Spring Into Action

1. Before the installation,...        read full caption 1. Before the installation, Hotchkis measured the height of the car as well as the tire angle to determine how the camber should be adjusted after the installation of the camber links. This Celica already had a set of springs that dropped the car pretty decently, but the camber angle was tilted inward, causing negative tire wear on the inner portion of the tires. Hotchkis determined that with its spring and camber link combo, it could solve this problem and give the desired ride height without sacrificing optimal tire-to-ground contact.

2. With base measurements...        read full caption 2. With base measurements noted, we got to work. First, the car was raised on a lift. You may not have such a luxury, so support the front of the car on jackstands and remove the front wheels. Using 10mm and 13mm socket wrenches, remove the bolts that hold your brake lines. Remove the stock end link using both a 14mm wrench and a 5mm Allen wrench, then remove the bottom strut bolts.

3. Open the hood, and remove...        read full caption 3. Open the hood, and remove the three nuts on top of the shock tower. This will allow you to remove the strut so you can replace the springs.

4. To remove the spring from...        read full caption 4. To remove the spring from the strut assembly, you should use a spring compressor. There are alternative methods, but this one is the safest. If you aren’t confident in your abilities, be sure to take the assembly to a professional.

5. While you’re reassembling...        read full caption 5. While you’re reassembling the strut assembly, use the new bumpstops that Hotchkis provides. They’re made of polyurethane and will absorb more road vibration than stock bumpstocks without giving too harsh of a ride. Reinstall the strut assembly in the reverse order of removal, and get ready to work on the rear suspension.

6. The trickiest part about...        read full caption 6. The trickiest part about working on the rear suspension of a Celica is trying to get to it. This requires the removal of the trunk interior, and that can be a pain. Once you’re done with that, raise the rear of the car and support it on jackstands, then remove the wheels. Remove the bottom nut from the end link on both the driver and passenger side using a 14mm wrench and a 5mm Allen wrench.

7. Use a 17mm socket and...        read full caption 7. Use a 17mm socket and wrench to remove the bolt and nut that will allow you to detach the lower control arm from the spindle. Pull the spindle toward you so you can detach the arm. Remove the bottom strut bolt with a 19mm socket.

8. Remove the three top nuts...        read full caption 8. Remove the three top nuts on top of the struts with a 17mm socket, and remove the strut assembly from the car. Again, you’re going to need a spring compressor to remove the spring from the strut. Don’t forget to use the new bumpstops when reinstalling the strut assembly; installation will be the reverse order of removal. It’s also important to remember to make sure the upper spring perch seats properly when the vehicle is lowered to the ground.

1. Installing the Hotchkis...        read full caption 1. Installing the Hotchkis camber links will require little effort if you’re already putting the lowering springs on. If you’re starting from scratch, read back to steps 6 and 7 for instructions on how to get to the control arm. Then use a 17mm socket (with an extension) and a 19mm wrench to unbolt and remove the upper camber link bolt. Afterward, remove the arm.

2. Grease the sides of the...        read full caption 2. Grease the sides of the Hotchkis arms with the supplied lube. The arms are pre-set at stock length. Adjust them out for positive camber, in for negative camber.

3. Install the Hotchkis arm,...        read full caption 3. Install the Hotchkis arm, and go in the reverse order of removal to put everything back into place.

4. To conclude the installation,...        read full caption 4. To conclude the installation, we measured the car height again. The car sits a hair higher, but owner Billvick Perez was extremely enthused with the newfound comfort, as the car no longer bottoms out on bumps and dips the way it did with the previous springs. The rear camber was also positively adjusted to save tire life and give Billvick added traction. 0

I f you ever get the chance to meet John Hotchkis, do it. The man knows his stuff when it comes to suspension tuning and high-performance engines. But for domestics only? Well, yeah—that’s his main business. But we don’t blame the guy for wanting to get into imports.

He’s learned that they’re just as fun, maybe even more fun. However, he’s not just another jump-on-the-Honda-bandwagon kind of person. Nope, his love leans toward Toyota’s latest Celica. John quickly learned that success wasn’t going to happen overnight, but we think he’s reached a point where he can finally say, “I’ve got something.” The first parts available for the Celica in the Hotchkis catalog are a set of lowering springs and adjustable lower control arms. The springs are well designed and lower the car conservatively (approximately 1.5–1.75 inches), yet they maintain a stiff ride without sacrificing comfort. The lower control arms are fully adjustable and allow you to set the camber angle at any desired setting. That way, you can have a variety of settings that will give you maximum performance for the street or track. Best of all, these parts are very affordable.

This is only the beginning for Hotchkis. Soon to come for the Celica will be a full coilover suspension, strut tower bars, sway bars, and big-brake kits. If you own a Celica, make sure you give these guys a call.