DIY AE86 Strut Assembly into TE72 With Coil Overs

NOTE: Paradise Racing also sells the coil over kit for TE72 I just wanted to go with AE86 strut assembly in case I wanted to go cheap and use lowering springs; so it is up to you but the steps will work for either one of them.

Things needed:

AE 86 Strut insert refill (autozone)
AE 86 Strut Assembly (junkyard)
AE 86 Calipers and Pads (junkyard)
AE 86 Drilled and Slotted Brake Disk (optional)(ebay)
Paint
Primer
Drill
Wire Brush for drill (3 different sizes is better) (Dollar Store or Walmart)
Bearing Grease (autozone)
AE 86 Coilover kit (paradise racing)

Tools Needed

12mm socket
14mm socket
17mm socket
19mm socket
21mm socket
Electric or pneumatic impact wrench
hammer
flat tip screwdriver
10mm wrench
8mm wrench
Vice grip
hydraulic jack
jack stand
ratchet
diagonal cotters
breaker bar
pry bar
empty container or bucket
vice
big pliers

Steps

First of all I started with a rusted off strut assembly so it was time to clean the corrosion, primer and paint all parts. Before this; it is better if you take it completely apart. You will need the 14mm socket to take the calipers off the assembly. Also the 12mm socket to take the caliper apart. You will also need a bucket, big pliers, and a vice to take apart the strut insert. Don't tightened the strut too tight in the vice since it will damage the cylinder...just enough to remove the nut. Now remove the brake disk by removing the grease cover at the front with a flat tip and hammer. Use the diagonal cutters to remove the cotter pin. Now remove the nut follow by the bearings and brake disk assembly. If you are to replace the disk use the 14 mm to remove 4 bolts on the back of disk assembly to remove disk from assembly. Also remove the brake disk backing plate from strut assembly by removing 4 bolts. Once everything is apart clean, primer and paint all parts.

Now just assemble everything the same way you took it apart. Now it is time to order your parts and be jumpy every time the door bell rings...lol. The first thing I got was the coil over kit from paradise racing. The way you set them up is fairly easy. First the treated sleeve and the locking nut and the adjustment nut on top(the one with Allen key bolt), follow by the locking ring, then your spring. Next one will be your top part or hat. Use the zip thighs out of the kit to keep the hat and spring together and pit the cotter pin/locking pin into hat. Then use the second upper cover out of your AE86 strut assembly. The one with bolts that goes attached to the frame from the ae86 will not be used, you will use the one out of your TE72. Check out pics to learn how to set it up.

Now it is time to get the old ones out and the new ones in. First raise the front end of car up and put it on jack stands. Using the 21mm socket remove front tires. Then open hood and take strut assembly center nut cover out(that is the one on top of each strut assembly under the hood). Now use your impact wrench and 19mm socket to remove the strut assembly main bolt(you may have to use the vice grip to prevent the strut insert/piston to rotate during removal). Your upper hat from the TE72 strut assembly will stay attached to the car. Now use your 10mm wrench to removed the brake line and put empty container under it to recover the brake fluid. Once removed, use a flat tip and hammer to take out the locking pin/latch that holds the line in place out. Now use your 17mm socket and breaker bar to remove 2 bolts under strut assembly the ones holding it to the lower plate. At this time your strut assembly will be loose and all you need to do is pry it out and/or step on lower plate to make room for assembly to come out. Now remove the old assembly and install the new one the same way you removed the old one. Make sure both side are adjusted the same way. Install both tires and lower car. Now remember to bleed the brake system and your done. Take it for a spin and bring it back. Now do final adjustments, so lower or raise and you are done.

Now enjoy your new coil overs and your new look....hope you enjoy and got something out of this DIY .

DIY AE86: INCREASING ALTERNATOR AMPS

I currently ran into an issue with my 1986 AE86. The alternators are set OEM specs to hold 60amps and have been an issue thruout the years of ownership and they can't keep you battery charged by mearely using your headlights, lead along AC, power windows, Sound systems with 500+ watts, etc.

And when you get the ones from local auto parts, they last short periods of time or fail within the first month or 2. ALso, there are nearly ZERO shops willing to modify your alternators affraid you will burn up your rides and then suit them for it.

Well, here's an idea that works for any pre-1990 Corolla GTS or FX16 fitted with 4AGE engines...
The 1984-87 alternators were 60AMPS
1988-89 alternators were 70AMPS
1990-91 alternators were 80AMPS

THEY ALL FIT EACH OTHER WITH NO MODIFICATIONS REQUIRED (may be except for the 4AGZE)...so, you can simply order the 1991 Corolla GTS alternator and there you have it!!

Can you see the ONLY Difference between the 2 pictures below? (Main post casing)
On your left is a 1991 Corolla GTS (4AGE engine) 80APMS Alternator...on your right a 1984-87 Corolla GTS (4AGE engine) 60APMS Alternator.







This may verywell be the same with other Rides that although their bodies/engines may have changed, their engines may still be using the same alternator housing/connections/brackets, but internally, they are capable of more AMPS and that will solve your issue with adding accessories to your rides and not affecting your charging system.

Do your own search on other rides and Good luck!

DIY Rear Hub Bearing Corolla 03 - 08

Steps:

1. Chock the front wheels
2. Loosen the wheel lug nuts (21mm)
3. Jack up the car
4. Place a jack stand
5. Remove the wheel
6. Release the hand brake




Screw the two M8×1.25 bolts into the holes in the drum brake to push it away from the hub. It may be rusted to the hub so prepare for some cracking sounds. Remove the drum once it is free

Remove the four 12mm bolts on the back of the hub. You may need a breaker bar. Do not use thin walled 1/4" drive sockets--I broke two trying to remove those bolts.

While holding the backing plate and taking care not to disturb the brake parts and brake line, pull the hub out of the suspension arm. Once it is out, reinsert the bolts to hold the backing plate to the suspension arm so that it doesn't hang by the brake line.

Line up the bolts and insert the new hub. Torque the bolts to 45 ft·lbf. Remember, these bolts hold your wheels on the car!

DIY Adding Power Mirrors Corolla 93 - 97

This DIY is how to add Power Mirrors to a Non Power Mirror Corolla 93 - 97 .

1: Pull out the left side vent. No screws, just pulls out
Parts needed: Mirrors -Door Harness for mirror -Mirror switch

So far I only installed the right side as I have not painted the left one yet. The left side install is the same as the right.

1: Pull out the left side vent. No screws, just pulls out

2: Untape the unused connector. Pop out the square plastic piece, and pop in the control switch. Plug it on, and pop the vent back on.

3: Take off the right side lower door sill trim. There is one plastic piece you need to unscrew, and 3 plastic clips holding it down to the sill.

4: Pull off the triangle mirror cover.

5: Take off the door panel. There are 2 screws in the arm and 1 in the handle.

7: Remove the glove box. NOTE, there is 2 10mm bolts behind the plastic on the sides behind the glove box. I left 1 of the plastic covers on so you know what it looks like.

6: Unscrew and remove the mirror, 3 10mm bolts. Then screw on the power mirror.

7: Unscrew the speaker and remove.

8: Pull the door harness through the speaker area. There is a white connector in the kick panel where indicated by my finger. Also, there is a plastic clip holding the harness to the door, in the middle of the lower door side part of the hinge, also indicated by my finger. Pop it though. Then pull the harness through where the speaker should be.

9: Run the mirror wires though the with the speaker wires. Run the harness back through the door into the kick panel. Plug the speak connector back, and then plug the mirror harness in as well, and connect the plug to the mirror.


And there you have it power mirrors , The driver side is done the same way

DIY Front Brake Pads Corolla 03 - 08

get under the car with the jack and get crankin - use at least a 2-ton jack

rest the car on jack stands (both sides simultaneously). remove the wheels.

(optional). spray down the rotor with brake cleaner and wipe it off to clean some of the gunk accumulated.

this is the caliper. using a 14mm wrench, unbolt the two nuts where my fingers are making contact. there is a 3rd nut in the center - dont remove it.

the brake hose connecting is too short to allow the components to hang. use a ziptie and hang it off your spring (or however else you fancy).

apply some Anti-Squeal grease between the new brake pads and the shims (photo shows old brake pad). just a few dabs should be okay.

place the shims on the inner/outer brake pads and slide the whole assembly on to the clips (it will be obvious where they go).

gosh, this was the painful part. the piston is extended and won't let you slide it back on the pads. use a C-clamp and push it back in. the other side of the clamp you don't see is on the middle nut you shouldn't have removed. Autozone will rent you a brake pad installation kit with a compressor and what not.

with the caliper compressed, the assembly should slide back on the pads. torque down the 2 bolts to 25 ft.lb

DIY Adding Drivers Front Lower Vent Corolla 93 - 07

2 parts needed. The plastic vent tube and the vent as pictured.

1: Remove the side trim piece. 1 plastic screw by the firewall, the rest are just clips that pull off.

2: Remove the lower dash trim. 4 10mm bolts. One on each lower corner, and 2 that are behind the plastic covers towards the top. Remove the Hood Latch release cable.

3: Unscrew the phillipshead screw on the front left side of the vent tube. Then just pull the tube out.

4: Put on the vent tube with the opening the same way you took the other one off.

5: Poke out the plastic cover in the lower dash piece.

6: Push in the vent.

And there you have it nice cool air in between your legs .

DIY Rear Studs Corolla 03 - 08

TOOLS-
new stud(s)
washers(about 3-4)
open ended lug nut
tire iron
hammer

first take off your wheel, if you have a broken or stripped stud its more then likely already off, and your wheel will look like this




Then, take off the cover, it should slide off pretty easily if its stuck its just rusted on so dont be afraid to give a little force, and it will look like this

Then, hold the assembly so it doesnt move and take your hammer and whack the sh!t out of the end of that stud and it will pop out the other end, and it should look like this

Now, take your new stud and stick it in the hole like the old one was, notice it wont fit in there and will look like this

Now, take your washers and put them on the stud, like so

Now, all there is left to do is thread the nut on tight as hell and with the help of the washers it will thread the Stud thru the hole, its gunna take a bit of force so stick your hammer in between 2 of the studs and have the end touch the ground so it will stop the assembly from moving

and once its all the way thru the hole place your hammer on the opposite side and unscrew the lug and VOILA you have replaced your ruined stud!