ARCHIVE 100 Series Coil Over Conversion Kit

[divemedic]

I’m not seeing the juice being worth the squeeze. It’s unfortunate KOR isn’t providing tech support as they should. It would be nice to have their $.02 even on this.

 

[Newps]

Thought I'd post some pics and observations of my coil over conversion that I recently finished on my 100 series. First off, it's not an easy task. Drilling out the spindle for the sleeve to mount the lower uniball was a pain. Mostly because it's tapered to begin with and you're only increasing the diameter by 1/8 of an inch. Second, the turn stops are way too long and need to be cut down by at least 3/4 of an inch to gain the turning radius of stock. As I mentioned in my prior post there are no instructions and my calls to KOR were never returned so I was on my own with the install. Thankful for Aaron who had installed a kit prior and he talked me through some questions I had. Now that I've had it on for a few weeks, I must say that getting rid of the torsion bars and sway bar is an improvement in ride and handling. Is it worth it? Tough call. If you've already put on aftermarket shocks and UCA's I'd say leave it as is. But if you've got to have the best front suspension you can get, this is probably the way to go. There's a reason all the current Toyota four wheel drive vehicles have coil overs.

Would love to get a ride report after a few trips with the new setup.

Seems like just swapping in a coil over and deleting the torsion bar set up might be the best bang for your buck.

Still.......the new upper and lower arms with the coil-overs and bumps are hella sexy.....

 

[Somebodyelse5]

Would love to get a ride report after a few trips with the new setup.

Seems like just swapping in a coil over and deleting the torsion bar set up might be the best bang for your buck.

Still.......the new upper and lower arms with the coil-overs and bumps are hella sexy.....

There's no way to just swap in coilovers. The shock mounts are not designed to support vehicle weight, just damping forces

 

[MTKID]

There's no way to just swap in coilovers. The shock mounts are not designed to support vehicle weight, just damping forces

Then reinforce both

 

[Somebodyelse5]

Then reinforce both

Sure, that’s an option...but fabbing reinforcements is not just “swapping in coil overs” and in no way is that going to be cheap to do right

 

[MTKID]

Sure, that’s an option...but fabbing reinforcements is not just “swapping in coil overs” and in no way is that going to be cheap to do right

Well, I'll start another thread on this topic then...

 

[Somebodyelse5]

Well, I'll start another thread on this topic then...

Did you read the quoted message I was replying to? If not, here it is:

Seems like just swapping in a coil over and deleting the torsion bar set up might be the best bang for your buck.

You cannot just swap in coilovers. Unless you are a competent fabricator you'll be paying someone for custom work to reinforce the shock mounts and that is not cheap (so, not the best bang for your buck either).

 

[Dzrtcrzr]

Well not with that attitude.

 

[Somebodyelse5]

Well not with that attitude.

I’m already in treatment for EOG (early onset grumpiness), don’t worry

 

[Newps]

"You cannot just swap in coilovers. Unless you are a competent fabricator you'll be paying someone for custom work to reinforce the shock mounts and that is not cheap (so, not the best bang for your buck either)."

I don't want to start an internet argument but you are incorrect. The stock shock mounts are more than adequate to support the weight of the LC's front end. The only issue you may have is fitment of the coil-over. You might only be able to run a 2" and not a 2.5" coil over. Finding a welder to do any of the work (if even necessary) is super cheap. I've got a guy in Costa Mesa that's been welding longer then I've been alive, I found him on Yelp. Old school crusty dog, cash discount pricing...... This s*** is not rocket surgery, it's very basic.

 

[Somebodyelse5]

"You cannot just swap in coilovers. Unless you are a competent fabricator you'll be paying someone for custom work to reinforce the shock mounts and that is not cheap (so, not the best bang for your buck either)."

I don't want to start an internet argument but you are incorrect. The stock shock mounts are more than adequate to support the weight of the LC's front end. The only issue you may have is fitment of the coil-over. You might only be able to run a 2" and not a 2.5" coil over. Finding a welder to do any of the work (if even necessary) is super cheap. I've got a guy in Costa Mesa that's been welding longer then I've been alive, I found him on Yelp. Old school crusty dog, cash discount pricing...... This s*** is not rocket surgery, it's very basic.

No need to argue, we can discuss, disagree, and still be happy friends. I understand that I am on the conservative side here, but with vehicles we want to last 500k miles, I think lifespan and fatigue become an issue.

All we know is that the shock mounts were designed to handle damping forces from the shocks. The damping forces from a shock vs the spring forces to support vehicle weight are much different. It may work, but at what cost to the life of the part? 150k miles down the road, now that you've increased the dynamic loading on that mount, cracking may become a problem. Idk if it will, I'm just saying, better to have a legit fabricator make a beefy mount than to have anyone with a welder start melting metal to your frame. I'm not knocking your welders skills, I have no doubt he can weld anything and do it better than I can, I'm just saying that a good design takes more than a good weld bead. The expense I'm talking about has more to do with the design, determining where and what thickness material needs to be added.

I also think that if you are comfortable with something, that's absolutely your choice to make. I think the whole point of our awesome community here is to discuss tech, and weigh options, so everyone can make their own educated decisions.

 

[Newps]

You use words like... " I think lifespan... " and " Idk if it will, I'm just saying... " These are just your personal opinions. Please don't post up that something cannot done because you are either ignorant ( not being disrespectful ) or don't personally agree with it. This mod has been done, it can be done, it just might not be for you.

"better to have a legit fabricator make a beefy mount than to have anyone with a welder start melting metal to your frame ".

What is a legit fabricator?

Is this someone that you personally approve?

Whenever I go to welder I tell them what I want. They are not engineering the part but rather following directions. I explain to them what I want to accomplish and if they have any insight or concerns we talk.

A simple scab plate could be easy welded to the lower arm where the new coil-over / shock mount attaches. The upper mount is huge, if you bend that you've got lots of other problems like a bent frame. Find a full size truck IFS coil-over front end and compare the upper mounts.

I am not saying this mod is for everybody but one should not say to others, " It cannot be done " because that is incorrect.

 

[Somebodyelse5]

You use words like... " I think lifespan... " and " Idk if it will, I'm just saying... " These are just your personal opinions. Please don't post up that something cannot done because you are either ignorant ( not being disrespectful ) or don't personally agree with it. This mod has been done, it can be done, it just might not be for you.

I simply said it cannot just be slapped in there. More work needs to be done. It's worth noting for all those interested, that there is more to the story than just making the parts fit. What background do you have that makes any of your statements anything other than your own personal opinion?

"better to have a legit fabricator make a beefy mount than to have anyone with a welder start melting metal to your frame ".

What is a legit fabricator?

Is this someone that you personally approve?
A legit fabricator is someone like Kibbetech, who has a background in racing and has proven products, does legitimate testing, and doesn't just eye ball something and say "that should be fine". They understand the limitations and make decisions based on analysis or previous failures. Has your welder done any coilover conversions?

Whenever I go to welder I tell them what I want. They are not engineering the part but rather following directions. I explain to them what I want to accomplish and if they have any insight or concerns we talk.
So who did the design? What engineering did you do to determine what you needed, to accomplish what you want?

A simple scab plate could be easy welded to the lower arm where the new coil-over / shock mount attaches. The upper mount is huge, if you bend that you've got lots of other problems like a bent frame.
The issue isn't bending it, the issue is that the loading from the coil over is going to be greater than the damping forces from the shock alone. the mount was designed for a shock, you'll move where you sit on the SN curve and your fatigue life WILL change, I haven't put pen to paper to figure out what that change will be... but have you? You can say "That's fine, I am comfortable with that" but some folks might not be.

Find a full size truck IFS coil-over front end and compare the upper mounts.
Just looking at two mounts side by side and saying "sure, this one is about as big, should be fine" does not take into account weld callouts, frame thicknesses, material types... again, if you are comfortable with that, go for it, but it's worth discussing.

I am not saying this mod is for everybody but one should not say to others, " It cannot be done " because that is incorrect.
One should also not confuse the ability to weld something with the ability to design something. I'm simply saying that to do it well, to match the level of the rest of the vehicle, some work needs to be done... this is a dynamic system, and it's fatigue life is non trivial.

Responses in green^

 

[MTKID]

You use words like... " I think lifespan... " and " Idk if it will, I'm just saying... " These are just your personal opinions. Please don't post up that something cannot done because you are either ignorant ( not being disrespectful ) or don't personally agree with it. This mod has been done, it can be done, it just might not be for you.

"better to have a legit fabricator make a beefy mount than to have anyone with a welder start melting metal to your frame ".

What is a legit fabricator?

Is this someone that you personally approve?

Whenever I go to welder I tell them what I want. They are not engineering the part but rather following directions. I explain to them what I want to accomplish and if they have any insight or concerns we talk.

A simple scab plate could be easy welded to the lower arm where the new coil-over / shock mount attaches. The upper mount is huge, if you bend that you've got lots of other problems like a bent frame. Find a full size truck IFS coil-over front end and compare the upper mounts.

I am not saying this mod is for everybody but one should not say to others, " It cannot be done " because that is incorrect.

I created a thread with this goal in mind...

Just swapping in coil overs...

I didn’t want to perpetuate the negative comments on someone else’s product thread. But if you think “it’s been done” on a 100 series, I’d love for you to share on that thread.

 

[Newps]

I am just going to leave this here.

 

[CruiseLanderAZ]

I am just going to leave this here.

View attachment 1848269

Please post this on the new thread and let's talk about it there

 

[Live to Ski]

I need to chime in (though uninvited).

T has spent a lot of $ doing the design/fab of our front ends/suspensions. They know the loads, they have the analysis/testing capabilities to determine what will not fail based on the overall system and specified use.

They are not in the business of over designing above & beyond the determined safety factors as this would up $.

So let's agree that the shock towers are designed for the shock loads.

Front suspension is a critical safety feature due to stearing (as in hate to be in a rig w front suspension failure).

I would think that if one were doing this drastic a change, better have a suspension engineer analyze & design, certified fabricators build, then test to verify.

Acid test: would you strap your 2 yr child into the back seat and feel confident....would you forgive/forget if on the receiving end of an accident caused by a rig w a one off mod?

Also, look @ Australia. If you have unapproved mods on your rig & get into an accident...

As tom c said "show me the numbers"

That's my story & I'm sticking to it says this former suspension engineer (well for submarine equip suspension anyway).

 

[Aus cruiser]

Hi was just wondering if this kit is still available have tried emailing and everything and had no luck chasing a set for more 100 series to either make or get dimensions to do my self cheers

 

[nukegoat]

There's no way to just swap in coilovers. The shock mounts are not designed to support vehicle weight, just damping forces

I don't remember the axle mount but the frame mount would absolutely 100% support a coilover. They were stupid beefy when I cut them off

 

[Somebodyelse5]

I don't remember the axle mount but the frame mount would absolutely 100% support a coilover. They were stupid beefy when I cut them off

"super beefy" doesn't really take into account load paths and dynamic loading. May work for a while, but how long? 50k miles? 100k? idk. I'm being conservative.