First time lowerering my car.

FLEXFIT · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 6

I am a little nervous about lowering my car because I have been in some that have just rode awful after lowering. I like a firm ride amyway but just don't want it to be unbarible.
thanks

burstaneurysm · Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Posts: 6293 Location: Forest Park, IL

That's largely dependent on a few things.
What springs?
Upgraded shocks?
Wheel size?

I have DF210s on stock shocks with 15" wheels. The ride is great.

NorCal76 · Joined: 08 Mar 2007 Posts: 51 Location: Surprise, AZ

I'm no expert but I'll give my two-cents worth anyway. I have Progress springs on stock shocks and 15" wheels as well. The ride is a bit firmer than stock--which I like too--but it is anything but unbearable.

FLEXFIT · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 6

I have a 04 xa with 17 inch wheels and nitto neogen tires.
looking at trd shocks and struts, and looking at trd springs or tein s type

greybox · Joined: 17 Jun 2007 Posts: 680 Location: lake oswego

My springs actually ride better-Vogtlands are progressive and drop it about 40mm-a progressive spring starts soft and gets 'progressively' firmer so the car handles better the harder you push it without botooming out.

Get a brand name and get their soft-sport style rate

bB2NER · Joined: 31 May 2004 Posts: 11051 Location: God help us now

FLEXFIT wrote: I am a little nervous about lowering my car because I have been in some that have just rode awful after lowering. I like a firm ride anyway but just don't want it to be unbearable.
thanks Lowering for the first time can always be a bit unnerving but you came to the right place. First you must decide how low you want to go. You have to consider the roads you will be driving on in your area. The height of possible speedbumps must also be taken into consideration.
Are you happy with your current ride quality or do you feel there is room for improvement? If you are happy with the ride now most springs will just lower the ride height and stiffen up what you have. If it's harsh now it may only get worse.
If you seek a lower stance and improved (softer) quality you may want to upgrade the struts/shocks while you are at it.
You have a couple options here deciding how much you want to spend. First and most expensive would be Koni adjustable units. You can dial in all the stiffness you want real easy. If you want a real comfortable ride, my suggestion would be to go with the less expensive upgrade of Monroe struts and shocks along with name brand springs for a lower ride but a softer more comfortable one.
New Konis will run like 400 bucks compared to a set of Monroes which would be about half that.
Def. stick with a name brand spring and you won't go wrong. Keep in mind that after a few months they will settle a bit more and increase the drop.
My set up is Monroes on all 4 corners and Tein H Tech springs. This has transformed my ride to something closer to how it should have been when new. I found the stock stuff to be way too stiff and not absorb larger bumps and transfer that directly to the passengers. Think long and hard on what you want cause it's cheaper to get it right the first time. My first set of springs were Hotchkis and they ended up too low after a year or so. Plus, Monroes were not available for the xA/xB back then so I had to suffer with the stock parts till much later.

FLEXFIT · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 6

thanks for the help. I am leaning towards to TRD springs with TRD shocks and struts. Going with factory aftermarket stuff should be engineered to work best for everyday use. at least i should hope so.
Does anybody have any experience the that setup?

bB2NER · Joined: 31 May 2004 Posts: 11051 Location: God help us now

I've heard good and bad about them. Depends on who you talk to I guess??? TRD springs are abpout the same drop as mine so you should be at a nice mellow drop.

burstaneurysm · Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Posts: 6293 Location: Forest Park, IL

I've heard that the TRD springs ride hella rough.
The shocks and struts are nice though.

vanlambert · Joined: 22 Feb 2008 Posts: 16 Location: Baltimore Maryland

i have TRD springs on stock shocks rides some what ruff but not too much .im convinced a spring is only going to do so much for the comfort of the ride the shocks is what will make or break it . i suggest TRD shocks thats my next supension upgrade . alot of people complain about the monroe shocks

greybox · Joined: 17 Jun 2007 Posts: 680 Location: lake oswego

I've heard good things about the TRD shocks/struts but same as above-the springs are a bit rough

FLEXFIT · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 6

the TRD stuff is also very appealing because i work in the service department at a chevy dealer and we have an account with the toyota
dealer accost the street so I can get the TRD stuff for pretty cheap.

bB2NER · Joined: 31 May 2004 Posts: 11051 Location: God help us now

vanlambert wrote: alot of people complain about the monroe shocks ?!?!?! :eyebrow: Who are these "alot" of people??? Most people love the comfort that the Monroes supply.
I've seen like 2 people complain and one of them got defective struts.
You really need to research more. I realize you are a NOOB so I'll let it slide this time. :wink:

vanlambert · Joined: 22 Feb 2008 Posts: 16 Location: Baltimore Maryland

bB2NER wrote: vanlambert wrote: alot of people complain about the monroe shocks ?!?!?! :eyebrow: Who are these "alot" of people??? Most people love the comfort that the Monroes supply.
I've seen like 2 people complain and one of them got defective struts.
You really need to research more. I realize you are a NOOB so I'll let it slide this time. :wink: Im not just talking for scion applications I mean in general. I might be new to scion but not new to toyota and on most toyota appications KYB are recomended over monroe or toyota would not use them, and most of the people I know outside of this forum with toyota cars and trucks say monroe are TURDS or they are no better than the KYB that came on the car. And toyota recomends TRD struts with the TRD springs ,because of the way the struts are valved to work with those springs . S I would be willing to bet that TRD struts would be good on most lowering springs.

Sciond · Posted: 7/4/08 8:52AM Post subject:

Monroe's work just fine in our cars.....But the best upgrade is the Konis and I have had both....for just a spring drop go tenabe's

ihatemyxa · Posted: 7/4/08 10:41AM Post subject:

tanabes seem to be the me too spring. you got tanabes? me too!

so why not go with whats known to work well. shocks will have to be replaced some day, so just remember that before you get distraught over some blowing up

bB2NER · Joined: 31 May 2004 Posts: 11051 Location: God help us now

The stock struts/shocks were set up way to stiff for such lightweight vehicles. Not sure if the replacements will be that stiff or not. From what I've seen they were not allowing any upward movement when going over bumps. I was so happy that after several emails to Monroe that they brought a product to market the actually serves our needs.
Next time I need replacements I'll save up for Konis tho cause I'd love to have the ability to make them hard for the occasional autocross event.

FLEXFIT · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 6

has anybody had any problems with setting the alignment after lowering?

bB2NER · Joined: 31 May 2004 Posts: 11051 Location: God help us now

^^^Mine is still good after several spring and strut changes.

Sciond · Posted: 7/5/08 6:14AM Post subject:

after I changed springs and shocka bout 3 times or so I checked it every time and it was dead on...but still check it