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New Owner - Need advice on parts/problems

PostPosted: Mon Sep 30, 2019 12:07
by Mark Padgett
Just picked up a 1993 Cappuccino and need some advice. The rear shocks are leaking and possibly the rear differential as well. Can you recommend a reputable car parts supplier? I'm sure there are zero in the USA so whatever I buy, it will have to be shipped to North Carolina. I see shops in Japan but would like to hear your experience with them. The timing belt was done 5 years and 500 miles ago so that will need doing as well. And the stock exhaust is looking rusty and wet at the flange in the middle of the car.

Drove it six hours on the highway to bring it home and the car did great. I test drove two of them and this one had a ton more power (and a strut brace, and shiny new paint). There is a turbo timer under the dash and evidence of a rear wing that was welded to the rear decklid (now gone). The PO added additional ground wires that run all over the engine bay from the battery post - any idea why?

Re: New Owner - Need advice on parts/problems

PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2019 23:27
by Ian Linden
I believe the Japanese parts supplier best known is Amayama. You can get the Part Nos from the Parts Catalogs on the site. As yours is a JDM Cappo, check the Nos. against the JDM book, although most parts are common with the "European" Cappo in the English book.

You can probably get aftermarket shocks much cheaper in the US.

I expect the extra ground wires are to cure a problem caused by a bad ground, although some people do it as a precaution. I've even heard of it as a performace enhancement, but I don't buy that one :wink:

Re: New Owner - Need advice on parts/problems

PostPosted: Wed Oct 02, 2019 11:33
by Mark Padgett
Thanks, Ian. I keep running in to a problem with shipping. A vendor in California stated air-shipping shocks is no longer allowed, as they're considered hazardous. KYB America doesn't carry them and sent me to KYB Europe's web site. They listed the Cappuccino, but 'no articles found' in the catalog so I assume that is a dead end. I see them in the KYB Japan site but I don't see how I can buy them.

Re: New Owner - Need advice on parts/problems

PostPosted: Thu Oct 03, 2019 12:35
by Ian Linden
The Amayama site allowed me to put 2off 41801-80F00 in the cart, and, with shipping to the US, it comes to $592.90. Not cheap, but they are genuine Suzuki parts, and a lot cheaper than I could get them in UK. I hope that helps.

Re: New Owner - Need advice on parts/problems

PostPosted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 19:30
by Ian Linden
Just following up on KYB parts, I have recently discovered that Partsouq in Dubai is a KYB stockist. Their prices for Toyota parts are outstandingly low, and carriage is excellent (DHL), so you could give them a try.

Re: New Owner - Need advice on parts/problems

PostPosted: Sun Mar 15, 2020 15:20
by Mark Padgett
I was finally able to get a set of KYB shocks from a supplier in Japan. Swapping them was not easy as my spring compressor wasn't made for springs that short! But I finally got it all sorted. The ride is pretty harsh for such a little car. My Bridgestone Sneakers are probably turning to stone they're so old. So, wheels and tires are next.

Re: New Owner - Need advice on parts/problems

PostPosted: Sun Mar 15, 2020 18:22
by Ian Linden
I've heard it said that shocks soften with age, but I suppose it depends how much you drive it.