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Hey guys. I'm looking to purchase a 1991 Toyota Soarer GT with just 30k miles. Prior to driving it I would like to re-do the brakes, fluids, etc.
Are 1991 essentially 92-98?
Brakes:
As for the brakes, did I read correctly (searched the forums) that MKIV Supra Non-Turbo rotors will work? If so can I still use my original calipers, or do I need to go with the Supra ones?
Oil & Oil Filter:
Should I stick with dino oil, and Toyota OEM filters, or go synthetic and K&N oil filter? I've read of certain oil filters being quite restrictive for the 1JZ-GTE.
Suspension
I'm looking for a very nice ride, and willing to spend $1-2k. Suggestions out there would be nice. I'm not looking to lower it too much, but enough for the Enkei RPF1's I'd get.
I plan to keep the vehicle stock, other than maybe a front mount? And maybe an aluminum radiator (It gets hot in Miami).
I'm open for suggestions guys.
EDIT:
Super clean wheel fitment. RPF1's.
Front wheel is 19×10.5+22 Enkei RPF1 in Silver and 245/35/19 Toyo T1R
19×10.5+22 Enkei RPF1 in Silver and 275/30/19 Toyo T1R
Tein Type HA one way adjustable coilover
Brakes Ls400 front calipers are the TRD upgrades for the supra, I believe its 1995 stick with oem rotors from a sc300, the rear is the supra TT you would need with oem sc300 rotors are fine
synthetic and K&N oil filter is the way to go
Suspension KW v3 will fit your 2k budget, I own them and they ride amazing lifetime warranty
the 91 are the same as the sc300 but the cluster and engine but those are easy to get here.
^^ Mikef, are you sure of this? The braking system in particular might indeed be the same spec as 92-00 SC400's and 93.5-98 Supra MKIV Non-Turbos but likely no the 92-97 SC300's.
To my knowledge only the 1992-1997 USDM SC300's and JDM Soarer JZZ31 2JZ-GE's (Automatic Only) came with the small brake rotors and calipers front and rear (front is actually *smaller* than the rear in the stock 92-97 SC300 braking systems. Only 1998-2000 SC300's got the same calipers and rotors as the SC400 and Supra MKIV NA.
flexnix, I would venture a guess that you read correctly but I cannot speak from firsthand experience. The Soarer 1JZGTE cars should have the same brakes as the SC400, 98-00 SC300 and Supra MKIV Non-Turbo.
And yes, you can upgrade them as mikef suggests. Highly recommended to upgrade to the 95-00 LS400 calipers or Supra TT calipers up front (TT calipers in rear) but if you want to stay stock you should have a common rotor and caliper type to use in the USA that should be the same as what comes stock on your Soarer.
No opinion on the suspension question at that price range. I'd go with mikef's suggestion above ^^
1991 Soarers would have the most in common with our 1992-1994 SC300's. If you have a 1991 Soarer with a factory R154 5-speed transmission then even your gearbox is the most similar to the MKIII Supra R154 transmission and most internal rebuild parts and upgrade parts would be compatible (1991-1993 Soarers; check with Aaron @ Driftmotion for more on that). 1995, 1996 and 1997 are similar enough but there are small differences. 1998-2000 is when most of the biggest changes occurred.
For engine oil I'd go with Mobil1 synthetic (is it 10W30 for 1JZGTE engines just the same as 2JZ engines?) and the Mobil1 M-102 filter or for a better one the TRD PTR43-00080 oil filter (for TRD Tacomas. It fits just the same). The common factory Toyota oil filter currently made is 90915-YZZG2 but the TRD is better.
Congratulations on your purchase by the way! They're finally legal here! What RI are you going through?
For brakes NA supra pads and rotors work. Read this link tells you everything. http://planetsoarer.com/mediumbrakes/mediumbrak.htm
I did go LS400 BBK, didnt notice to much of a difference in braking, mine required lots of grinding of the caliper/knuckle to fit. I suggest just getting EBC Red Stuff Pads.
For oil, stick with dino and oem filter. I put in synthetic and the car just started to have minor leaks everywhere, I think this was due to the cleaning additives in synthetic cleaning crud of the seals and causing leaks.
For suspension I just have bilstein coilovers and some rep wheels. Here are pictures of how it sits. Ride is stiff.
LS400 BBK, didnt notice much? are you serious? its probably one of the best upgrade can be done, going from a 2 pot in front and 1 pot in rear to 4 pot in front and 2 pot in rear is night and day when you have to stop a heavy high hp cow
LS400 BBK, didnt notice much? are you serious? its probably one of the best upgrade can be done, going from a 2 pot in front and 1 pot in rear to 4 pot in front and 2 pot in rear is night and day when you have to stop a heavy high hp cow
I went from 2 pot fronts to 4 pot fronts. Rear remained the same.
My comparison is, LS400 Brakes with stock pads and rotors vs TT Soarer brakes with EBC Red Stuff Pads.
Well, the Soarer GT is out of the question. Now I'm looking at a Soarer Limited with the V8. Either way I plan to go stainless brake lines, and 4 piston in the front. Going to read this website. Thanks for the link.
I went from 2 pot fronts to 4 pot fronts. Rear remained the same.
My comparison is, LS400 Brakes with stock pads and rotors vs TT Soarer brakes with EBC Red Stuff Pads.
TT Soarer brakes are probably a bit beefier than our USDM wimpy sauce SC300 brakes, stock SC300 brakes are horrible. SC400 has decent brakes though
TT Soarer brakes are probably a bit beefier than our USDM wimpy sauce SC300 brakes, stock SC300 brakes are horrible. SC400 has decent brakes though
This ^^
The Soarer TT (2.5GT) brakes should be the same as USDM 1992-2000 SC400 and 1998-2000 SC300 brakes. Interestingly the Planetsoarer link claims that only UZZ32 V8 Soarers got the same brakes and that lesser grade Soarer V8's still got the smallest brakes-- can't confirm that but personally I'd call that an odd choice on Toyota's part. JDM JZZ31 Soarer 2JZ-GE Automatics probably also got the smallest brakes but I cannot confirm that.
One of the first things I did to my 1993 SC300 was change out the stock front brakes. Absolutely horrible. I could have done a mild upgrade to SC400 calipers and rotors but I just went full Supra TT calipers and rotors. Night and day difference.
I have heard many times that SC400 stock brakes are quite a bit better as a factory setup. By proxy this would extend to the 1JZ-GTE Soarers and all MKIV Supra Non-Turbos.
The Soarer TT (2.5GT) brakes should be the same as USDM 1992-2000 SC400 and 1998-2000 SC300 brakes. Interestingly the Planetsoarer link claims that only UZZ32 V8 Soarers got the same brakes and that lesser grade Soarer V8's still got the smallest brakes-- can't confirm that but personally I'd call that an odd choice on Toyota's part. JDM JZZ31 Soarer 2JZ-GE Automatics probably also got the smallest brakes but I cannot confirm that.
One of the first things I did to my 1993 SC300 was change out the stock front brakes. Absolutely horrible. I could have done a mild upgrade to SC400 calipers and rotors but I just went full Supra TT calipers and rotors. Night and day difference.
I have heard many times that SC400 stock brakes are quite a bit better as a factory setup. By proxy this would extend to the 1JZ-GTE Soarers and all MKIV Supra Non-Turbos.
Yeah, I had drilled slotted rotors, brand new pads and stainless lines in one of my 1992 SC300 5 speeds and they still sucked bad. The SC400 brakes I feel are sufficient for a near stock 1JZ-GTE setup. I also had a swapped 1JZ SC400 and the brakes matched quite well with the power so that would make sense they put them in the 2.5GTt
Brakes are an interesting one. All run 2 pot fronts and 1 pot rears
Lexus
SC400, front 296mm / rear 307mm
SC300, front 275mm / rear 290mm
Toyota
Soarer JZZ30, front 296mm / rear 307mm
Soarer JZZ31, front 275mm / rear 290mm
Soarer UZZ30, front 275mm / rear 290mm
Soarer UZZ31, front 275mm / rear 290mm
Soarer UZZ32, front 296mm / rear 307mm
LS400 / Celsior
UCF20/21, front 315mm 4 pot - direct upgrade for SC / Soarer front hubs, only small alloy piece needs to be ground down to fit around the steering knuckle / hub.
06-11-16, 04:06 PM
1991 Toyota Soarer GT (Questions)
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