So my car has about 117,000 miles on it, and I still have the factory shocks/struts on it. Probably around next fall I might plan on replacing them with either Tokico's or Koni's. I just wanted to know if things like hydrolocking (I have a AEM CAI) would be more of a risk if I dropped the car about 2" F&R. Also where I live we definitely have some cold and snowy winters where snow can get up to 12". Would lowering the car make it more difficult/dangerous to drive in snowy conditions? I'm just curious about what the dangers/cons are of having lowering springs. I dont have much experience with them, so I just wanted some of you all's opinions. Thanks

 

Yea you are at somewhat more risk of sucking up water but just be careful not to hit huge puddles and you should be fine. As for the snow it will lower the front so it might act like a snow plow when the snow is high and it seems like you get a lot snow. This could cause damage to the bumper if you hit some high snow. Also it will pack in the wheel wells faster since the gap will be smaller. I don't know if it is a lot more dangerous, just take your time while driving in the snow like you would now.

 

yea i figured the snow packing up in the wheel well would probably be a big concern, because I a problem with that a few times this winter. It was a couple times where there was so much snow inside of there that when u got on the highway you could feel the tires rubbing up against it (huge vibration). But thanks though, I guess the advantage of looks just dont really outweigh the disadvantages of the bad stuff that could happen in situation...

 

don't worry about hydrolocking with the intake man, it's really hard to do.

 

I don't think you should give up on lowering the car. Maybe drop it on TRD so it wont be a huge drop but will look a lot better than stock. There are plenty of people who are dropped and drive in the snow, just have to be careful.

 

If you manage to drive through a puddle that's big enough to "hydro-lock" a car, then being a little bit lower is not gonna make a difference at all... Think about ALL the cars out there that are waaay lower than a TC from the factory. If hydro-locking was even an issue, all cars would sit high to begin with. Hydro-locking your car is so rare I can't even believe ppl actually are concerned with it......?

As far as snow, we also have brutal winters here in MA. Again, a car that's a couple inches lower makes NO difference in the snow. Yes snow packs up in the wheel wells, but just kick it out dude.

 

I've never had problems driving my lowered tC in the snow. The only thing is sometimes it turns into a snow plow when the snow is deep haha.

 

ok thanks for the advice guys, I guess I will probably lower it. And yea there has been times when I've driven in basically torrential downpours and my car was fine. I guess I'll just get a bypass valve though to make sure. And thanks for the advice about the snow. I doubt ill get the TRD springs, TRD's stuff is just wayyyy overpriced to me, does anyone have any cheaper alternatives to TRD?

 

^ Progress.... 1.8" drop front/rear, soo a lil bit lower then TRD's.

 

Ok, I think I heard somewhere though that anything below a 1.4" drop kind of hurts handling though...? Is this true?

 

There is a few tests that can be found online, where TC's were given just about every different suspension set-up. The results were a 1.3"-1.4" drop had the best results handling... But that's in general too. If you lower any car more than that with just springs you're gonna hurt suspension performance.

You'll see alot of ppl with S.Tech springs. They're actually terrible for anything other than looking good.

 

Ok thanks yea I dont want to give up too much performance handling wise just for looks...I'm already happy with the car's looks and it's completely stock basically

 

Doooo it. Mines lowered and I've driven through snow fine.

 

yeah Progress would be your best bet sir! they handle very well performance wise and it still gives it a nice look.

 

aight thanks guys