phattyduck
New member
The increase in rear track on the ST205 compared to the ST185/ST165/SV25 comes exclusively from the longer arms. You will need to match your axles to do this swap.CMS-GT4":34mwyahi said:I changed the thread topic so we might include more details in the respect of where this thread is heading. more or less fabrication and lightening of suspension components.
Here is some info from a thread I started on gt4dc about switching to the st205 rear hubs, and arms, which are lighter. At least the lower arm is 1lb lighter. It extends the rear track 20mm each side which reduces the need for a spacer.
From other thread:
I have an entire rear st205 suspension (less the struts) in my possession and I was considering swapping it into my st185. I took weights of the rear lower arms and found that they are ~1lb lighter.
I have read that the arms could be swapped but I measured them and the holes are ~25mm further on the 205 arms than the 185.
So I thought I might swap the entire assembly axles and all.
The only issue I am concerned about is the position of the strut top is in the same location yet I am moving the bottom further out. I am unsure of the strut top distance on the st205 and how it relates to the 185.
Being that the strut top is to remain in the same location and the bottom is moved out nearly an inch will this cause camber issues?
Has anyone does this swap, and can any alignment issues be sorted with rear camber bolts or is the st205 made to compensate for this?
From what I have read the st205 rear track is ~40mm wider than the 185.
Diceman":34mwyahi said:I know of someone who has fitted an entire ST205 rear subframe, hubs & arms on to his ST185.
It does increase the rear track, he also found that one of the ST205 arms did not fit.
IIRC the increase in track is from the hub not the arms. The Driveshafts are I believe the same length. From what I understand the hub inner flange has the same track as teh ST185 but the outer flange/drive flange is 20-25mm further out per side.
If this is correct then it is likely that the strut mounting is in the same place and will not effect the camber/alignment.
Apparently teh reason for one of the ST205 struts being onger is more to do with teh chassis mounting point being in a different location on teh ST205 underside.
This is only what I have read and I do not have any first hand experience but it is also something I have been thinking of doing. The use of teh ST205 rear hubs will also mean teh rear calipers & discs bolt up without teh need for a very small shim/spacer to overcome the difference in drive flange centre bore of 54.1mm on teh ST185 & 55mm on teh ST205.
If you have the hubs - measure them up and please post the info to confirm if I am babling or correct
It also looks like the rear cross frame might be lighter as well for the 205. I wonder if this will mount up as well. It looks smaller than both the 185 and 165 models.
You will gain about 3* of camber until you get some alignment bolts in there. The shop had to put 2 bolts on one side and one on the other to get back to 1* total camber (stock for my Camry Alltrac). I'm not sure what is different on the ST205 struts/chassis to account for this (different top mounting point or different lower mounting points).
I kept my stock hubs for the moment, but the ST205 hubs are essentially the same as far as I can tell. ST205 rear brakes bolt on to earlier hubs, aside from the well known 55mm vs. 54.1mm hub difference.
Also note that the part numbers for the rear subframes are the same across the years (ST205/ST185/ST165/SV25). The mount bushings and other minor parts may have different part numbers (the ST205 and SV25 subframe mount bushings are different but interchangable, for example).
Hope that clears up a few things.
-Charlie