The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Carledo wrote: ↑Sat Feb 19, 2022 7:20 pm All Toledos are rare! howmanyleft.com listed less than 150 TOTAL (2 and 4 door, taxed and sorned, they don't distinguish between brake types either as it goes by what the V5 says) Toledos still surviving in the UK, last time I looked.

Drum brakes aren't prized, even by originality freaks, the discs are SO much better! The only other real distinguishing feature of the early cars is the "shortie" bumpers and they ARE sought after, particularly (and perversely) by owners of cars that, by rights, shouldn't have them!

On the rear supension, any Dolomite/Toledo spring or shocker will match to any other model of Dolomite spring or shocker and ALL will physically fit the car.

There are dedicated and different part numbers for Toledo in both springs and shox (quite a number of them, based on year, engine capacity and market sold in) and an even more perplexing number of choices for Dolomites, not all of which are still available.

HOWEVER, to cut to the chase, shockers are much of a muchness, you can fit pretty much any OE style of shocker and it will be fine. I would, however, counsel fitting a matched pair from the same maker, as different makes and sometimes models can have varying spring platform heights! High performance adjustable shox or adjustable spring platform (or both) are also available, listed for Sprint mostly but will fit and work on a Toledo (been there, done that)

Springs are much harder to sort out, mainly due to the total absence of information on spring rates and length over the entire range. Even the generally accepted Sprint figure of 140lbs all round, I have not been able to track down definitive written evidence for (and believe me i've looked) Other models, nit, nada, zilch, zero, nothing! Yes there are loads of of different part numbers, but no info to go with them.

What I HAVE learned from experience, is that the Toledo has the softest rear springs of any Dolomite shaped model and they like it that way! Especially the 2 door cars. Despite changing just about EVERY other bit of drivetrain and suspension on my own highly modified 140bhp 2 litre 2 door car, the rear springs are still the stock, original, 49 year old ones! Why? Because those work best on the car! If you must change, go for a pair from a 76> 1300 Dolomite, that would be the nearest match.

A final and possibly counter-intuitive piece of advice. If you really can't get on with the Tollies roly poly handling, fit the front Antiroll Bar from a higher spec model (they are effectively all the same and the Toledo has all the mount points built in) This will positively transform the handling and is completely reversible should you wish to (prediction, you WON'T!)

Steve

matt of the vivas wrote: ↑Sun Feb 20, 2022 8:38 pm Rear shocks are certainly the same as a Dolomite.
However as far as I know, Toledo's use a smaller diameter spring and thus shock mount at the front, same as a 1500 fwd. You can use a Dolomite shock, but you will need a Dolomite spring and top mount to make it all work.
Matt.