uncompiled

The guinea pig is back. There hasn't been a lot of info about these, but I decided to bite the bullet and get them anyways.

If anyone is thinking about an alternative to coilovers because you don't need the adjustability... get these. The drop is on par with the Goldlines or Tanabe DF210, but it also includes shorter shocks.

The ride is slightly stiffer, but the car has less body roll and when you're pushing through a corner or a sharp on-ramp, the car feels a lot more planted. It's not as jittery feeling as the suspension on a Mini Cooper or an EVO, so you don't have to worry about your fillings flying out on the highway.

If you're looking to race, I would still probably recommend the JIC Magic FLA-T2s, but these are great for the daily driver who wants a little added performance and an affordable way to get that dropped look.

So... there's my write up. I'm sure you just wanted the pics anyways.

This is stock:


This is lowered:

itzjere

Very nice. Did you have any installation issues? I like the sunroof too! Where'd you get that done?

uncompiled

On the front struts, the spring was pretty difficult to compress over the them, so you need someone else to help you with that. That was the only issue. It was a much easier install than I had anticipated.

My sunroof was done a local shop in Frederick, MD. Pretty quick (a little more than a day) and the install was very clean.

itzjere

Oh, I thought it would have been a complete suspension setup. It'd already be assembled and you'd just pop it in. Compressing them can be a PITA, I had some trouble when putting in my H&R Race Springs, but I got them on with a little effort. Could have borrowed a spring compressor from Autozone, but was too lazy. Setup looks clean. I'm sure your springs will settle a little more after a week or so.

How much did the sunroof run you if you don't mind me asking? Is it a glass top?

LowProMofo

What drop is that? How many inches did it come down?

itzjere

The cup kits are 2.2F and 1.8R

Munch

Very nice drop and it will settle a bit more in about a week

uncompiled

It only included the struts and springs.... you still have to take off the factory dust boot, mounts, etc. and put them on the new struts. They make you work for it!

eXciteBox

oh man AWESOME. i was looking at the cup kit for when i get my xB in a month or so. i thought i was gonna be the first . now i know for sure im getting 'em!

KevinxB

mynameisphunk

love it love it love it love it love it! i can't wait, the day i saw that H&R released a cup kit for the xB, i knew it was only a matter of time before i bought it, but i'm so happy to see pics and see that it's exactly the drop i want.

wooky1976

1. Where and how much did you buy your cup kit.

2. The stock xB suspension setup is kind of bouncy does the cup kit make it less bouncy or is it still kind of bouncy, but stiffer / quicker bounce or does the shocks that come with the kit countrol the rate of bounce.

T_Dot

thanks for the info

unlmtdndeavor

good job on the write up and thanks for being the guinnea pig. hope that that kit works out for you

uncompiled

1. I bought it at the TireRack.

2. What do you mean bouncy? The stock xB suspension setup was kind of soft and compliant, in my opinion. The xB was never Lexus-like in it's cushiness, and while it handled decently, I never thought of it as sporty or especially responsive. It might have been bouncy over bumpy surfaces, but the suspension didn't respond as quickly as it does now. It's not the same kind of stiffness that you feel when you're slammed on coilovers though. It's "sporty", but it's not over-the-top stiff. If you have driven an EVO8... that's what I'm talking about when I mean over-the-top stiff.

The H&R's are quite a bit stiffer than stock... once you've gotten used to the stock xB suspension, you can definately feel a difference in the handling characteristics. For decent roads, you won't notice a difference in bounciness, but if your roads are bad, i.e., driving through DC, it can be... fun. I think it's more bouncy. You won't lose a filling, but you'll definately get a nice vibrating massage.

Cockpit_XB

nice looking drop.

wooky1976

I upgraded just springs on my previous car and it was bizzouncing. I found out that the spring rate was too high for the stock springs to dampen. So what I did was to get a matched NISMO springs and shocks kit and it was stiff but not bouncy. So when I say bouncy, i'm saying that the factory shocks seems underdampened for the factory spring rate to produce a more controlled suspension travel.

uncompiled

No, it doesn't bounce like that.

hotbox05

if they dropped lower theyd definately be an alternative for me.

hotbox05

do they sell the shocks seperate? if so where?