Hi guys.

I need to do some work on the suspension of my KS wagon and I'm after some advice.


Everything's a bit loose on the original bushes so I'm replacing them all. Is there a big difference between factory rubber and urethane/nolathane/etc?

I was thinking of lowering the front but not the back. Do lower springs give a firmer ride or just more likely to bottom out?

Is there such a thing as a rear sway bar on the wagon? I can't find one on it nor any mention in workshop manuals. A couple of threads have mentioned after market ones but not where to get them.


Any advice is greatly appreciated.

try this link. i have 4 sets off lowered struts for the gen 2s. no wagon rears
http://www.whiteline.com.au/do_segue4.php?make=Mitsubishi&model=Magna&model_final=MAGNA+TR%2C+TS+%2F+VERADA+KR%2C+KS+%28 DIAMANTE%2C+V3000%29+&vehicle=10%2F91-3%2F96

Thanks. That's useful. But I don't think it really answers any of my questions.

And when you say you have sets of struts...are they for sale?

massive difference between polys and factory rubbers

typically lowered spring are stiffer but not always. King lows are defintely stiffer

selby make them, try ebay and shoot some emails off

Lower spring will give you a firmer ride not bottom you out :) As for sway bars unsure, I think you can buy them, it will be a heavy duty version, so not a sporty version.

Aaaah. So would polys + lower be too stiff? My big aim is to reduce the seasick feeling from leaning over every corner. Looking good would be a nice bonus.

it will change a lot but due to the weight and upgraded suspension rates being still low it WONT be too stiff. Though its matter of opinon but i can tell you super low kings on munroe gas shocks with poly bushes all round on my 2g verada is still softer then the stock suspension in the sportivo camry we have. I found it very nice to drive afterwards and there was non purpoising over bumps or swaying it felt very solid.

also note, if you just do the fronts it will look funny because there is so much bumper overhang (infront the front wheels) if you dont lower the back this overhanging part will be quite low. still legal height but look funny. its up to you.

Hmm. I was thinking of only doing the front because at the moment it's higher by nearly an inch. It may be because I've replaced the front shocks but not the rears. Also I scrape the exhausts tips occasionally and I don't really want to make that worse.

height from the top of the wheel to the gaurd isnt even front to back. Isnt meant to be either. THe front has larger higher arches so they wont scrub the tyres when hitting a bump while turning the wheel *should say less likely too* when i did my verada i did front only to start with and it looked very odd. I would also reckon it would handle funny aswell though i only drove mine far enough to turn it around and reverse into the shed. I would say though that if you went and brought KING SP springs which you can get at stock height this wouldnt be much if an issue at all. They are up-rated springs with lowered spring stiffness. It will cost more money but if you got the SP for the rear and ever wanted to lower it you can have the springs height reset to what height you want. You can always leave the rears alone and see how it goes.

Just booked in with my mechanic. Replacing all bushes with polys, replacing rear shocks, and chucking in some low springs on the front. Will let you know how it goes.

Absolutely the best thing to do is to fit an aftemarket rear sway bar.
Look up on the Selby site.
Body roll much reduced.
Understeer much reduced.
With new bushes and shocks it will still be comfortable and will handle much better.
I did a KS touring wagon about 9 years ago, was a delight to drive after.
Gerry

I'd love to but I can't find rear sway bars anywhere. If someone wants to point me in the right direction I'd be very happy.

i am also looking for arear sway bar for my wagon can you get custom ones made up how much did the low cost with the new shocks and polys my wagon needs it

Haven't got a final cost yet. I'll let you know.

For those wanting to know: new poly bushes around the front, sway bar links, rear shocks, lowered front springs, wheel alignment, etc. $950

Looks good. Handles well. Quieter.

http://www.mako.com.au/ibm_docs/mako/product_images/SignatureCatalogue.pdf

This is the site for Selby Sway bars. Now called Signature sway bars.
Page & SM57R is the kit for a TS/KS wagon.
$240. Talk to Madmagna.

As I put in a previous post I did the rear bar on a KS touring wagon in about 1978. With decent shocks and replacing the front track control arm rear bushes with polyurethane increased castor bushes it was still comfortable, could be chucked through small suburban roundabouts and the WAF was fine.
Honestly the single best thinbg that you can do to a FWD car without a rear swybar is to get one fitted..

Gerry.

Thanks Spud. I've been looking for Selby for a while. Now I can work on stage 2.