Tim_C. Posted August 8, 2009 Report Share Posted August 8, 2009 My '83 daily driver belched ALL of the right rear strut fluid out. The whole strut tower is completely soaked and all of the dampening strength is completely gone. Only the spring is doing all of the dampening. The tire bounces up and down like a basketball! Or so it seems while driving it. I have a few sets of widebody, '87 TSi year rear struts laying around that I'm wondering if they will fit just the same. My motto for this car is to keep it on a GHETTO budget! I bought it not running for $300 a few years ago, put an igniter box in it to get it running, slapped a BSEK on it since the chain sounded like a freight train, and that's about it. Anyway, I have an '84 parts car with good struts on it too, but I'd rather not put that car up on blocks unless I have to. It is behind my work and my boss might freak if the car won't roll and they want to move it. I also have some TSi springs laying around too. I wonder if they would be an upgrade to the flatty springs? From working on the cars I seem to remember the flatty strut housings are a smaller diameter. I'll end up measuring, but I just thouhgt maybe someone would know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_Venable Posted August 8, 2009 Report Share Posted August 8, 2009 all the rear struts, widebody, flatty, doesn't matter, they are interchangable. the geometry is he same, only the front changed from flat to fat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim_C. Posted August 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2009 Sweet! So it should be an upgrade to put widebody struts and springs into a flatty? I would think so since the wides are heavier and a little stiffer suspension. I guess as long as it doesn't raise the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Komeuppance Posted August 8, 2009 Report Share Posted August 8, 2009 Should refill that strut with fluid and get it to seal again... good as new... -Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim_C. Posted August 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2009 Should refill that strut with fluid and get it to seal again... good as new... -Robert I've never tried that. How hard is it to do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shift1313 Posted August 17, 2009 Report Share Posted August 17, 2009 i think the rear flatty struts are "softer" but the same physical specs. I seem to remember reading somewhere a long time ago that the flatties had nitrogen charged shocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrazilBoy Posted August 17, 2009 Report Share Posted August 17, 2009 If you do refill it use ATF..works very well.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim_C. Posted August 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2009 I have a decent used set of widebody struts that I can put in there. I'll save the ones in there now and take the time to refill them later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indiana Posted August 17, 2009 Report Share Posted August 17, 2009 Its just a square oring and you can get those any and everywhere. Motorcycles change and refil stock fluid all the time and replace seals. Too many people threw away struts from a bad o-ring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coke Posted October 19, 2010 Report Share Posted October 19, 2010 I realize this thread is old.....excuse me for bumping it...but I have a question relating to this. The rear struts are geometrically the same. Sounds awesome...I'll keep that in mind. Now.. How would I go about in swapping in FRONT widebody struts? Is it possible? Will it work? Pro's / Con's? Thanks. Justin PS- I think this Flatbody Mechanic section needs a sticky thread....with good info saved. This should be included. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_Venable Posted October 20, 2010 Report Share Posted October 20, 2010 (edited) the flatty front strut casings are about 1/4" shorter than the widebody front struts, so unless the widebody insert has a little "spacer" on the bottom that can be cut off, your outta luck as for swapping the front strut casings, they do bolt in, but the angle of the body to the spindle is different, and you'll have massive positive camber unless your slammed like mine AND have camber plates maxed out for negative camber (my first test fit on the front of mine was with a widebody strut casing) Edited October 20, 2010 by D_Venable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coke Posted October 20, 2010 Report Share Posted October 20, 2010 Hmmm....that's a shame. I really wanted to use my struts from the blue car, in my LE. How about coil springs? Interchangeable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFBMX88 Posted October 20, 2010 Report Share Posted October 20, 2010 I realize this thread is old.....excuse me for bumping it...but I have a question relating to this. The rear struts are geometrically the same. Sounds awesome...I'll keep that in mind. Now.. How would I go about in swapping in FRONT widebody struts? Is it possible? Will it work? Pro's / Con's? Thanks. Justin PS- I think this Flatbody Mechanic section needs a sticky thread....with good info saved. This should be included. http://www.starquestclub.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=76965&view=&hl=&fromsearch=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coke Posted October 22, 2010 Report Share Posted October 22, 2010 Thanks! Sounds like the sway bars and coil springs are interchangeable. I wish there was a way to run front widebody strut cartridges in a flatty. What are the options for flatbody front strut cartridges? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89PalermoSHP Posted October 22, 2010 Report Share Posted October 22, 2010 i believe you can still get tokico inserts for the fronts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_Venable Posted October 23, 2010 Report Share Posted October 23, 2010 could always go MR2 insert (doesn't have to be adjustable) with a spacer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indiana Posted October 24, 2010 Report Share Posted October 24, 2010 Many different springs, spindle angle different on flat Vs wide fronts and here's the big long list of who made all the struts and what was on which model and all the different springs from all the parts manuals:http://www.b2600turbo.com/Springs.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IntercooledFlatty Posted October 25, 2010 Report Share Posted October 25, 2010 Thanks! Sounds like the sway bars and coil springs are interchangeable. I wish there was a way to run front widebody strut cartridges in a flatty. What are the options for flatbody front strut cartridges? these are SA WEET !!! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/KYB-Gas-Strut-83-84-85-86-Mitsubishi-Starion-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQfitsZModelQ3aStarionQQhashZitem45f5a7aa66QQitemZ300474149478QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyWadd Posted October 28, 2010 Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 Tim i still have the 83 stuff from the car i parted out if you want it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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