.Here to pick your craniums over a conundrum I’m in, a problem bought to head by impending MOT.All below relates to an SW20 N/A UK rev1 which was my everyday since 1995 but has been in semi retirement for the last ten years.
Noticed the old girl has started weeping from F/O/S shock. Had N/S replaced about ten years ago (3k miles). Now I’d usually go to Toyota with this sought of thing, as I did before (no garage, no flat hard standing), however MrT cannot help, despite my full service custom and parts source for the last 120k miles
. And having trawled around the usual suspects for parts can see their point (a bit). Assume the difficulty is that rev1s have different shock dimensions to all other revisions 
. Problem is where to source the correct parts plus the expense of ancillaries which on the last MrT comparable invoice topped £400 on parts alone (2011) 
.On my meanderings about the internet a number of peeps seem to be swapping out the entire shock set up for coil overs, BC racing seemingly a perennial favourite for value and performance. Trouble is if I went this route would it adversely affect the ride as in comfort. I use the car for only the occasional B road jaunt (out grown the blast it stage, been there, done that). So as you can tell I’m veering toward standard maybe a slightly tighter set up. SLIGHTLY, not jarring and crashing through our scarred roads
.Another ingredient to chuck in the pot is the fact that some twenty years ago I bought a new set of Eibach ProKit springs, from a suspension stockist. These units where/are label for MR2 W2 as opposed to AW1, but with markings up and including year 90. Was unable to find any code to match these in UK as Eibach didn’t officially supply units for SW20, at least until later revisions. Code number is one digit down on US ProKit for later revisions and nothing like the AW11 code. Strangely have ascertained through much internet trawling of MR2 club sites that these springs we’re fitted to SW20s club owners in Europe, specifically France and Germany. Both dimensionally and visually they appear to be for SW20.
Why the odd code number? My logic runs that these springs where for a reduction of 25mm in road height from standard rev1. With the introduction of the rev2 Eibach had to reappraise and countered with another 25mm reduction, hence the re coding to those still on sale in US. Have downloaded a picture for your thoughts on the above. AW11 or SW20 springs?
So back to my problem. If you bear in mind hopefully I’ll be around to enjoy MR for another twenty odd years what should I do?
1, Rebuild components with patterned parts plus all bits and bobs? Could be an expensive option in the long term if other corners start to fail (120k on backs)?
2, BC Coilovers. Unsure of ride combination and initial all in cost though long term better option?
3. Eibach coupled with probably Koni shocks (bilstien costs
). It’s not just the springs and shocks, it’s going to be the ancillaries which hike this out of reach I think? And is the expense worth the ride over the coil overs?So your opinions on the above. I know it might be a bit crass to talk such expense at this present time of hardship (believe me I probably won’t be eating for a couple of months to pay for any of the above) but I’m trying to balance whether just repair or look to future proof MR.
Another point anypeeps know of a suspension chappie or lassie to help fit the above?
Hermit.
