CM5A GSR suspension

[Isla Roberts]

I've recently purchased a 96 CM5A Lancer GSR, unfortunately for my use, it has superlows on it and isn't road legal. In an attempt to find replacement springs, and a front left strut as it's gone, I've been bombarded with an influx of information regarding interchangeable parts between GSRs, Mirages, Liberos and Evos. Not all of which seem to be as compatible. Just when I find some information of what I should be looking for, I get told it's incorrect.

So...

WHAT exactly in terms of a full set of springs and FRONT struts can be put on the CM5A GSR from other Mitsi models? Please only post replies if you're 100% sure, that's what I'm here for.

Thanks very much.

 

[evo-gsr]

What you want are setups from similar shaped CE lancer.
Libero, earlier Evo or Mirage are no good, the CE Mirage is a lighter car so the strut/spring rates will be incorrect.
You should be looking into if the Evo 4 5 or 6 suspension is a direct swap over. If not, something specific for your actual model

 

[Isla Roberts]

What you want are setups from similar shaped CE lancer.
Libero, earlier Evo or Mirage are no good, the CE Mirage is a lighter car so the strut/spring rates will be incorrect.
You should be looking into if the Evo 4 5 or 6 suspension is a direct swap over. If not, something specific for your actual model

That's a good start for me. But here's an image of the front strut. It's attached to the swaybar. Do Evo 4, 5, and 6's have struts that are the same set up?

 

[evo-gsr]

No they dont. But it would be piss easy to swap over to evo 4 lower control arms at the same time...then you just bolt the sway bar to the brackets on the LCA.
Or..you could weld the bracket to your existing LCA and then bolt your sway bar to that, might be easier option.

 

[evo-gsr]

This shows the setup I refer to above..and the parts involved.

 

[khubner1]

You could use evo 1-3 struts but ypoou would need to take the strut tops from your car and put them on the replacements as the evo 1-3 has a 2 bolt top vs the ce 3 bolt

 

[evo-gsr]

It would handle like shit doing it that way due to weight differences of the 2 cars.

 

[Ian91]

It would handle like shit doing it that way due to weight differences of the 2 cars.

Is it a big difference between the two? If have thought it would be close, never compared them though.

 

[evo-gsr]

From reading other topics on the same topic Im lead to believe that there is a difference.

 

[evo-gsr]

How big a difference is another question especially if its just for the run of the mill street driven car..track would be a different story altogether.

 

[Isla Roberts]

What you want are setups from similar shaped CE lancer.
Libero, earlier Evo or Mirage are no good, the CE Mirage is a lighter car so the strut/spring rates will be incorrect.
You should be looking into if the Evo 4 5 or 6 suspension is a direct swap over. If not, something specific for your actual model

Thanks for all the feedback guys. Calling around Mitsi specialist parts places, apparently you can use Evo 1-3 struts, but the springs are different.. it's like the CM5A suspension set up is a combination of a few different things! Nothing from the lancer, mirage, evo or libero line shares the exact same suspension set up as the CM5A. Making it difficult to source parts.. Bit of an oddball.. for suspension anyway.

Speaking of which, when you say a CE Lancer, I presume that is an Australian term? In NZ here there doesn't seem to be such a thing. CE seems to refer to 96-2000 lancers, is that correct? If so, the thing needs some new tail lights, I've found a new listings for CE tail lights, if it's from 96, I presume it would fit the CM5A? It has extra tail/break lights on the boot, but I believe they're wired separately.

 

[evo-gsr]

Which is why I suggested upgrading to the 4-6 Evo gear to begin with.
Yes CE refers to 96-2000 shaped lancer...as for the lights surely thats something you can work out by comparing what you have, to what your looking to buy?