WJM Posted September 13, 2003 Share Posted September 13, 2003 Any problems with this? I plan on using 1985 XT turbo 2wd struts and springs for the actual cutting and lowering...maybe the RX struts with the XT springs...Im experimenting with camber, conering, centerof gravity and overall driveability of such a move. So....anyone see any flaws to this....? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushbasher Posted September 13, 2003 Share Posted September 13, 2003 If your able to change the geometry there shouldn't be problems, that I can think of, and it should actually level out the axles in the front. In the back you might want to fiddle with the diff to get it up another 2/3 inches, so the axles don't point up, and the diff doesn't drag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WJM Posted September 13, 2003 Author Share Posted September 13, 2003 the diff cant go up, or it would be in the gas tank. And...i dont care if the axels level out, I need new ones anyhow. and, why would that matter? As far as the diff scraping...im not worried about it...i'll make a protector if its a problem And...I hope it would change the front geometry by giving me some CAMBER of the negative kind.... Gotta love these icons! :moon: LOL Ok, anyone else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XSNRG Posted September 14, 2003 Share Posted September 14, 2003 I just did some similar work on my '87 RX. Here's what I did. 1) I decided to retain the RX struts, they weren't leaking and the dampening force is much higher than any other EA82. 2) I kept the front springs, they have the highest spring rate of the EA82's except maybe the XT6. I did however cut 1/2 coil from the spring and reshaped them for the spring pocket, lowering the car about 1/1.5 inches. 3) I replaced the rear springs with 4wd wagon springs. They have a higher spring rate than the RX and they are longer. I cut 1 coils off these springs and reshaped them for the spring pocket. This made up for the additional length and lowered the car about 1/1.5 inches. Note: after cutting the rear springs 1 coil they were just long enough to have tension with the strut fully extended. Any shorter and the might make funny noise or even come out of the spring pockets when the suspension is unloaded. 4) I replaced the stock 18mm front sway bar with a 19mm unit from a RX sedan and the 16mm rear sway bar with a 20mm unit from a XT Turbo. It took just a few hours for this ghetto job. I would like to lower the car more and look for springs and/or struts from other cars that might work since after market EA82 performance suspension parts are rare. The car has a much more appealing stance now and handles MUCH better! Overall I'm pleased but would like to do much more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calebz Posted September 14, 2003 Share Posted September 14, 2003 Pics Mark! Pics! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WJM Posted September 14, 2003 Author Share Posted September 14, 2003 Yeah....pics...what I will do is throw in the XT springs with those struts (since they are already on there), and estimate how much I will cut off of those...then cut. And go from there...combining springs and strut combinations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WJM Posted September 15, 2003 Author Share Posted September 15, 2003 I got the desired drop on the front by directy swapping the RX spring/strut out and installing ones from a 1985 XT Turbo 2WD Manual. BUT...when I swapped out on the rear...it was another 1.5 inches high. It looked rediculous...so, after some calculation...I will take those rear springs and cut them tomorrow...4 coils. Yeah, its a lot, but hey, Ive got extras. Pics to come when I get the rear down. The camber is now to ZERO on the front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WJM Posted September 16, 2003 Author Share Posted September 16, 2003 Ok, its dropped. 2.5 inches in front, and only 1.5 inches in back....but I like it like that. Stock XT turbo 2wd struts and springs dropped directy on the front, strut tower tops and all. On the back, the XT shocks where 1.5 inches TALLER than the RX ones, But the XT springs are shorter by a little and have less spring rate...so I dropped them on the RX shocks. BAM. There we go. Pics to come soon....like today I hope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonOfScio Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 coulnd't you have just used front XT springs in the rear of your RX? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WJM Posted September 16, 2003 Author Share Posted September 16, 2003 NO. huge size difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoorManzImpreza Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 So... How does it handle?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WJM Posted September 16, 2003 Author Share Posted September 16, 2003 GREAT! SO much better than it was. edit: pics to come tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caboobaroo Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 do you know if EA81 stuts and springs will fit into a 79 wagon? If they do, maybe I'll have to cut my springs to lower it. I don't want to cut them if they don't fit until I have spares. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam N.D.J. Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 EA81 struts will fit in an EA71 vehicle. no mods needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WJM Posted September 17, 2003 Author Share Posted September 17, 2003 Pics! Copy and paste the link. http://www.geocities.com/wmaham1701/Image1.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TROGDOR! Posted September 17, 2003 Share Posted September 17, 2003 So wait a minute here... XT rear shocks are LONGER than RX rears? Is that something specific to the RX or just the 3-door? I want to get the back of my XT down a little bit (already got the front down with 2WD struts) So if I put on RX (or 3-door) rear shocks, it should bring the back down a little? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WJM Posted September 17, 2003 Author Share Posted September 17, 2003 with the XT springs, yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caboobaroo Posted September 18, 2003 Share Posted September 18, 2003 the RX is lookin good. keep it up. Thanks Adam, I needed to know that cause Hondasucks didn't so thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoorManzImpreza Posted September 18, 2003 Share Posted September 18, 2003 slap some PUGs on that but they're gonna rub I think...5bolt conversion maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WJM Posted September 18, 2003 Author Share Posted September 18, 2003 no 5 lug for me. Ive got some Premire alloys and some sticky BFG tires to put on them...205/60. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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