After reading Racing Beats Koni's for the FB... I'm not sure if I want an adjustable strut that requirers removal to adjust. That said it looks like the old favorite Tokiko Illuminas are available for the MR2 rear struts. Would these be adjustable without removal of the strut? Thanks

 

I keep hearing mention of MR2 rear struts for the front of an FB but cant' find any actual details or writeups on it - what's the story with this?

If the Illuminas are like the ones that were meant for our cars, they would be adjustable without removal.

 

subscribed cuz I have the same question.

 

The MR2 rear struts fit the FB front spindles, I believe that they are also externally adjustable.

 

I have a pair of rear Koni yellow sports for the early AW11 and they're externally adjustable from the top. Haven't installed them (yet) but everything I've found says the insert drops right in. I'm gonna be running them with camber plates so I'm not sure if they'll fit the stock strut tops.

 

Keep us up to date - if AW11 rears are a drop-in strut, that opens up a ton of options (which there are next to none of at present for FB fronts), especially when fox body rears fit on the rear.

 

There are MR2 Koni yellows in mine.

The top of the shaft is slightly smaller than the stock strut tops. If it's bolted down it may stay centered, but it's better to have a spacer made.
I'm running camber plates sized for it.

The cartridge body is a tight fit into my 82's strut assembly. I had to do *very little* grinding on the welds that cap the bottom.
I think I also had to cut the little bumps off the bottom of the cartridge as well otherwise the gland nut wouldn't reach the threads.

 

Mr2 rears fit fb front, and are still in production in many cases where units for FB are not. They work with Mcpherson struts and engine weight in the Mr2 so they are a pretty good match.
The illuminas are externally adjustable via the top with a small screwdriver which is very handy. I cut holes in my rear interior trim with a spade bit and plugged with bungs for easy access. The fronts obviously have perfect access.

 

On my 85 GS RX7: I currently run MR2 Koni yellows up front. They are adjustable by turn the top of the shaft. In the rear I run Koni oranges for the Fox bodied Mustang. Had friend install the fronts, he said he did not need to grind or do anything special to get inserts into strut assembly. The rears were straight bolt-in. This set-up I think is best (in not going with front coil overs/ rear shock set-up) given current parts supply. I run RB springs and do not recommend KYB struts/shock for anything but stock spring rates. Car is spirited street driven and runs SCCA autox.

 

Curious about a solution for SA front struts.

They are a slightly longer strut tube. I could use a spacer at the bottom which I have heard done before.

It would be nice not to do that or move to an FB strut if I can help it.

 

Kyb #363010 is the rx7 strut
Kyb #363046 is the rear 1986 MR2 strut.
The bodies of them are identical.
The MR2 is about 1.25" shorter and the top fits 5/8" pillow block bearings that are used in camber plates (the upper shaft size is 14mm). The mr2 stock replacement #363046 is valved much stiffer then the Rx7 strut. I run 250in/lb springs in the front and they seem to be spot on for daily driving (I sit 1" lower then factory ride height)
You have to get the 85-86.5 rear strut insert. It's a win/win situation because they fit camper plates and the shorter shaft length works well when lowering in the 1-1.5" range.

 

basically all of the 80's toyotas use the same style of strut insert as the Rx7, and all of the toyota ones are varying lengths longer but the same diameter. its possible that there is a toyota one that would work in an SA.

the Mr2 strut is nice because its the same size as the Rx7 strut, but since its a rear, and the Mr2 has the engine over the rear it has stiffer valving, so it works with stiffer springs.