AW11 Budget/OEM shock replacement.

Re: AW11 Budget/OEM shock replacement. (kojab)

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:54:38 GMT

Best ever handling car I have ever driven. Love the 3sgte engine.

I am in the Sutherland Shire and yes I intend to come along to the Sydney monthly meet.
Just been so busy.

Cheers

Re: AW11 Budget/OEM shock replacement. (Mrskylighter)

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:31:45 GMT

kojab
Good info.

I am hoping that I don't need to buy new struts as I have G4 coilovers but one of the shocks is leaking so I had thoughts of fitting koni inserts. Is this possible? I have read several times people looking to rebuild the G4s due to leaking shocks and wondered if you just can't fit some other manufactures inserts or is that not possible.

I am the new owner of RobYobs AW11 Very happy with it.

Cheers

How is that 3sgte powered AW11 going? What area are you in? You should come along to the Sydney monthly meets?

Re: AW11 Budget/OEM shock replacement. (kojab)

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:28:55 GMT

Good info.

I am hoping that I don't need to buy new struts as I have G4 coilovers but one of the shocks is leaking so I had thoughts of fitting koni inserts. Is this possible? I have read several times people looking to rebuild the G4s due to leaking shocks and wondered if you just can't fit some other manufactures inserts or is that not possible.

I am the new owner of RobYobs AW11 Very happy with it.

Cheers

Re: AW11 Budget/OEM shock replacement. (worldwalker)

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 23:24:34 GMT

I snapped up a pair of unused inserts off gumtree for a couple of hundred and purchased my second pair from twosrus.com with a load of other stuff. Twosrus will set you back about $800for a full set of inserts (delivered), with their current discount.

I've not seen a strut replacement, other than Monroe, only inserts. Many picture the strut replacement, but I'm not sure that's what is sold (like on the ebay ad you've posted, as those pictured wont fit an AW11).

There are some cheap deals on Ebay from time to time but it all works out to be much the same as twosrus.com. My biggest gripe is with twosrus shipping price in general, I've asked if there is an alternative but due to failures in the past they're firm with the limited options. I've found a similar package from amazon would cost me literally half or less. Unfortunately they will not ship to Aus but they would be by far the cheapest.

The biggest advantage to twosrus is a whole heap of other parts you will struggle to find elsewhere and the piece of mind that what you're getting is 100% correct, when you're spending big bucks (lets face it, $800 for shocks is 1/5th the value of the car), you want to get it right.

Nick.

Re: AW11 Budget/OEM shock replacement. (kojab)

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 20:58:15 GMT

How does the koni-yellows you bought compare with this package in price. Did you buy shocks only or struts?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Koni-Yellow-Sport-Shocks-Struts-Set-1987-1989-Toyota-MR2-AW11-Front-And-Rear-/330939029828?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4d0d80d944

Cheers

Re: AW11 Budget/OEM shock replacement. (worldwalker)

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 20:06:47 GMT

Ok I've got my Koni yellows for the track car and Gabriels for the weekender. I'll endeavour to trial them both with stock suspension and report back. In other news I'll have 4 stock shocks for sale, all roadworthy and passed inspection recently.

Re: AW11 Budget/OEM shock replacement. (Kookabanus)

Fri, 31 May 2013 00:03:08 GMT

I've got the tokico blue inserts myself with eibach springs, seems to be a really good combo although I have never taken the car to a track. Its plenty comfortable as a daily but handles really well. Can't quite remember how much I paid for them but it was when the dollar was crap and was still good value.

Re: AW11 Budget/OEM shock replacement. (worldwalker)

Wed, 29 May 2013 18:27:57 GMT

I notice on the yank gabriel site lists different shocks for the different years. Lucky for us, the ones listed on the Ausy site are actually 87-89!

US listings:
85-87 AW11 Front G44802 Rear G44803
87-89 AW11 Front G44802 Rear G44943

With all the positive feedback I will be purchasing the Gabriels from Supercheap after pay day (Killed the credit card buying a rebuild kit for the other car). I've got a set of Koni Yellows which will be going into a track AW11 eventually so if I can find the time I will try both and see if there is a noticeable difference for the daily driver.

Cheers,

Nick

Re: AW11 Budget/OEM shock replacement. (wiso)

Wed, 29 May 2013 14:46:59 GMT

I doubt the tokico blue would handle the track any better than the gabriel. I happily took mine on the track with the gabriels in it, the tyres let me down heaps though. but they handled it fine.

I know quite a few guys who have put gabriels in their cars and taken them on the track, they have all said that they are quite good for a basic shock.

BUT I have never used tokico blue myself, or know anyone who has

Re: AW11 Budget/OEM shock replacement. (wiso)

Wed, 29 May 2013 14:34:54 GMT

Thats good news.

hrmmmmmm, be careful with that, maybe double check it. they list that part number from 84-89. buts its well known that the shocks differed on 84-86 and 87-89. so surely the same one can't do both series

http://gabriel.com/our-products/car-light-truck-van/pv-detailed-specs/?partnum=G44802

specs are there but I can't remember the size differances in the S1 and S2

Re: AW11 Budget/OEM shock replacement. (worldwalker)

Wed, 29 May 2013 13:47:11 GMT

Good news, just spoke to ATAP Melbourne, they've got 10 Gabriel Ultra fronts (G44802) and 7 of the rears (G44943) on the shelf. He said they're also showing stock on the ground in Adelaide.
They import direct from the states and have access to other stock piles that Gabriel Aus don't.

The shocks wholesale price is dirt cheap, $35-38/shock and the mark up is absurd, the current sale price at Supercheap puts them at about $75/shock. The advantage for me using Supercheap in WA means I don't have to cop the shipping fees as its a shelf line product for them.

Still a little torn though, $320 for the Gabriel or $520 for the Tokico. I just don't know that I'll get the extra $200 worth out of the Tokico when I'll have a track AW11 for the times I want to have a little fun.

Lots of good advice, looks like I wasn't the only one after a comfortable AW11 daily/weekender! Glad I didn't pursue the KYB route.

Nick

Re: AW11 Budget/OEM shock replacement. (maj)

Wed, 29 May 2013 11:19:39 GMT

I heard the KYB SSS's were *okay*, but coming from someone who had KYB OEM's, I can totally agree with how soft and underdampened they feel. They might soak up bumps pretty well but you damn well felt and heard it when you hit a tiny pithole, they simply couldn't handle the rebound at all.

Don't forget TRD fronts are still available I believe, the rears are long discontinued. Tokico's definitely seem the go for those that can't justify Koni yellows.

Re: AW11 Budget/OEM shock replacement. (wiso)

Wed, 29 May 2013 11:02:07 GMT

You can also get KYB SP Specials from Japan, they are a blue insert. I got a set of these and certainly was not impressed. They were very soft, and did not last long, from being good when I put them in the 2 fronts blew out in less than 2000kms. Problem is by them time I got then from shipping and got them in there was not much I could do about it.

Pedders used to make a shock insert, but I don’t think they do anymore.when I asked 2 years ago the pedders bloke could find nothing on it. they were quite soft but they were like $80 each or something when I last checked.

last time I priced up the tockio blue from some ebay users you could get a set for about $450 landed, but with the tokico illuminas landed for under $600 made this not really worth it

Re: AW11 Budget/OEM shock replacement. (Mrskylighter)

Wed, 29 May 2013 07:37:39 GMT

You will be able to find the monroe, kyb and gabriels on rockauto I think. Should be the cheapest you'll find online. I paid $30 for each Monroe shock for a Saab I once owned :)

Re: AW11 Budget/OEM shock replacement. (wiso)

Wed, 29 May 2013 06:28:32 GMT

i used to have gabriels on my aw11 sc. even though they are cheap i highly rate them. i had them coupled with some stiffer than stock springs (custom made jobbies) but the car handled exceptionally well.

i tried to buy another set for my aw11 less than two years ago even though they are listed as available i could not get then fronts. gabreil said they were out of stock and would not make any more. i could get rears. so if you do manage to get some please let me know. i tried a few places same answer