Rear suspension upgrade idea.

[Art5]

Hi, all.
Was at my friend's shop last week and saw Lexus ES300 on a lift, don't remember the year, but something around 93-97. Went closer and noticed thar rear suspension si very similiar to Ford taurus rear suspension: 4 control arms with similiar mounting point, they are even adjustable, just like GTP or ingalls arms. As for strut rod, i don't know if it is still called the same in lexus, but it was in the same location as the one on a taurus, the only difference is that it look as if it was another control arm.
Here, this is what I found so far: http://www.2carpros.com/questions/lexus-es-300-1998-lexus-es-300-rear-suspension-arm

Anyway, mounting point for that strut rod seems very easy to weld on our cars.
I wish I had access to a lift and someone with welder and knowledge of using one, that could've been an interesting project.
What do you guys think?

 

[kevinspann]

Not sure there would be any improvement.

 

[Art5]

Not sure there would be any improvement.

you don't think there will be no more headache when doing suspension job, especially when changing those nasty strut rod bushings?
Plus, good way to change bolt pattern in a Taurus and easier to locate parts.

 

[kevinspann]

I don't think there would be anyway in **** to adapt the parts without cutting out the rear floor and adding the floor from the Lexus.

 

[K-Dawg]

I would rather do 5 rear suspension jobs than figure out a way to swap all that stuff over. But that's me. If you want it on your car, do it.

 

[Art5]

I don't think there would be much to adapt other then mounting point for strut rod. I am not experienced in frame welding and stuff, but I think cutting out old strut rod mounting bracket and welding new one would Do the trick.
Similiar suspension is in "07 camry.
I wish i had my camera to take a picture of that. Maybe MOnday I'll have that Camry there and I will try to take a picture, so that you guys could see.
And as for doing a lot of work on modifying suspension, nobody said anything like that while making Gen3 subframe swap.

 

[Art5]

here, I just found this picture online. How strut rod mounts to the frame.
http://media.photobucket.com/image/...t/mandyfigue/Camry%2095/StrutRod95CamryLE.jpg

 

[yamahaSHO]

That's a common design these days. Here is a picture of STi "trailing arms".

It's a better design, but getting it all to work well will require more than welding skills.

 

[Art5]

That's a common design these days. Here is a picture of STi "trailing arms".

It's a better design, but getting it all to work well will require more than welding skills.

At least somebody said something. Like what would you think would be a problem more than welding?

 

[kevinspann]

You would have to use the rear knuckles from whatever car's suspension you want to duplicate, which probably won't work with a Taurus strut.

Just because they look similar doesn't mean it would ever come close to working.

 

[Art5]

You would have to use the rear knuckles from whatever car's suspension you want to duplicate, which probably won't work with a Taurus strut.

Just because they look similar doesn't mean it would ever come close to working.

All that understood.
I am currently doing 5-lug conversion on 1987 bmw 325ic. I swear, that i don't lie , when i say that the job is less of a pain, than changing out struts and bushings on a 1995 ford taurus. I haven't had one bolt stripped or broken.
I would , actually, like to use rear knuckle from a different car on my taurus and I think that the only difference would be rear strut mount.

Too bad that until I finish with the bimmer, I can't do nothing to my SHO, but if I get a chance finiding all those rear parts needed to try this one out, I would at least try it on my parts car without welding anything.

 

[luigisho]

I totally want to see something cool like this done. I don't have the time or patience to pioneer things like this but I would be happy to adapt a good design. I don't like the tension strut rod design and would love a more simple setup that didn't mess up geometry or safety.

..and as far as adapting another car design. **** yeah, if it can increase available parts. anytime someone can get get an affordable way to adapt more available struts from another vehicle that can handle the Taurus weight I'm in on that too.

 

[groove83]

(I just woke up, so my brain isn't on yet...)

You could probably do something similar to that using the stock parts, would just have to use circle track parts and helm joints. basically just weld a mounting point to where the rear arm hooks onto the car and onto the knuckle and figured out the length of the threaded suspension arm and do it that way...

it makes more since in my head right now.... still pretty much a sleep.

I planned (am planning) to do the same thing to one of my cars..but also going to get rid of the stock rear suspension bars running to the knuckle.

 

[Art5]

(I just woke up, so my brain isn't on yet...)

You could probably do something similar to that using the stock parts, would just have to use circle track parts and helm joints. basically just weld a mounting point to where the rear arm hooks onto the car and onto the knuckle and figured out the length of the threaded suspension arm and do it that way...

it makes more since in my head right now.... still pretty much a sleep.

I planned (am planning) to do the same thing to one of my cars..but also going to get rid of the stock rear suspension bars running to the knuckle.

I have front re-drilled to 114.3, so for me, using toyota knuckle with all that would be perfect for me.
most of you guys are luckier than me, because we barely have junk yard around here, and I am not even talking about pick-n-pull. Kinda difficult to locate cheap parts around here.