Tercels?

Post by atoyta »

In my experience the KYB shocks are a little stiffer than others I have used.
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