how hard is it to install shocks? I have s techs and im also looking for shocks

 

well the tC comes stock higher wheel gap up front than rear! Anytime you jack the car for any reason you need to let your springs settle again! I had my Hotchkis installed and about 1 month later i painted my calipers, when i took the jacks off it looked like my car was on TRD springs or something! Nothing like it did before, it kinda scared me! But later on in the day they settled.

as for Hotchkis up front with trd shocks, are you saying you want TRD spring in the rear and Hotchkis in front? If you do that then? Well hell i really dont know, ive never heard about that! I figured it wouldnt be good! but good luck with you suspension on that one!

TRD shocks with Hotchkis springs will still give them stress! But not as much as stock shocks! I would go with Koni just becuase they made for a bigger drop and thats what im gonna go with soon! If i dont get coilovers before?
I would think the same as springs, but i dont think you would need a compressor? IMO? im not a suspension guy tho! the best shocks that ive heard are Koni, or the only ones that are out for the tC that ive seen? there good for a TEIN or Hotchkis drop!

 

I dont know how long it will take for the springs to settle, but I know its gonna need more than 400 miles. I just installed my setup a few weeks ago and I noticed the higher front gap, but Im willing to wait it out. It will depend on how you drive, where you drive, and how much you drive. I guess you could put the stock front shocks in for a while which will allow the springs to move more and that will accelerate the settling effect. I suppose you could also take out the spare tire and jack which should help the rear end to sit up a little higher.

As far as changing shocks, it takes the same amount of time it takes to change springs because its the exact same procedure.

 

I only want to go with Hotchkis upfront and trd in year so that I have equal wheel gap all around. The trds drop 1.25 the hotchkis drop 1.7. If I started with more gap up front than rear and I drop it all the same (trd) my result will be more gap up front. If I drop the front more than th rear (hotchkis/trd, f/r) then I should even out the look.

But I will wait and see how it looks.

 

I guess it depends on whether you are more worried about handling or looks. When you start mixing and matching parts you never really know what your results will be. I cant comment on what would happen if you had hotchkis front/TRD rear because I dont know, but if you are going to change the front to hotchkis, you should do the rear at the same time to keep the spring rates balanced. Youre going to have to buy a full kit anyway right?

 

I am more worried about handling but i figured I would ask. I will just go with the whole kit. But I will wait till after winter. Maybe it will settle to my liking during the time being.