NHW20 Ground Control, Bilstein and KYB suspension upgrade

Let the fun begin...
(1) KYB 333388 Front Gas Charged Strut
(1) KYB 333389 Front Gas Charged Strut
(2) KYB SM5215 Upper shock Mount
(2) Bilstein B8 Sport Shock Absorber Item: 24-069250 (larger shock size than the Prius Touring and much bigger than the base model)












Took a grinder to this wrench to make it fit the small gap in the top strut

 

On the old setup, the Sleeve sat on the front strut spring perch.. The height adjustment was limited.



Top of strut cap kept the sleeve centered.


Small lip that the cap slid into


Ground Control sent me the BMW M3 sleeve to allow for more adjustment... up and down.




Off with the old..


Comparison between the old and new


Doesn't look like much..




Installed

 

Couple measurements of the front KYB 48520-47041 OEM replacement Front Gas Charged Strut

Top of strut casing to spring perch.


Casing diameter KYB 48520-47041


Spring perch diameter of KYB 48520-47041


KYB 48520-47041


KYB 48520-47041


Diameter of the spring perch of rear Toyota KYB touring 48530-47041 strut


Casing diameter of of rear Toyota KYB touring 48530-47041 strut


Height of spring perch from bottom of casing on rear Toyota KYB NHW20 touring 48530-47041 strut


Toyota KYB NHW20 touring 48530-47041 strut


New and old

 

Comparing the new Bilstein B8 Sport Shock Absorber Item: 24-069250 and the Toyota KYB NHW20 touring 48530-47041 strut.


Casing diameter is larger on the Bilstein B8 Sport Shock Absorber - so Ground Control supplied me with a new sleeve to fit it.




Installed..


Loving the new ride!!


Now I need new wheels!!

 

They are not as easy to find - a few places still have them.

Truckspring.com

Since I can't direct link - some place in South America that is a river...

SummitRacing.com

From what I've read on other sites - Bilstein Heavy Duty (B6) was designed more for Stock ride height and the Bilstein Sport (B8) were designed for Lowering springs and have a shorter stroke.



In theory, the shorter stroke allows you to lower the car more before slamming into the bumpstops. It is done by using a spacer inside the body itself to limit travel. Both have very similar valving.

 

Thanks!! It's still a work in progress.

Just keep in mind the Bilstein strut casing diameter is larger than even the touring which is larger than base model strut. Check your spring coils to make sure they will fit. If you need any more measurements from the Bilstein, let me know.

 

Thanks! The BMW M3 GC sleeve, imo, fits better than the standard GC sleeve designed for the Matrix and Vibe and definitely allows for more height adjustment both + or - . Since my initial purchase of the kit I have changed the front and rear sleeves and also the rear springs. Front sleeves are chosen after sending GC the dimensions of the front strut - they chose the BMW M3 sleeve. The rear sleeve idk what it's from but after sending them the specs it fit perfectly over the larger Bilstein struts. The rear springs have been changed 3 times... First went with stiffer springs, shorter and stiffer springs and then right before moved to Canada, I chose stiffer springs yet - 6.7kg over what originally came with the kit - 4kg.