itscurtsk

anyone got the eibach sportlines? i recently got them and i don't know what the clear rubber thing is that is on the front pair of springs. it makes the spring oily and greasy. what do i do with them?

Action

I just installed Road Magnet's 1.5" lowering springs, their linear rates are 175 lb/in front and 220 lb/in rear. They are currently $125 as long as you like "Bright Blue". You can choose from dozens of other powder coated colors for $30 extra.

Harvey

Not sure if anyone touched on this, but I think the Echo and xA have the exact same rates, etc.

I've been wondering what the drop might be with the Eibach Pro-Kit since the weight of the Echo is less than the xA. Instead of 1.5/1.6", maybe more like 1.3-ish?

I'm also not sure on something. Does the xA have a sway bar in the back from the factory or no?

itscurtsk

no

Harvey

Okay, I just remember seeing one that looked OE, then.

SatsumaxA

found out the VW enthusists have been dropping their cars/vans on stock shocks/springs by using "drop plates". They can also add 1/2 inch spacing and camber with same plates.. for around $140..here is VW microbus on plates. the front is done by "flipping" the spindles but the rears are simple.
search for images of "drop plates" to get the idea. would put some on the xA if possible just to avoid the harsh ride from airbags.

scionxa_2006

Would tein s-techs for a XB work on a XA?


Tein has differnt part numbers for each vehicle and the drop is only 1.5 F&R on the XB. Would it be a lower drop on a XA?

Harvey

Probably not, at least if you're implying xB springs on an xA would be lower than xA springs on an xA. The xB is a heavier car with different OE spring rates than the Echo and xA (they share the suspension). Some xB's lower themselves by simply throwing on the softer Echo/xA spring. An xA with xB lowering springs would possibly be lower than a stock xA, but not as low as the xB would be with the same set.

Harvey

BTW, this is why I asked about OE xA rear sways. This car is an eco-modder/hypermiler not concerned with handling/speed, but the bar is there.

bB2NER

Yep, springs for xB and xA are the same and will work on each other.

Harvey

Could we think about expanding the suspension to more than springs? Sway-bars and bracing (a la Tanabe Sustec) should also be covered, and compatibility with the Echo as a place to go for some of us. The Echo board here and at Toyota Nation don't really cover it the way you guys have here.


I bring up compatibility because I bought an xA Hotchkis rear sway, and it doesn't fit (the bolts are farther apart on the swaybar than where it would mount to the torsion beam). The rear Sustec rear brace is the same piece between xA and Echo-- it's on their site, showing the part numbers are identical. Having a good resource to show what works, what doesn't, and why would be nice for all of us, I think.

Harvey

Figured that while I'm here, going through the hassle of password retrieval, I might as well be sure to make it clear: the Echo does not have this loaded beam of the xA and xB which do have an integrated swaybar from the factory. Basically, if you think your Scion was bad, the Echo was worse. The Canadian Echo RS also didn't have this beam, but did have basically the same seats as the xA (with the addition of a pocket in the back of the seats along with the grocery hook). Oddly enough, the Echo sedans sold in Australia and similar markets have been reported as having this stiffer, loaded rear beam as well... I guess Toyota really didn't trust North American drivers for lift-off oversteer, yet they sold the tC and Celica which were prone to it... not the mention the xA shared the same short wheelbase of the Echo, and reportedly identical spring rates (albeit with 15x5.5" steel wheels and slightly wider tires), so more or less identical to the laymen. Oddly enough, the 2006/facelifted xA's had a slower steering rack than the earlier xA's, and it is felt back to back (drove a 2006 xA automatic for work to a transporter's house, and then took my girlfriends stock 2003 Echo automatic back home, and yeah... different/less sharp).