Weight Reduction Down Low

[Roreri]

I was served up this article today:

https://www.thedrive.com/news/39220...-it-matters-most-unsprung-and-rotational-mass
Like the AllTrac, the GTi has some cankles. He laments its 3100lb curb weight. Get in line buddy and hold our beer. In this article, the author details how he was able to cut 49.6 pounds of unsprung and rotational weight:

“I saved 9.6 pounds from the aluminum suspension stuff (which also have the side effect of increased rigidity), 28 pounds of rotating mass from the new wheels and another 12 pounds of unsprung weight from calipers.”

He reports much improved handling and response. Suspension, wheels, and calipers. Let’s talk this out.

For suspension, I went with Feal 441s, and that was quite a bit of weight reduction. I want to say 15lbs altogether compared to OEM on just the front. Are there any Toyota or other suspension parts I should consider? Control arms, uprights, whatever.

For wheels, I have cast, dead soft period correct OZ Cronos on mine and they are awesome looking and heavy as an anchor. Enkei RPF1s are light. But let’s face it. Unique they are not. What 5-spoke lightweight options are out there?

For calipers, I’m running straight OEMs. What lighter weight equal or higher performance options do I have?

Now, the focus here is on unsprung and rotational mass. The article writer crows about all this weight reduction costing him some research, some driving time to the pick a part, some labor, and $500. That’s obviously a lucky case as there were VWs made with lightweight equivalent parts and he was able to find a cheap light brake kit.

I think there’s a lot of handling performance to be got from targeted weight reduction. So, grateful for any advice.

 

[underscore]

I know aftermarket adjustable front and rear control arms are available. Fronts I could see reducing weight more than the rears but I don't have any numbers for either.

There's also the Prius front spindle swap, I don't know what they're made of but they might be lighter.

Calipers you might lose some weight from the smaller Porsche/Brembo conversion that runs GT-S rotors. Better braking, possibly lighter calipers without increasing the rotor size like the BBKs do.

Something to also consider with wheels is the tires. The weights can vary between models and ideally you want the narrowest tire that gives you enough grip or you're just adding mass for nothing.

 

[Roreri]

Great points.

Control Arms: I found these:

https://agileperformancenz.com/products/celica-st185-adjustable-front-lower-control-arm
https://agileperformancenz.com/prod...13058&pr_ref_pid=1719167254594&pr_seq=uniform
Now, the idea with these is not so much weight reduction as additional and more convenient camber/caster/toe. It’s rugged looking as **** which might be proper for Colorado roads (if you know you know).

This Cusco one is a lightweight option:

https://www.elev8motorsports.com/cu...r-1990-1993-toyota-celica-gt4-not-w-ver1.html
Any other options would be welcome. Anyone with reviews or actual experience would be super appreciated.

Prius Spindle Swap: I don’t even know enough to know how to approach looking into this.

Tires: Absolutely. One of the things I like about the Vredestein Quatracs I have is how light they are. 215s. You can see weight on the Tire Rack website and yeah it’s surprising how different same size tires can be and how the weight piles on.

 

[Monakopushisu]

Are there any Toyota or other suspension parts I should consider? Control arms, uprights, whatever.

For wheels, I have cast, dead soft period correct OZ Cronos on mine and they are awesome looking and heavy as an anchor. Enkei RPF1s are light. But let’s face it. Unique they are not. What 5-spoke lightweight options are out there?

For calipers, I’m running straight OEMs. What lighter weight equal or higher performance options do I have?

Now, the focus here is on unsprung and rotational mass. The article writer crows about all this weight reduction costing him some research, some driving time to the pick a part, some labor, and $500. That’s obviously a lucky case as there were VWs made with lightweight equivalent parts and he was able to find a cheap light brake kit.

PS: I was writing as you posted lol so you already have some info from this list
SUSPENSION
Ok So there aren't to many options (other than underscore's Prius recommendation) but the adjustable arms (in my reconsiderations forum) I showed you should be lighter. There is a similar setup for the rear too (adjustable rear trailing arms). Check agileperformance and GT4Play. There's probably a good 10-20lbs all around there. Another part (if you're a bank roller) is carbon axles but those are custom and unreasonable. All around to get that stuff lighter Mcphereson is kinda hard to make lighter. S2000's with double A's can drop like 20-30lbs with carbon arms or Alu. arms. Tube style parts will be lighter but will be price as they have to be custom.

CALIPERS
A 986 kit will be around the same weight but larger(I found they weight from 8lbs-10lbs). There's a joint, BigMission Automotive that my FSAE team is sponsored by that specializes in building euro race cars, I was gonna ask them if they had any. Wilwood calipers of OEM size would be your best shot, then machine a bracket for them. (I can help too since you're in C Springs). Rotors are well...carbon ceramics but not worth it at all.

WHEELS
I'm going with the OZ Ultraleggeras which are 18ish lbs for a 17" rim. Lightest I have found for less then an organ transplant. For 5 spoke enkei and konig have some options that are around 20-22lbs in the 17" range (don't know what size you have.) Fitment Industries has them I can get links if you want but I don't know the exact specs you want. RPF1 are light and if you like the look send it, can't go wrong with them. I hate the way they look and yea, they're everywhere. The brands that I have found that work well are Enkei, konig, volk, advan, works, OZ. Ok one with our cars/in general are motegis, Rotas, advids. All depends on where the car is used and how hard it's played with.
Some ex: https://www.fitmentindustries.com/b...model=3&trim=i+Grand+Touring&suspension=Stock
https://www.fitmentindustries.com/b...model=3&trim=i+Grand+Touring&suspension=Stockhttps://www.fitmentindustries.com/b...model=3&trim=i+Grand+Touring&suspension=Stock
TIRES
Tires have the most counter productive torque for mass, so finding (as odd as this sounds) lighter tires also helps. Think smaller width and aspect ratio. Also some tires. I also know that summer tires are typically lighter than the same size allseason

 

[Monakopushisu]

Control Arms: I found these:

Yep exactly what I was talking about for the rear and front, GT4 play has another brand on their site, they're straight silver.

Now, the idea with these is not so much weight reduction as additional and more convenient camber/caster/toe. It’s rugged looking as **** which might be proper for Colorado roads (if you know you know).

Like underscore said on my post that could be bad. I was thinking about making my own at some point and adding in a shear line so they break before exerting forces on the frame (Mech E has ruined my life I only think in equations now ). The larger 'fat' trailing arm could see a couple lbs of saving easily from these kits.

Prius Spindle Swap: I don’t even know enough to know how to approach looking into this.

Someone has a ST165 GLTC car with them. Said there was a fair amount of custom work. They're lighter due to just less material and I also think a lighter alloy. (For hybrid efficiency)
Also I'm about to buy that underbrace once I get a new job, I've only heard good things, but it does add normal weight.

 

[simple]

@Roreri you just bought a swapped MR2, had someone build you an engine for the Celica....and you still want to throw money at old cars?

Dude, invest in a mountain house so you can get out of the city. Then you can spend your money on fun stuff like tractors, mini excavators, and side by sides. Canyons are where cops are. Colorado has almost no tracks left. The real fun is out on the dirt where you might actually get hurt

you'll see why everyone here wants a Tacoma or 4runner, so they can escape the roads and people. LOL

 

[underscore]

This Cusco one is a lightweight option:

https://www.elev8motorsports.com/cu...r-1990-1993-toyota-celica-gt4-not-w-ver1.html

I believe that's just an extra brace, I'm going from memory because CelicaTech is gone but I recall that while it does add a bit of strength in testing it doesn't add as much as you'd hope for. Which I think is the case for a lot of stuff Cusco makes lol.

Prius Spindle Swap: I don’t even know enough to know how to approach looking into this.

Here's some info on one way to do the Prius swap. idk why people keep only posting this stuff in a stupid fb group that sucks to use but whatever:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/celicaalltrac/posts/2484592991597945/

 

[Roreri]

@Roreri you just bought a swapped MR2, had someone build you an engine for the Celica....and you still want to throw money at old cars?

Dude, invest in a mountain house so you can get out of the city. Then you can spend your money on fun stuff like tractors, mini excavators, and side by sides. Canyons are where cops are. Colorado has almost no tracks left. The real fun is out on the dirt where you might actually get hurt

you'll see why everyone here wants a Tacoma or 4runner, so they can escape the roads and people. LOL

I have a cabin up in South Park 25 minutes from the nearest gas station and an old F150. I’m set!

I grew up here in Colorado in the 80s. I’m retired now so I have the option of avoiding the roads on weekends. It’s not as bad as it seems.

 

[simple]

Nice. Yeah probably much better to rip around during the week. Someday I'll retire.....