WTB: engine shock absorber

[ARCHINSTL]

You got further than I did...when I was looking a few years ago I emailed Tokico/Hitachi 5 or 6 times, in both the US and Japan, and never received the courtesy of a reply - despite giving Toy numbers and explaining the installation, etc.
Tom M.

[SynthDesign]

I believe the dampener is more or less specific to our engine and transmission combo and mounting in the vehicle, whether it be 2 or 4wd.

Neither AE83 or AE86 rear wheel drive corollas use a dampener like the one on our tercels.

[toughtercel]

Yesterday I was at Bellingham Toyota dealer, the bad news that they are no longer make any more. So I have not check into NAPA or other parts store if they have as aftermarket parts .

[dlb]

oh, i fully believe that there are no new engine shocks around. i had wanted to see if i could luck out like synth and find one that was sitting all alone on a dark shelf somewhere but no dice. that's why i've been hoping someone had a good used one but not a big deal if one doesn't turn up, i will eventually get to making my own.

thanks regardless, guys.

[rer233]

just got done digging thru my piles of sh 1 t in the basement. mercedes used engine shocks on their v 8's and diesels in the mid 80's and earlier. managed to dig up an engine shock (m b part# 1162400248 - stabilis pn 04.22040303.) this shock's overall length (fully extended) is 7.5 in as opposed to the t4wd's length of 10.5 in. mounting brackets would have to be fabricated. don't know about availibilty- will have to check monday. let me know if you're interested. thanx.

[dlb]

wow, i'll pass on the MB shock because i have no way of fabricating mounting brackets but thanks for looking for me, rer233! very helpful of you.

[toughtercel]

there are some places who can overhaul the stock strut , because any collector cars still on the road .All they have to do is replace the rubber seal and add gases.But how much $$$ ?

[dlb]

well well well. after doing my front end, guess what? along with all the other mysterious rattles, the mysterious clunk that i thought may have been caused by a bad engine shock absorber (or the diff, or the clutch...) has disappeared. if i had to guess, i would say it was in the strut mounts because both had significant play, but that's only a guess. all i know is that the front end feels f*cking awesome now and is free of any sh*tty noises and i still don't have an engine shock even installed. making one is now a low priority but i will eventually get to it.

[CathodeRayTube]

Im planning to use the shock absorber out of a mountain bike...has a big coil spring on it and is about the same size as the tercels engine shock...the bolt on my original one broke when i tryed to remove it when i pulled the 3A out...

[Petros]

Instersting: is there a place to order mountain bike shock absorbers? post pictures please.

[dlb]

i went to a local bike shop and checked these out but none i found fit, and most were way too stiff. the guy recommended checking into steering dampers for dirt bikes so i did, but no luck there either. the dampers are all too big and about, oh, $400. the dirt bike parts guy had a doodie-eating grin that i wanted to smack off his face but instead i laughed about how ridiculously expensive his hobby was.

board member barto is now working at a 4x4 spring and shock specialty store here on vancouver island and he's keeping an eye out for a suitable substitute. i'm sure he'll let us all know. in the meantime, i think i'm going to copy tom's solution. my front end is awesome since i replaced just about everything so i don't want to wear stuff out by not having that damper on the engine. i believe that it might be the root of a lot of our front end grief: those dampers seem to all fail quite quickly but you don't know if you don't remove it to inspect it, so you're essentially driving with a non-functioning damper for god knows how long. all that engine torquing must take it's toll on the various parts and causes them to wear out prematurely as well. personally, i found the most wear/play/slop in my strut mounts so it seems to me that they take quite a bit of abuse from the failed damper. i would recommend anyone with a mystery clunk to check their strut mounts too.

[CathodeRayTube]

the mountain bike shock im going to use is one i already have floating around from a bike i had...it was a sub-$100 Kmart bike..so its probably safe to assume its only a spring with no gas or actual damping action inside whatever cylinder it has...but thats probably still better than the failed toyota one or none at all.

[ARCHINSTL]

Well - I can still vouch that my solution is still working fine. Quite pleased. Again, if I did not have the Mitsu shackle bushings, I would use shock absorber mount bushings - easier to fabricate and I don't see why they would not work well.
Incidentally, as a Former Bike Person - I had thought about using something from the trade; but I could find nothing that would work. I will admit that I did not look at mass market-type bikes for inspiration. One of my former colleagues who is also into MX and ATV racing said he knew of nothing from those disciplines that would work.
Tom M.

[splatterdog]

Maybe the easiest substitute would be a domestic sway bar link. Just need to find the right length bolt/sleeve.