98-02 corolla coilover sleeves

been looking at coil over sleeves i found some for the corolla for $89 for the set i was wondering if anyone has installed these or used these and if its worth getting



this is what they look like

Are the ones you're talking about skunk 2 or is that just the pic?

its just the pic i just wanna know how to properly install these

Take your struts off, compress your spring, loosen the nut on top of strut (Be careful it may be under pressure) take strut top hat off, take spring off of strut, there may be a ring or cap on top of the strut casing where the piston slides in and out.. Knock, hit or pop it off. Slide the threaded sleeve onto the strut (it may be a loose fit, (some rubber o-rings rolled over the strut help to make a tight fit) push the sleeve all the way down over the strut case and onto the perch (where the bottom of the OEM springs sits). Drop the top strut tower mount onto/over the threads on the top of the strut piston and tighten the nut. DO NOT over tighten this nut, DO NOT use an impact gun. Tighten with a wrench and then a little extra (maybe 1/2 to whole turn more) place the strut back on to your car and start adjusting your ride height with the nut that turns on the sleeve you just installed onto the strut. Good luck, let me know if you need any help.

thanks so much big help the kit comes with 3 washers this is what they look like where do these go. I'm asking because i have ordered these sleeves before and installed them and the rear was fine but the front would make clunking noises when turning the wheel and when i hit big dips in the road

The reason you probably got those noises is bc you didn't remove the stock spring perch, I know from experience. And sleeves are a great choice if you don't have 1k for coilovers.

Usually those noises come from people not setting their OEM or aftermarket spring back in the bottom insulator correctly. JDMGEN8, you've had this sound with sleeves?

Evelio, did the kit come with any rubber washers/bushings also?

I didn't remove the stock spring perches on the front struts the first time I installed them. I also had no bump stops/bushings. Ended up buying those new from GC 12 bucks a piece compare to Autozone 24 bucks a piece.

yeah i didn't use the rubber washers and i had to grind down the strut a bit on the bottom part for these to go in and i used the o rings to center it everything seemed fine but it was making the noises some people told me its cus of the washers but idk I'm gonna re order the kit and try to install it again i will post pictures as i go along

Not using the washers would deffinately cause problems bc you will have that much play in your suspension.

I honestly do not know what those washers are for. I didn't use them when I installed my sleeves, but mine are Ground Control (Eibach) and I used all OEM strut mounting hardware (top hat and top strut mount) It should look like this when your finished:

well I'm gonna try it again soon hopefully all goes well lol i also wanna roll my fenders so i can go real low without rubbing too much hopefully

My setup didn't need the rubber o-rings bc of the koni struts I used had a plastic cap that kept the sleeve centered but here's the order you put em together at least for me without o-rings.

Sleeve with adjustment nut
Bump stop
Spring
Spring perch
2 washers
Top hat with nut
Install

Those are directions straight from GC.

I will be attempting that as well soon, supposed to be meeting a guy this weekend for some +20

Matt you still have the stock spring perches on top of the GC spring perches?

thats just what mine looked like i must ve messed something up in the order i put everything in hows the ride btw?

Yes I have the OEM one's on still. The ride is fine, bouncy at times. Would be perfect if I raised it a little. Seemed better than usual today.. Must have been the 55 degree weather LOL

Trust me it would ride 100 times better if you take that out it's not suppose to be there I made the same mistake called GC and they explained what I did wrong feels and looks so much better now.

these r the $89 ones http://www.madracingconcepts.com/coilovers/payments/toyota_corolla_98_02.htm

Notice the fine print...(remove stock upper spring perch)

You are correct about the left struts being front in picture. I just jacked my car up to look and the only reason I can remember re-using the stock perch is because I didn't like the way the GC perch fit into the bottom of the top mount.

Yeah that's what the washers are for to help fill the void, they fit perfectly flush then.

I'll be damned.. That schematic doesn't lie, does it? I also recall a mark on the GC perch that didn't match up to the top mount ring, but did match the OEM perch ring. If this is the case I might take the OEM perch off, meaning I can raise the spring up, allowing the strut to do more of the work now... Meaning less bouncy. Thanks bro!!

that's exactly right meaning you can lower it more and still ride smooth bc your strut will be functioning properly lol

I'll have to get some washers at work tomorrow. You said 2 on each strut? How big is the center hole on the washer? Does it fit pretty snug/close around the piston?

lot of good info here I'm gonna go for it. gonna order them friday thank guys

The washers don't actually go down around the piston they just go over the strut mount stud/threads and sit on top of the piston I can't recall how big but just pop that plastic cap off the top of your strut mount and the stud should be sticking up enough to see what size you need. They should fit snug around the stud you don't want them falling down around the piston.

I got you, I have some old top mounts laying around. I'll take one with me tomorrow so I can see what size I need. Thanks again. Sorry to steal your thread Evelio. Definitely good info though, thanks JDMGEN8!

Hey no problem glad I could help I had to find out the hard way lol I could probably take my suspension apart and put it back together with my eyes closed by now lol

I heard that