Corolla Sound's 97 DX AE101 On-Going Project

Corolla Sound wrote:

Yea I dont think I will be able to get my rear ones off either lol. I wont be able to afford new struts and springs for a while so I might as well wait before I start looking at parts.

Yeah, I'm just helping you build that list of parts you'll need. Nothing worse than getting your car into a hundred pieces, only to find you can't continue because a part is not reusable. Don't be like me. Be prepared!

Corolla Sound wrote:

Well it should all be really simple then because I have no front stabilizer to worry about haha

Huh?! That is standard afaik... And Chris I actually meant the links Those were hard to get disconnected from the strut.
Damn the more technical it gets the more trouble I have finding the right words

Quote :

Yeah, I'm just helping you build that list of parts you'll need. Nothing worse than getting your car into a hundred pieces, only to find you can't continue because a part is not reusable. Don't be like me. Be prepared!

True, I will be prepared when it comes time.

Quote :

Huh?! That is standard afaik... And Chris I actually meant the links Those were hard to get disconnected from the strut.
Damn the more technical it gets the more trouble I have finding the right words

Yes, my car did not come with a front stabilizer bar. Actually, I dont think any of the ae101's over here a front stabilizer bar, at least not stock.

Here are some more pics. I finally put my wheel covers on (scratching the paint on my rims in the process) and took some pics in the cold frosty morning:

Hahahaha I see I have been mistaken... it was the rear bar...

It happens lol

Looks Good David! You need a window tint especially now with the black hubcaps lol.

Sgt_Lyna wrote:

And Chris I actually meant the links Those were hard to get disconnected from the strut.
Damn the more technical it gets the more trouble I have finding the right words

I knew what you were talking about, that's why I said links! No worries.

And only the "best" Corollas over here came with sway bars, the 1.8L DX like mine

Yea, now would be a good time for a window tint not only to match the wheels and lights, but to help tint out all the blinding bright snow that will be coming soon.


Im trying to decide on what to do with my summer rims and tires (the ones I just took off). Should I keep them the way they are? Have them professionally painted (powder coated)? or trade them up for a different set? I still like them but the center caps are all faded and there are stone chips on the rims. maybe I should get them painted? what you guys think?

I actually like your rims! Why not just rock them with no center caps? That's what I'm currently doing after the 2nd time my cap fell off. And if removing the center cap reveals any rust spots, just primer and paint the area black.

As for painting, I say just keep it the way it is. If I could, I would've had mine stripped to the bare alloy. Looks more mature and goes great with all colors. But the alloy on mine had way too many imperfections so I had to paint it.

I like that idea of no center caps. but I will have to do some painting to cover up the rusty spots like you said.

It doesn't take long really. Just light sand, primer, and two base coat. No need for a clear coat. Took me less than 20 minutes. lol

I will be sure to do it myself this time, I took my car somewhere to have my brakes painting and he didn't even take the brakes off to paint them. Over spray everywhere (even on the lug nut threads which is why they were so difficult to remove and put on. Same happened when I had my car painting, He didn't take anything off, just taped it off (with the wrong kind of tape). I still have overspray in my door jams and other places.

I took my subs out today in attempt to preserve my rear shocks for as long as possible and for a 60 lb weight reduction (plus they only work somtimes because of my messed up amp). Thought I would make a quick vid to compare my stereo without two large 12" JL subs in the boot. Its so much more clear. I think I would have a good setup with Apline Type R 3 way speakers. and I need to do some interior panel tightening as I am experience a lot of interior rattle/vibrations. ahhh the work just never ends does it lol

Corolla Sound wrote:

I like that idea of no center caps. but I will have to do some painting to cover up the rusty spots like you said.

I believe I already suggested to use the wheels without the center caps

Oh yea, you did didn't you lol.

More rust pics, it actually doesn't look too bad. I am going to apply some Rust Check Rust Inhibitor Spray (scraping off any loose stuff with a wire brush if needed). There are not many reviews on this stuff or DIY write ups from people that have used it, and many say it just washed away. but thats what I want, my plan is just too slow the areas that are rusting through the winter, then take it to a shop on a lift, remove the exhaust and heat shield, degrease it and do a proper rust restoration in the spring and have it resealed and undercoated. Here is how my rear end looks now (dont worry, im talking about the car)













Then along the stabalizer bar ( I will also be finding out why there is what looks like brake fluid around the brake lines):






Then the heat shield brackets:



Then the actual underbody:




and the rear hubs:



I have searched and am still searching if this stuff is safe if I get any over spray on rubber bushings? Im going to head back out and start brushing off loose rust

what the, I edited those 2 pics that are vertical to be horizontal and they still showed up vertical. good grief!

The pictures all look right to me!

Hmm, I see potential so far and I another friend of mine said he has used it around his rubber bushings and it turned out ok. Heres a couple pics after a quick wire brush, it seems to be rusting only where the old undercoating is falling off...see the factory green paint (that I was scratching off with a wire brush ) So I think my car still has a chance for a long beautiful life, now only if its owner would start making some money and supporting it.

I also missed this while inspecting earlier (the rear heatshield bolt is almost rusted off, but the other 2 bolts are in much better shape (one with no rust at all).


Then after a little bit of wire brushing around the frame rails and surrounding area:



Brrr, its freezing out!!!!

Quote :

The pictures all look right to me!

The first 2 pics of the stabilizer bar look vertical to me even though I edited them and rotated them so they would all be horizontal. but you can still see the pic lol

Corolla Sound wrote:

Quote :

The pictures all look right to me!

The first 2 pics of the stabilizer bar look vertical to me even though I edited them and rotated them so they would all be horizontal. but you can still see the pic lol

Weird, all the sway bar pics are horizontal for me.

Quote :

Weird, all the sway bar pics are horizontal for me.

that is weird..but actually this has happened to me before (long story): when ever I edit a pic with photobucket then save it; it takes me back to the screen just showing the image. If I click view libray (shows all pics) then click on the pic from that screen, then copy the link from that page; the pic will show up as it looks edited. but if I dont go back to the library and just copy the link from the page after I save my edited pic, it will just show up as unedited (well, just for me I guess). That was a long sentence lol.


I finished doing my rough wire brushing to loosen up the rust and applied a generous coat of the Rust Inhibitor. Very drippy stuff but creeps well into seams. I didn't go to crazy with it but I coated all the major spots the best I could.

More pics soon

Just to give an idea of how much rust removal I did (not much, just knocked off loose stuff and any heavy build up):



!!!!! the hole to the right of the gas tank strap is rather soft, I could push it in (just around the hole).





Then it was time to try out this new (new to me) product. I ended up calling customer service from rust check and directly asked if this stuff is safe on rubber bushings. He said it is for over spray, but it is not recommended to directly spray your bushings. I first started with the rear frame rails where the bumper connects:







Thats all the good pics I have for now. I havn't looked at it since got home from work. Im going to do another application tomorrow and check out how this stuff turned out (if its still there?)

bro if the oil doesnt stick then apply dust on that oilent it from driupping and oil will stick and will become a base layer on your undercarrigae.......it will look dirty but would last the winter........

Well, the oil sticks very well, its just such a thin and creeping oil that it drips if you apply to heavy (which I did in some spots). I just checked it this morning (freezing out) and the oil is still there and actually gives it a cleaner look.

Im going to go out to spray some more if I can bare the -10 (-14 with wind chill) weather. Heres how it looks this morning after driving it for about 40-50 km distance.







Still dripping in some areas but it is still adhered and covering the rust. and once im done, ill go for a test drive down my friends old dirt road, that should coat it well with dust lol

I also sprayed my 4 link suspension (even around the bushings) and sprayed anything I missed yesterday. I wiped off any drips or heavy build up around the rubber parts. Even though its just oil and not corrosive, just being cautious.

I also had to wipe off the overspray off my new rims lol



Then in my wheel wells, there is a crack where the undercoating is peeling and looks like rust is starting, so I sprayed that


Then I sprayed a little bit on the inside where it was and is starting to rust again around the wheel wells.

Hopefully this will do as it says and minimize and inhibit the growth of rust