lifting AE95 corolla

[hairy_boater]

hi there,

this is probably one of the more unusual questions - i've tried the corolla forums, but they are more interested in superchargers & lowering than raising - so here goes...and dont laugh

I've got an AE95 corolla 4WD wagon. I'm after more clearance, which was easy at the back - live rear axle - replaced stock springs with EL falcon springs and hey presto, 1.5in body lift! now I want a little extra height at the front [perhaps 1in]

I figure I can put longer travel coils in the front, but before I do this I want to find out if anyone knows what reasonable working angles on the front CV's are? Would I be able to go 1in higher without shagging them [I guess i can't expect the CV joint lifespan to remain the same, I just dont want to have to replace them every 6months :-) ]

once this happens, ill be putting bigger rims/tyres on & some nice driving lights when i can afford it etc & generally making her a bit more versatile

any info would be greatly appreciated

cheers

Tim

[dumbdunce]

you can go about 35 - 40mm higher without munching your CV's (wear will be accelerated though - expect to replace them maybe every 40,000km instead of every 100,000). I think you can get 35mm lifted springs for those puppies, try 4way suspension, if they don't have it they'll be able to tell you who does - otherwise start experimenting with springs from struts with similar size spring - off bigger toyotas or nissans etc.

if you're truly keenon offroading it, disconnect the swaybar(s) and think about a limited slip rear diff. is there a centre diff lock?


cool car to go hardcore in!

cheers

Brian

[RUFF]

I beleive they have a viscus coupling to drive to the rear axle. I have seen lots of these that get absolutly no drive to the rear axle once the coupling is worn out.

[Gonzo]

they have centre diff locks also

[dumbdunce]

I beleive they have a viscus coupling to drive to the rear axle. I have seen lots of these that get absolutly no drive to the rear axle once the coupling is worn out.

they have centre diff locks also

wtf? you can't have it both ways - if it has a viscous coupling that goes bad and no drive goes to the rear axle then it does not have a centre diff at all. if it has a viscous coupled centre diff that goes bad in the voscous coupling then you have permanent 50/50 torque split front/rear like a normal open diff, ie lose traction on one wheel and go nowhere - worse than 2wd. if it has a centre diff lock it is unlikely (although possible) to also have a viscous coupling also on that centre differential.

so what is it? three (maybe 4) options:

(a) viscous coupled rear axle with no centre diff
(b) viscous coupled centre diff without lock
(c) lockable centre diff without viscous coupling
(d) (b) + (c) unlikely

google time!

[Gonzo]

friend of mine had one, wrote it off, bought another

driving around power was only to the front wheels, only once u started spinning did power go to the back - does that mean there was a viscous coupling?

i am 100% sure that both had center diff locks, one had a button the other was a small lever that u pulled

[dumbdunce]

friend of mine had one, wrote it off, bought another

driving around power was only to the front wheels, only once u started spinning did power go to the back - does that mean there was a viscous coupling?

i am 100% sure that both had center diff locks, one had a button the other was a small lever that u pulled

lockable viscous coupling then, but no diff.

option (e)

[hairy_boater]

cheers for the info - I was planning to go about 30mm higher on the front so that info is appreciated. Was going to keep the same spring rate.

in terms of the drivetrain....um...not really sure

it definately has a centre diff lock [&its AWD]...the gearbox/transfer case is pretty big [for a corolla] so who knows whats in there!

LSD could be a good move - i have thought about it & reckon something like an AE86 sprinter may be able to provide the parts...

cheers

Tim