Removing SuperStrut

[RedMist]

I've just purchased a ST205 to use as a rally car. I suspect the superstrut will be too weak to run as such wish to do as Toyota did to the WRC cars... remove it and replace it with a standard strut. Has anyone done this on any superstrut car before? Is there an issue with links? The strut itself? Anything?

[Dell'Orto]

I've heard you need to change the subframe to change SS to non-SS on the AE101's, so it may be a similar case with the ST205.

[KinLoud]

I don't know of a celica s/s to macpherson strut conversion but the corolla macpherson strut and subframe bolt straight up. I would guess that it's the same for celica.

I understand that Superstrut was originally designed by a WRC Toyota engineer and used on the rally celica. Toyota then made a production version for corolla and celica.
Superstrut suspension is very sensitive to joint wear in the little link arm area due to the large forces in this area. A tiny amount of wear leads to toe change under acceleration and braking - so the car tries to steer itself into ditches/bridges etc. (I've drove a really bad one once! Fark!!)
They stopped using superstrut due to the joints wearing too much after about 200km of rally stages.
The factory production version is much better than the rally version but still needs joints replaced after approx 80 to 120,000 km or so.

Ken
Ham
021 408 863

[TRD Man]

They stopped using superstrut due to the joints wearing too much after about 200km of rally stages.

That, and the fact that the drivers didn't like it at all.

I would suspect that the ST202 SS2 front will bolt in. You'll also need to look at downsizing the front brakes in order to fit 15" wheels.