AE101 TRD/Waydo shock equivalents

[GDII]

Is there an equivalent to TRD shocks for AE101?

Need to replace the current TRD shocks but they are discontinued. The car has white lowering springs of unknown brand and spring rate. They are not super low but do have a higher rate than stock. The car came out of Japan with the suspension mods.

I can get stock shocks from Mark but they wouldn't be best for the springs. Probably on the upper limit of the shock rate.

[RobertC]

koni yellows will be a similar suitable replacement.

[GDII]

Had a look around other brands. There is Koni (as above) KYB and Bilstein. Not sure if Bilstein do an uprated shock still.
Now to look at the pricing from NZ suppliers.

Autolign: Bilstein
Stocks: Koni/KYB

[touge_ae101]

As far as I'm aware the TRD shock is an insert so can be replaced with a bilstein/Koni replacement. Talk to autolign they had a 32mm inverted shock insert to fit ae92 (same as 101) last time I was looking into suspension options (6 months ago) with sports/road valving. They will be the ducks nuts.

Springs may be esplinar (not sure if spelling is correct) and also they are bloody awesome springs and good springrates for these cars - Rob you know more about them..

[GDII]

I have sent Autolign an email so just waiting on their response. I'll need to source a large wrench to do the inserts. Everything else is easy if I can get the right parts.

Espelir springs are blue but look similar in construction.

[Mr Revhead]

Autolign will do Bilstein inserts. May need mods to fit, I'd also go see Stocks about Koni. Might be able to do adjustable ones from them, Bilstein are non adjustable.
Either probably have an off the shelf strut as well

[GDII]

Autolign have Bilstien B6 but want quite a bit to install in Auckland. Almost 4x the cost of standard Toyota. Just getting the inserts is 2.5x the price of Toyota and I'm not sure if I can install them. I have done standard inserts before, just undo the large locating nut and swap them. But the Bilstein has inverted struts so I'm not 100% sure how to do them. It looks the same with the top of the shock having the threaded 'nut' on it. Just instead of the hex its got 2 notches for doing them up.

Like this


I have contacted Stocks and waiting for a reply.

If the car was taken to a garage/workshop what would they replace them with?

[touge_ae101]

yeah those bilsteins are awesome definately worth their cost. out of interest how much were they?

Yeah they go in just like a normal insert but you have to make sure that they have 1 or 2 bushes further down the shock so it is held snuggly in place. Fairly straight forward though.

[Mr Revhead]

Autolign have Bilstien B6 but want quite a bit to install in Auckland. Almost 4x the cost of standard Toyota. Just getting the inserts is 2.5x the price of Toyota and I'm not sure if I can install them. I have done standard inserts before, just undo the large locating nut and swap them. But the Bilstein has inverted struts so I'm not 100% sure how to do them. It looks the same with the top of the shock having the threaded 'nut' on it. Just instead of the hex its got 2 notches for doing them up.

Just make sure the Bilsteins are a straight swap, they have probably quoted on modyfying stock ones to accept the insert.

[GDII]

They want $690 Inc for the front pair.

I will have to check if they are a straight swap. If they want to send them to Auckland then there might be something that needs done. I need to actually check the TRD struts (not my car) and see the bilsteins themselves before that option can be considered.

I have a feeling that the OEM Toyota struts will be the option that goes ahead. I still haven't heard from Stocks yet.

[touge_ae101]

They want $690 Inc for the front pair.

I will have to check if they are a straight swap. If they want to send them to Auckland then there might be something that needs done. I need to actually check the TRD struts (not my car) and see the bilsteins themselves before that option can be considered.

I have a feeling that the OEM Toyota struts will be the option that goes ahead. I still haven't heard from Stocks yet.

thats a fairly reasonable price.. I think you'll also find if you get a good trade account to buy them through they come down in price considerably. IIRC I was looking at around $900 for a full set when I priced them last..

[GDII]

I phoned Stocks after they didn't email me. KYB 160+ per insert. Can't be sure if they are uprated. Koni external adjustable are 380+ per insert. I still need to work out if the TRD units are just inserts and not shortened struts. The front springs don't have the usual tight coils at one end for like most lowering springs. I still need to view the actual car with my own eyes to sus out what everything is.

I think after all this we will be going with standard Toyota replacements. The aftermarkets are quite a bit more costly.

[Mr Revhead]

The kybs will not be uprated

[GDII]

I figured that would be the case. Especially at that price. I'd rather have TGP over them.

[Bling]

Aren't the TGP ones KYB?

Pretty sure I have a rear AE111 shock in the garage that is KYB.

[Mr Revhead]

Some are made by KYB some are Tokico

[Bling]

Edited to be a bit more specific

Browsed the thread as need to suss some uprated shocks for the AE70.

[Mr Revhead]

I'd have no idea what the 111 specifically would have. But I wouldn't be at all surprised to see some specs with KYB made ones and others with Tokico

GDII I guess the most important thing is what are you trying to achieve?
Those white springs are probably the Waydo kit ones

[GDII]

You are probably right about the springs. The TRD spring rates are listed as 31.4N/mm front and 29.4N/mm rear.

What am I trying to achieve. Replace the leaking shocks in the front to give my friend and his young family a safer car to drive without spending too much. I've already recommended buying bump stops and dust seals, so not the bare minimum. Not a performance car, just a daily driver. I am aware that stock Toyota shocks aren't the best with lowering springs. But I'm sure they will be a lot safer than shocks that don't actually work. I have got the TRD shock bound/rebound rates but Autolign could not get them for Bilstien and Koni are adjustable. Ideally one of them would be best but at the increased cost, I could pick up a set of 4 new Toyota shocks and a set of stock springs for less than 2 inserts.

[Mr Revhead]

I would just go with the TGP shocks.
The TRD rates you quote, are they for the Waydo ones? Or the separately listed TRD ones?
The separate TRD ones work fine with stock shocks, I ran my 101 like that, and the next owner did too.