Getting an XD within a few weeks, gonna drop it a little. Not familiar with the suspension on them. If I throw on some tanabe lowering springs (probably NF), do I have to change the shocks/struts too? Will the stock struts go bad in combination with tanabe springs, or do they last just fine?

they will be fine

Hrm I don't think Tanabe offers struts for xDs yet. Not sure.

Dumb question, but what would be the benefit of changing the struts?

stiffer struts will improves handling in the areas of responsivness, braking and weight transfer. the major trade off is ride stiffness.

lower springs, depending on the difference in ride height will shorten the life of your struts because the pressure of the struts was designed for the greater travel of the stock springs. with lower springs, there is a chance of blowing out a strut on a hard impact.

lower springs, depending on the difference in ride height will shorten the life of your struts because the pressure of the struts was designed for the greater travel of the stock springs. with lower springs, there is a chance of blowing out a strut on a hard impact.

That's what I was asking about. I am assuming stock struts would last a lot longer with the NF series tanabe springs, but nobody has had any problem yet with the DFs? I guess its too soon to say, sometimes it takes years.

I've read on here, that with the DFs and 18s someone had some minor rubbage at full steering throw