Hey, I have 79 SA and was looking at shock choices, and found out that there wasn't much. Most of the good stuff has been discontinued, and the only ones I can find are KYB GR-2's and I heard they are pretty bad. I was looking at tokico hp (blues) and illuminas but people only have them for the fb. A few say they're for 79-85, but should I trust them?

So where do you SA guys buy your shocks, and what kind do you get? I can't seem to find anything good. I'm tired of always getting "sorry- no results found for your vehicle"

BTW, i'm gonna try to get my car autocrossing next season- what do guys reccomend?

Thanks

 

if you want to keep the 4x110 bolt pattern swap to the FB front struts, this will also give you better brakes as well as more options for shocks (the rears are the same, fronts are diff. from the SA to FB)

The only issue is that they used a different thread for the brake lines.

By chance I have a set of '85 struts with new brakes and a set of SS lines if your interested.

 

oh, yeah, i see, the rears are the same-

no thanks, i have a 84 parts car in VT so i can just go up there and get the struts if I need to. But how do you get around the different threads? Can you retap it or something?

 

Adapters, from an auto parts store.

 

You can also just swap over the caliper mounting plate from the SA strut tube to the FB tube. They're interchangeable, and then you don't have to worry about messing with brake lines and reflaring ends and whatnot. Also, if you're running a custom strut top, like a camber plate, you don't have to swap the strut tube at all. You can either cut it or just use spacers in the bottom of the tube. I had mine cut and the increased travel really helps during autocross, since our lot is pretty frikkin' bumpy.

EDIT: I just noticed that you wanted to try autocrossing.

Let me give you a piece of advice:

There is no such thing as 'trying' autocrossing, any more than you 'try' heroin.

Just be aware that once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny. CONSUME YOU IT WILL!

Ahem...

Anyhow, if you're going to solo the car, I would suggest that you address springs as well as shocks. The RB set is cheaper than stock and provides a moderate increase in spring rate. Combined with the Tokico HP/Blue dampers and some negative camber, you'll have a car that is fairly rewarding.

 

lol, thanks for the input! But just for some clarification: what exactly is the strut tube?

 

The strut tube is what actually holds the strut cartrige on the front of our cars, since they are in fact struts, not shocks. The rear of our cars have shocks.

 

I have a pair of unused Bilsteins part # P30-0161. These struts were discontinued in 92 and are no longer available. Retail price back then was $109 each.

$60 plus shipping for both, (or pick up if in Seattle) if interested.

http://xs52.xs.to/pics/05436/PDRM0001.JPG
http://xs52.xs.to/pics/05436/PDRM0002.JPG
http://xs52.xs.to/pics/05436/PDRM0006.JPG


these will not fit series 2 or 3 fb's.

 

So if I were to change the entire strut tube assembly, I would need #19, which vb calls the "damper", right??

How would changing the caliper mounting plate allow you to run different struts? I attatched a pic (best one I had of my suspension) Maybe you could direct me?

Sorry for all the questions, but I'm a suspension newbie.

 

Damn, those are rusty. I hope you are not using those brakes. Sorry I can't help with your question, but I too am a suspension newbie. I am following this thread closely as my shocks are 25 years old now.

 

lol yeah, they're pretty rusty, but after you drive em for a little while, the rust wears down. They work pretty good right now, but I think I'll be getting some new ones eventually

 

it has something to do with the diameter of the housing.. and i suggest you get some from a junkyard not through VB unless you want to pay $300 for each..

 

yeah, I'll just get em off my parts car then

 

ok, this is how I understand everything- tell me if I'm wrong.

to run fb front struts-

1) take off the SA strut tube assembly

2) pop in FB strut tube assembly and put on SA caliper mounting braket, caliper, and hub assembly. I'll need to run the FB strut tops if I'm not going custom.


Is that it? Am I missing something?

Also, I added a pic JUST to make sure. The thing outlined in orange is the caliper mounting bracket, and that will bolt onto a FB strut tube?

Thanks

 

Really, if it were me, I would just swap the assymbly and get two adapters for the brake line, it doesn't get much simpler.

 

well, i just got new calipers for the front and i'd hate to just throw them away...

 

thats why he said adaptors so you can run your new calipers

 

The adapters are only needed if I'm going to use the FB calipers, right?

the new calipers i got were for the SA

 

You've got it down pat. Since you've got brand new SA calipers, that's even more reason to keep them.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!