Dun, dun, dunnn....

 

make sure to snap some before and after pics

 

is that your new bowflex kit?

 

Lolz

 

It sure felt like it after that marathon install. Damn I'm sore & tired

 

So I finally got around to buying & installing my suspension upgrade this past weekend, and all I can say is.. Why the hell didn't I do this since the beginning?? . Wow, what a dramatic difference in looks & handling. There were other problems I've had with the Xb2(gearbox ) but by far, the rear fender gap & the horrid body roll were my # 1 concerns. I've been researching suspension upgrades for the Xb2 for about 6 months & went back & forth for the setup I wanted. Finally, last week I pulled the trigger & bought all my parts & installed them myself(first time doing anything like this ). I have to say doing your install is hard & tedious for a noob, but it is damn rewarding in the end knowing you accomplished something most people are afraid to do & that you didn't have to pay somebody to do a half **** job to do it for you. So here is my setup.

1. Tein h-tech
2. Hotchkis sway bar kit
3. Tanabe strut bar

Install took about, brace for it.... 6 hrs. This mostly attributes to me doing this for the first time/by myself, but also because most of the big bolts feels like they were welded on. I would suggest anyone to have a very powerful impact wrench, and if that fails, witch it will on the knuckle bolts, have a wrench & breaker bar handy. Cowl cover removal made my life a lot easier so I recommend it.

After about a day of driving 50/50 freeway/city, I must say I enjoy driving this car 10 fold. The handling is the first thing I noticed. I can actually make a sharp turn w/o bracing myself like I did before the swaybar/ strut bar. It keeps the car soo level during turns, and I would say about 95% of the old body roll is gone . Unfortunately the other noticeable difference is the mild rubbing I get in the front when I go over medium bumps( I have 20"s). It is not horrid, but if it does I just might roll my fenders. But the springs ride beautifully, way better than the stock springs, stiffer during the corners & smooth over the straights, a perfect combo due to the progressive spring rate.

I would like to thank everyone on SL that has done diy's and reviews on products for the Xb2's because I wouldn't have had the knowledge & confidence to do all this. Now some pics.





Don't mind the filthfy engine bay


Before




After




Front( does rub a little over medium sized bumps)


Rear(I really hope it it settles down a bit more)


I will be posting the height specs at the Tein h-tech thread in about 300 miles & yes I will do the alignment then.

 

nice!!!

 

Looks awesome! I wish I could afford some new shocks/struts and that sway kit. Hopefully next year

 

Thnx 4 the comment. I just save $100 per check for for six months & bought the whole lot & installed it myself, saved me a few $$ there. Good luck!

 

i love the stance..i really wanna get my H techs but money is so low that i can't. i have a 5axis kit and 19s and think the H techs will be perfect.

 

Really nice OP! The only thing I would have done different would have been upgraded shocks/struts to compliment all your suspension mods.

 

Thnx for everyone for all the positive feedback I am very happy w/ the springs soo far, but my only complaint is that the front has settled a little bit more than expected & I am rubbing on bumps (I for sure am gonna get a few "I told you so's" but I'm still happy w/ the drop, just annoying sometimes).
I will try rolling the fenders within the next 2 weeks to see if that helps. If not, I am gonna sell these & swap them out for some coilovers. This seems to be the most economical way to go about it since, If I get different rims later & wanna go lower, I have that choice, plus the shocks were gonna have to be replaced regardless. So start saving up peeps if u wanna buy these sub 250 mile old springs in case I go coilovers, most likely a silent auction, but we'll see if I roll the fenders(wich I've never done, & kinda dont want to do, especially if it involves cutting the inner wheel well plastic.)

 

I remember u told me u wanted these, & w/ the sound of your setup, it seems totally doable w/ 19's. The rear drop is just perfect IMO, no rubbing & it looks kick ___.

 

Did you cut your bump stops any other modifications out of the norm?

What's the offset on your wheels?

 

Did you follow the Hotchkis directions and tighten the lower control arm bolts while at ride height? I had no idea how to tighten them since you can't really get to them with the car on the ground. Unless the wheels aren't supposed to be on, in which case I don't see why it would make a difference what level it was.

EDIT: I just realized that's what ramps are for.

 

yea, i finally got greenbacks, and they are on backorder, but as soon as they're on my doorstep they are going on!

 

wat size r your wheels and offset... i'm gonna get 19's n wanted to see if these springs would be okay...

 

i have the Konig 19 inchers...the box was bagged..so fitment will be no issue.
http://shopping.netsuite.com/s.nl/c....t.A/id.7839/.f

 

I must be blind or something, but what size are your rims? 18s or 19s?

 

20"s ....the way they look