MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => Performance Related => Topic started by: Anonymous on July 8, 2003, 21:20

Title: TTE Lowering Springs
Post by: Anonymous on July 8, 2003, 21:20
Im really considering lowering my motor with the TTE springs at its 20k service.
Has anyone had this done already??  If so any chance of some pics and opinions?
Also, ive heard that your supposed to have the steering geometry checked once fitted - is this right??

Thanks
Matt
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Post by: markiii on July 8, 2003, 21:34
not the steering but the suspension alignment as the Struts need to come off to change the springs.  Unless you have a particular desire to have the TTE badged ones, you may want to get the Eibach pro springs which are exactly the same things (Eibach make the TTE ones for Toyota) and cheaper.

try Demon Tweeks if you do.
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Post by: Anonymous on July 8, 2003, 22:31
Got them, love them   s:) :) s:)
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Post by: markiii on July 8, 2003, 23:44
I thought you had the sportivo WD?
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Post by: Anonymous on July 9, 2003, 00:02
Quote from: "markiii"I thought you had the sportivo WD?

Nope, my first Roadster did but when I chanced it for my newer one it went with it as part of the deal.  (This may sound like a bad idea but I didn't pay anything for the swap and the old one had 30k on the clock and the new one had 3k with the body kit and red leather.)

The springs are great, but I will be fitting the TRD or PR braces, the car really needs it up front.
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Post by: markiii on July 9, 2003, 09:16
I see. Not bad at all. You relly must tell me how you wangled that sometime. I'l be organising a group buy on the lower member braces sometime in the next month or two if your interested.

Mark
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Post by: Anonymous on July 9, 2003, 09:43
cheers for that people.

im currently sorting a price with my local dealer on the springs and will decide then i guess.
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Post by: Jap GT300 on July 9, 2003, 11:28
Can you please post the price you are given as I'm still not sure what springs I am going to use.

Thanks Adam
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Post by: Anonymous on July 9, 2003, 11:42
Will Eibach springs affect my warranty though, as TTE ones don't do they?
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Post by: Slacey on July 9, 2003, 12:12
I've been tempted with these since I got the car, but have a question to those who have them - now I've got 17" wheels, in your opinion will I have any rubbing problems if the car is lowered with these springs?
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Post by: Jap GT300 on July 9, 2003, 13:48
I'm also running 17's but the monocraft sits a lot higher than the standard panels.  I remember people on SC saying it only rubbed on extreme bends.  I won't be caining my car that much!

Adam
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Post by: markiii on July 9, 2003, 15:42
Quote from: "bigun007"Will Eibach springs affect my warranty though, as TTE ones don't do they?

your dealer may decid to get a little snotty, but they can't really void it.
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Post by: Anonymous on July 9, 2003, 16:17
Quote from: "markiii"
Quote from: "bigun007"Will Eibach springs affect my warranty though, as TTE ones don't do they?

your dealer may decid to get a little snotty, but they can't really void it.

Unless they can PROVE that the springs caused the problem then they can't not cover your warranty.  You can fit whatever parts you like to your car.
Title: Possible Braces group Buy
Post by: Anonymous on July 9, 2003, 16:49
Definitely interested in a set of lower braces. I've heard really good things about the TRD ones but dont know if anyone else makes them.

I was considering going to Fensports but a group buy would be excellent.  s:P :P s:P  


Let me know how you get on.
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Post by: Tem on July 22, 2003, 14:14
About the warranty...the TTE springs don't say TTE anywhere in the springs. It just says Eibach on them. So if you just say they are the TTE springs, I don't think the dealer can say anything to it...or play stupid that you don't know a thing, but you bought them from Toyota  s;) ;) s;)

I'm not sure if the numbers on the springs are the same in TTE/Eibach though...
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Post by: Anonymous on July 22, 2003, 15:41
Quote from: "Tem"About the warranty...the TTE springs don't say TTE anywhere in the springs. It just says Eibach on them. So if you just say they are the TTE springs, I don't think the dealer can say anything to it...or play stupid that you don't know a thing, but you bought them from Toyota  s;) ;) s;)

I'm not sure if the numbers on the springs are the same in TTE/Eibach though...

er are you sure?  I'm also most sure mine do...
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Post by: Tem on July 22, 2003, 15:55
I'm sure that it only said Eibach, not TTE. A set for 2000 MR2 and installed by dealer when the car was new.

I guess there's a chance that the TTE label could've worn off during the 6 months of use, but I doubt it...they looked like new.
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Post by: Anonymous on July 22, 2003, 16:37
Had TTE springs on my brand new '2. All four clearly labelled Toyota Team Europe.

Mike
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Post by: Tem on July 22, 2003, 16:53
Mike, can you take a pic of that text?
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Post by: Anonymous on July 22, 2003, 17:00
I'll do it tonight and post in the morning.

M
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Post by: Anonymous on July 22, 2003, 19:03
Quote from: "Tem"Mike, can you take a pic of that text?

As promised...

(http://www.leahcim.demon.co.uk/TTE_spring.jpg)

Underneath the TTE, it actually sats Toyota Team Europe in blurry text.

Hope this helps.

M
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Post by: Anonymous on July 22, 2003, 23:06
Yip just checked mine, they are the same.
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Post by: Tem on July 23, 2003, 13:55
Thanks...it even shows the actual Toyota part number (AM...) and even the color is different, his are red. Does anyone have TTE springs from early 2000..? IIRC, he got his car in April...and I'm 101% sure it doesn't say TTE on them  s:) :) s:)  Now you kinda made me wonder if they are TTE springs at all  s:? :? s:?
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Post by: markiii on July 23, 2003, 14:00
The eibachs are the same coliur and part number, they just say Eibach pro where the TTE is.
Title: Pricing
Post by: Anonymous on July 25, 2003, 10:24
Has anyone managed to get a good deal on the TTE's fitted? I've been chasing around a couple of Mr T's, and the price that always comes back is £319. Seems a little expensive given that the parts are only £166.

Anyone got any advice? I'm thinking of getting them done at the same time as my first service...
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Post by: Anonymous on July 25, 2003, 11:16
Mine are being done for £272.73 (approx!) including VAT and fitting.

Seems about right from what I've heard from others.

HTH

--H--
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Post by: Anonymous on July 25, 2003, 11:18
Where are you getting it done? If I can give a dealer name, then I can start to haggle harder?
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Post by: Anonymous on July 25, 2003, 11:34
Knaresborough Toyota. (http://www.toyota.co.uk/knaresborough/)

HTH

--H--
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Post by: markiii on July 25, 2003, 11:36
or buy yourself some spring compressors for £20 spend a couple of hours on the car and spend teh £80 on beer.

easy.
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Post by: Anonymous on July 30, 2003, 13:52
Just had good, if somewhat surprising, news from my insurer (Direct Line).  There is no additional charge on my policy for having the Toyota (TTE) lowering springs fitted.

  s:D :D s:D  

Roll on next Wednesday!...  Reports to come...

--H--
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Post by: Comer on July 30, 2003, 13:59
Quote from: "markiii"or buy yourself some spring compressors for £20 spend a couple of hours on the car and spend teh £80 on beer.

easy.
Is it really that easy?  Don't tempt me.
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Post by: Anonymous on July 30, 2003, 14:11
I know of someone who's done it before and he said it was pretty easy, but he was very mechanically minded.  Personally I'd rather let the pros do it as the suspension is a pretty vital piece of kit and I wouldn't want to risk messing anything up!

Besides you'd have to take it in to get the wheel alignment fixed afterwards anyway.

--H--
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Post by: markiii on July 30, 2003, 14:16
for lowering springs you need to undo a total of 5 bolts per wheel.

plus the bracket that holds the abs wiring out of the way.

Then you need a torque wrench to put them all back again. (I'm so glad I bought the workshop manuals)

Having done the sportivo these are easy as there no where near as much involved.

I reckon a couple of hours would see all 4 done. However core is right you will still need an alignment done by MrT afterwards.

mark.
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Post by: Anonymous on July 30, 2003, 16:58
is the aliment crusual??

and can it be done by someone like elites??
Title: ...interesting
Post by: Anonymous on July 30, 2003, 17:43
Is it really that easy  s:? :? s:?  

If so, then I'm sorely tempted to do it myself. I'm happy changing brake discs and pads etc, so it doesn't sound that hard really.

The question is - can I do it a wheel at a time, or do I have to do both the fronts and both the backs etc... or even all four? I only have the gear to do one wheel at a time  s:-( :-( s:-(

If I do it myself, I suppose it won't be covered by the warrenty either will it?

Hmm, maybe getting Mr.T to do it for me isn't such a bad idea afterall  s:-( :-( s:-(
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Post by: markiii on July 30, 2003, 18:00
Questions at random.

Yes elite could do the alignment. In a lot case I hear the do a better and cheaper job than MrT.

It really is that easy and you can do one wheel at a time.

ref warranty, the springs will still becovered by whoever you buy them from. I've never heard of a spring failing it's usually the shock.

On that subject if the shock does fail, they can't deny warranty on it as the TTE springs are designed to work with standard shocks.

I will scan the worksop manual pages when I get a chance and you can see how easy it is.

With the instructions, a torque wrench and spring compressors it's easy, just take it slowly and think about what your doing each step of the way.

It's no more difficult than changing discs it just sounds like a big job until you actually look at whats involved.

Mark.
Title: Thanks
Post by: Anonymous on July 30, 2003, 18:20
Mark, you're a star...

Thanks for that. I'd be very interested to hear what you recommend. If I can save myself a couple of hundred quid by doing it myself, then I will do. I might even get the springs in time for Donnington this way.

Fab  :-) :-) :-)

Does this mean I'll need a copy of your workshop manual?
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Post by: markiii on July 30, 2003, 18:26
Theres actually 2 manuals one for the engine and one for everything else. They ain't easy to get as Toyota would rather you didn't know how they work on the car because then you'll pay them to do it.

I paid approx £150 for the set. I should be able to get more but for this I can just copy you the appropriate pages.
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Post by: markiii on July 30, 2003, 18:38
right.

went one better than the scans from the manual.

Heres a link to the Sportivo install article I read before doing mine.

remember although it looks complicated your only going to have to do the springs.

Follow the instructions for removing the shocks. take off the spring using your spring compressors, then put on the new spring, and follow the reinstall part.

simple.

 m http://www.spydermagazine.com/2002/Jan/ ... ortivo.htm (http://www.spydermagazine.com/2002/Jan/sportivo/sportivo.htm) m
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Post by: Tem on July 31, 2003, 09:15
Quote from: "markiii"for lowering springs you need to undo a total of 5 bolts per wheel.

plus the bracket that holds the abs wiring out of the way.

I'll see that and raise with 5 bolts and a bracket!  s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

IIRC, you have to undo 3 bolts on top of the strut tower and 2 bolts from the bottom. Then you have to undo the bolt holding the upper spring plate on the shock strut...and you really should loosen this first, while it's still tight in the car, a lot easier that way. (and obviously the 4 bolts holding the wheel;))

And you also have to undo the brake like bracket.


It's still just as easy as everyone already said.
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Post by: Tem on July 31, 2003, 09:19
Quote from: "markiii"Theres actually 2 manuals one for the engine and one for everything else.

 They ain't easy to get as Toyota would rather you didn't know how they work on the car because then you'll pay them to do it.

I paid approx £150 for the set. I should be able to get more but for this I can just copy you the appropriate pages.

My set had four manuals  s:? :? s:?

One for the engine, one for the body, one for the electrics and one "new features" or something (totally useless). Paid about 200 euros (£140) from those and I think those can be had from any european dealer, if the ones in UK are being bitchy about them. (mine has info for LHD&RHD cars, so it's probably the same)
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Post by: markiii on July 31, 2003, 09:32
well I was't counting the wheel nuts  :-) :-) :-)

but Tems right there are 2 others I forgot to mention. Still easy though.

Interesting that you had 3 manuals Tem. When did you buy them? They might have added to the set since. I know the SMT isn't covered in mine as the manuals are earlier than that. So it's not impossibel they've split it out further.
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Post by: Tem on August 1, 2003, 08:39
Quote from: "markiii"Interesting that you had 3 manuals Tem. When did you buy them? They might have added to the set since. I know the SMT isn't covered in mine as the manuals are earlier than that. So it's not impossibel they've split it out further.

I think I got them in April...this year anyway. I think it covered SMT as well, not 100% sure cause I never really needed any SMT info.

How many pages you have in your books? (I'll check mine when I get home)
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Post by: mph on August 1, 2003, 09:11
All the workshop manuals can be bought from (friendly) Toyota dealerships. Just go to the parts department, quoting the appropriate publication number:

MR2 Chassis and Body Repair Manual - RM762E
1ZZ-FE Engine Repair Manual - RM763E
Repair Manual Supplement for Chassis & Body - RM803E
MR2 Electrical Wiring Diagram - EWD410F
MR2 New Car Features - NCF180E
TOTOYA New Car Features Supplement - NCF195E

Note that these are for Euro-spec cars. Expect to pay upwards of £20 for each of them.

I know that markiii has the first two; I've got the third one.
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Post by: Tem on August 1, 2003, 10:04
"MR2 Chassis and Body Repair Manual - RM762E
Repair Manual Supplement for Chassis & Body - RM803E"

mph, do you know the difference between these two?
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Post by: mph on August 1, 2003, 10:47
Quote from: "Tem""MR2 Chassis and Body Repair Manual - RM762E
Repair Manual Supplement for Chassis & Body - RM803E"

mph, do you know the difference between these two?
I don't either in front of me right now but..

RM762E is a pretty big book and covers the whole car, as the name implies. RM803E was first released Aug 2000 after the SMT was launched. The original manual doesn't have any SMT info in it. It also contains an update on the clutch/transmission. Finally it has a few bits of electronics, mainly around the dash.
Title: Convinced
Post by: Anonymous on August 1, 2003, 11:07
Right, well after all the talk about DIY and how easy it should be, I've convinced a mate to lend me his garage and tools for a day. I'm borrowing some spring compressors, and I'm going to bite the bullet and try and fit them myself.

I figure that the worst thing that can happen is that I balls it up, have to put it back to the old coils, and pay MrT to do it after all. It's not like I can kill the car is it.

Hopefully I'll take a bunch of digital pics and post a recipe afterwards. Wish me luck  :-) :-) :-)
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Post by: markiii on August 1, 2003, 11:39
If you get to the point where you need to put the old springs back on then you may as well leave the TTE ones on as your at the same point anyway.

Just take it slow and remember 3 key points.

1. TTE springs are progressive, i.e the coils get closer together as you go up or down the spring (I forget which) this means that you must put the spring in the right way round. Make Sure the writing on the spring is the right way up for you to read normally and you'll be fine.

2, Make sure the springs end is tight against the lip on the shock. It's obvious what I mean when you actually get to that point.

3. Loosen the nut on the top of the shock before you take the shock off the car otherwise you will really struggle to get a good enough grip on the shock for the effort you'll need (Breaker bar time), just get it finger tight before taking the shock off the car.

have fun,

Mark.