MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => General => Topic started by: Nvy on March 4, 2021, 06:58

Title: Springs
Post by: Nvy on March 4, 2021, 06:58
I am after some standard height springs but the oem ones cost a kidney. Anybody used anything else like Sachs or anything aftermarket with the same specs?

Car scrapes everywhere and I am looking for either Kyb or Koni and want to fit higher springs. Mine came with TTE but they are corroded and worn, dont want to use them.
Title: Re: Springs
Post by: Tomo70 on March 4, 2021, 07:09
I fit H&R springs. TGV approved and quality.car sits nicely lowered roughly 15mm. Don't have problems with speed bumps.
Title: Re: Springs
Post by: 1979scotte on March 4, 2021, 07:45
Quote from: Nvy on March  4, 2021, 06:58I am after some standard height springs but the oem ones cost a kidney. Anybody used anything else like Sachs or anything aftermarket with the same specs?

Car scrapes everywhere and I am looking for either Kyb or Koni and want to fit higher springs. Mine came with TTE but they are corroded and worn, dont want to use them.

What is it scraping on?
Are there lots of speed bumps in Bulgaria 🇧🇬
I had good condition TTE springs on my silver car and it only scrapped on the biggest of bumps having a brace underneath didn't help.
Title: Re: Springs
Post by: Nvy on March 4, 2021, 08:36
Quote from: 1979scotte on March  4, 2021, 07:45
Quote from: Nvy on March  4, 2021, 06:58I am after some standard height springs but the oem ones cost a kidney. Anybody used anything else like Sachs or anything aftermarket with the same specs?

Car scrapes everywhere and I am looking for either Kyb or Koni and want to fit higher springs. Mine came with TTE but they are corroded and worn, dont want to use them.

What is it scraping on?
Are there lots of speed bumps in Bulgaria 🇧🇬
I had good condition TTE springs on my silver car and it only scrapped on the biggest of bumps having a brace underneath didn't help.

Front and rear braces scrape all the time when getting out or in underground parking lots of each mall around here.

We also got these speed bumps that are too narrow and rly high and I cant pass them with a steering to any side. I had to reroute on couple of occasions because of such speed bumps.
Title: Re: Springs
Post by: Nvy on March 4, 2021, 08:37
Quote from: Tomo70 on March  4, 2021, 07:09I fit H&R springs. TGV approved and quality.car sits nicely lowered roughly 15mm. Don't have problems with speed bumps.

I read on Google that they are rated at 20mm but in reality lower the car 30mm. If that is not the case I can try to source Koni + H&R.
Title: Re: Springs
Post by: 1979scotte on March 4, 2021, 08:43
Without trying to be clever it's not the type of car to take shopping.
They must be very steep ramps you need stock springs mate or coilovers if its that bad I reckon.
Or take the bracing off
Title: Re: Springs
Post by: Carolyn on March 4, 2021, 09:08
Quote from: Nvy on March  4, 2021, 08:36
Quote from: 1979scotte on March  4, 2021, 07:45
Quote from: Nvy on March  4, 2021, 06:58I am after some standard height springs but the oem ones cost a kidney. Anybody used anything else like Sachs or anything aftermarket with the same specs?

Car scrapes everywhere and I am looking for either Kyb or Koni and want to fit higher springs. Mine came with TTE but they are corroded and worn, dont want to use them.

What is it scraping on?
Are there lots of speed bumps in Bulgaria 🇧🇬
I had good condition TTE springs on my silver car and it only scrapped on the biggest of bumps having a brace underneath didn't help.

Front and rear braces scrape all the time when getting out or in underground parking lots of each mall around here.

We also got these speed bumps that are too narrow and rly high and I cant pass them with a steering to any side. I had to reroute on couple of occasions because of such speed bumps.

What front and rear braces do you have?
Title: Re: Springs
Post by: ManInDandism on March 4, 2021, 10:05
Quote from: Nvy on March  4, 2021, 06:58I am after some standard height springs but the oem ones cost a kidney. Anybody used anything else like Sachs or anything aftermarket with the same specs?

Car scrapes everywhere and I am looking for either Kyb or Koni and want to fit higher springs. Mine came with TTE but they are corroded and worn, dont want to use them.

The KYB ones seem to be quite popular around here. Based on that I've had them fitted and they are reasonably priced.

The TTE ones do make the car look better and no doubt enhance the handling with the obvious trade-off, but being 6' 4", I don't need to be stooping any further than I already do!
Title: Re: Springs
Post by: Nvy on March 4, 2021, 10:41
Quote from: Carolyn on March  4, 2021, 09:08
Quote from: Nvy on March  4, 2021, 08:36
Quote from: 1979scotte on March  4, 2021, 07:45
Quote from: Nvy on March  4, 2021, 06:58I am after some standard height springs but the oem ones cost a kidney. Anybody used anything else like Sachs or anything aftermarket with the same specs?

Car scrapes everywhere and I am looking for either Kyb or Koni and want to fit higher springs. Mine came with TTE but they are corroded and worn, dont want to use them.

What is it scraping on?
Are there lots of speed bumps in Bulgaria 🇧🇬
I had good condition TTE springs on my silver car and it only scrapped on the biggest of bumps having a brace underneath didn't help.

Front and rear braces scrape all the time when getting out or in underground parking lots of each mall around here.

We also got these speed bumps that are too narrow and rly high and I cant pass them with a steering to any side. I had to reroute on couple of occasions because of such speed bumps.

What front and rear braces do you have?


FL front brace and the TOMs brace that connects all the arms points.
Title: Re: Springs
Post by: Carolyn on March 4, 2021, 11:07
When I first saw that TOMs brace I thought - "That'll bugger up the ground clearance.

I think it's more a of a track tool than one for the street.
Title: Re: Springs
Post by: 1979scotte on March 4, 2021, 11:54
Sometimes you have to choose if its going to be a track tool or a run about.

Mine is a weekend toy.
Title: Re: Springs
Post by: shnazzle on March 4, 2021, 11:59
If it helps... The mr2 we had on TTEs with a TTE brace scraped and grounded a fair bit. It makes sense. They're linear springs on the same shocks. Essentially chopped springs, but your car is the same weight. Or more, if you do a shop.

Teins are better, as theyre progressive, but they're lower so in the end just as bad.

Add low bracing and you're stuffed...

I do a massive full shop in my car, have Carolyn's underbrace and running quite low to the ground, but on stiff coilovers. I rarely scrape.

It may be your shocks to blame as much as your springs mate. You'd be surprised how much stiffer fresh shocks are and how much better even TTE springs are on them. Old shocks just have too much give for TTEs
Title: Re: Springs
Post by: 1979scotte on March 4, 2021, 12:08
Quote from: shnazzle on March  4, 2021, 11:59If it helps... The mr2 we had on TTEs with a TTE brace scraped and grounded a fair bit. It makes sense. They're linear springs on the same shocks. Essentially chopped springs, but your car is the same weight. Or more, if you do a shop.

Teins are better, as theyre progressive, but they're lower so in the end just as bad.

Add low bracing and you're stuffed...

I do a massive full shop in my car, have Carolyn's underbrace and running quite low to the ground, but on stiff coilovers. I rarely scrape.

It may be your shocks to blame as much as your springs mate. You'd be surprised how much stiffer fresh shocks are and how much better even TTE springs are on them. Old shocks just have too much give for TTEs

I forget that you rarely bottom out with coilovers. An overlooked plus point.
Title: Re: Springs
Post by: 105e on March 4, 2021, 12:16
Just saw on ebay new oe spec kyb front spring (has more than one) for £24 delivered, dosnt seem that expensive..
Title: Re: Springs
Post by: Petrus on March 4, 2021, 13:13
Note that he scrapes at low speed, basically manouvring about town. The shocks play no role there. It simply is about groud clearance.

The Spyder has a relatively long wheelbase and even though mine has no ground clearance reducing braces, it stíll grounded occasionally on the stock springs! Mind that is with it lightened 150 kilos.

I now have it on slightly lower Sportivos and I have to accept that some parking garages are simply not accessible. The wheelbase will see the front wheel down the ramp while the rear are still on the sidewalk; the plastic belly under the tank will get stuck if there is no space to drive in at quite an angle.

Same thing parkings on unbuilt plots. Even when there is a provision for access in the sidewalk the ramp on the the other site more often than not is at a too steep angle down. If there is no wide enough space to enter at an angle, it is a no go.

Oh and when the entrance has seen a bit of use, forming the slightest bit of sunken wheel track... looking for a different parking space it is.
Title: Re: Springs
Post by: Nvy on March 4, 2021, 13:43
Quote from: Petrus on March  4, 2021, 13:13Note that he scrapes at low speed, basically manouvring about town. The shocks play no role there. It simply is about groud clearance.

The Spyder has a relatively long wheelbase and even though mine has no ground clearance reducing braces, it stíll grounded occasionally on the stock springs! Mind that is with it lightened 150 kilos.

I now have it on slightly lower Sportivos and I have to accept that some parking garages are simply not accessible. The wheelbase will see the front wheel down the ramp while the rear are still on the sidewalk; the plastic belly under the tank will get stuck if there is no space to drive in at quite an angle.

Same thing parkings on unbuilt plots. Even when there is a provision for access in the sidewalk the ramp on the the other site more often than not is at a too steep angle down. If there is no wide enough space to enter at an angle, it is a no go.

Oh and when the entrance has seen a bit of use, forming the slightest bit of sunken wheel track... looking for a different parking space it is.

You got it right, I dont want a shopping car or anything like that. I just need some ground clearance to make it around town because sometimes I have to take the roadster due to the other car having oil change or something like that. I dont want to buy OEM springs and was asking for the specs to compare to the Sachs ones because at 30 euro a corner seems a good deal, for reference OEM springs are 700 euros for 4 corners.
Title: Re: Springs
Post by: cptspaulding on March 5, 2021, 00:26
Quote from: Nvy on March  4, 2021, 13:43OEM springs are 700 euros for 4 corners.

Wut? As someone else suggested KYB springs. I was under the impression that the OEM struts & springs are basically KYB without their badge on. They're cheap as chips.
Title: Re: Springs
Post by: 1979scotte on March 5, 2021, 05:51
Quote from: cptspaulding on March  5, 2021, 00:26
Quote from: Nvy on March  4, 2021, 13:43OEM springs are 700 euros for 4 corners.

Wut? As someone else suggested KYB springs. I was under the impression that the OEM struts & springs are basically KYB without their badge on. They're cheap as chips.

It's a lot of extra cash to have a toyota part no.
Title: Re: Springs
Post by: InnerStaytes on March 5, 2021, 22:17
Kyb Excel-G shocks. OE without the Toyota badge. Currently seem to be approx £90 a corner.
Kayaba part numbers:
333320 (front right)
333321 (front left)
334310 (rear right)
334311 (rear left)
Title: Re: Springs
Post by: InnerStaytes on March 6, 2021, 12:22
Here is a table of info on all the various springs I came across when adding lowering springs with new KYB shocks in 2016. I went with Tein in the end and am very happy with them. I have to be careful on rough ground / speed bumps to not bottom out on the Matt performance brace that was fitted at the same time.
As you will see the table is not complete (and there may be other options by now). Perhaps people could add to / update the table and it could be kept as a reference somewhere?


MR2 springs.pdf
Title: Re: Springs
Post by: Beachbum957 on March 8, 2021, 11:50
Your chart seems more accurate than some others posted on other forums. The problem with progressive and dual rate springs is determining the spring rate at various compressions. Another issue is many published spring rates are calculated from the number of coils, wire diameter, and spring diameter and don't take into account the impact of the end coils and how they mount. For example, Tein are more accurately dual rate and the rates published are close to the stiffest calculated rate. 

Unfortunately, most of these springs are no longer available, unless you find used sets.

We have run both Tein-S and H&R and I prefer the H&R as it doesn't lower quite as much, and the small amount of extra travel is less likely to bottom.  Otherwise, they are very similar.  In the US, these are the only springs still available other than OEM