I did a mild drop job on my pickup. It looked great but the ride suffered. I also kept bottoming out.

So I'm debating whether to do it to the Box. It would definately look cooler, and it would lower the center of gravity, but....

If I did it, I think I'll get the TRD struts and shocks. Are they stiffer to compensate for less suspension travel, or what?

 

nope

 

Dropping the box is almost a need...most springs stiffen the ride so it isn't so bouncy. So really I dont think you will be unhappy with a mild drop. Really I don't think I have ever heard of a xB bottoming out...maybe if they have coil overs but I doubt it.

 

I was wondering about this too. I live in pittsburgh (pothole city) and the though of being any lower scares me.

Does anyone have deal with lots of pot holes and an even lower box (it is pretty low to begin with)

 

Hmmm??? This is interesting...I always thought that lowering the box made the ride a little bit more choppy than it already is especially if you have aftermarket rims and lo-pro tires...

I was thinking about the 2" Gold Line Springs drop myself, but I have a lot of driving to and from the bay area now so if the ride will suffer, I don't think I'm going to do it...

If anyone who has gone from stock suspension to a drop with aftermarket rims and tires could post some info here that would be cool :D

Oh and sorry if I hijacked the thread...This is a great topic, and I was wondering about this subject myself

Thanks!!!

DAN

 

Don't worry about ground clearance, the wheelbase is short and it's FWD. Ride quality changes, but the slightly rougher feel is worth it for the improved looks/handling, IMO. With drop springs, if you change your mind, put the stocks back in, and someone here will buy your springs .

 

any thoughts on snow??

I am moving in a few weeks to Denver, and this will be my first winter to endure anything more than 50 degree temps that we have lived through my whole life here in Louisiana... so my fear will be snow... worst case is that there will be slight snow cover in parking lots and I am really not sure what to expect...

I would like to lower it, the TRD springs would suit me just fine... (my box is one week old today... )

 

I don't regret dropping my xB but the next time I buy tires, I'll be buying them with more rubber. With 215/35's I can feel every little crack in the road.

 

we did a spy spring set up which drops the car 2 inches........if i had a chance, I would go lower. The ride is sooo much better then stock. Here's a pic of the ride.

 

Wow that's a sweet pic

 

Nice Pic

 

thanks guys. Thats the pic we shot in the studio for the latest issue of super street.

 

thats totally gonna be in my bathroom collection when that issue comes out!!

 

Gee, thanks for knocking the thread off track, longoscion.

 

The ride is determined by spring-rate and the shocks - you could Lower the thing until it was an inch off the ground and if the spring rate were the same as stock it would have very nearly (Suspension geometry would effect the ride at extreme angles I suppose) the same ride -until it bottomed out.

Stiffer springs are good for handling because they help limit body roll. Imagine a car with no suspension at all - there would be no body roll until it simply flipped over. Stiffer springs will certainly not help your ride though so decide on spring rate for the right reasons: Think the box rides too rough already? You better not get stiffer springs. Want better cornering? Maybe a set of sport springs (Higher spring rate than stock) are what your after. Want better cornering and a smoother ride? Get softer springs and some big swaybars.

Swaybars are like having a higher spring rate as far as roll is concerned but allow the suspension to work normally under most circumstances. Imagine a car with infinitely stiff sway bars. Put weight on one wheel and the wheel it is linked to has to go up as well, but, its spring is working to keep the wheel down as well. A sway bar allows the opposite spring to help with the load in tandem. A sway bar that can flex more allows the individual wheel to work over a bump that only it goes over while a stiffer bar will make that same bump seem a bigger because the other wheels spring can do more. Bumps that go under both tires evenly will not feel any different with or without a sway bar.

Obviously shock absorbers come into play here but as far as I know all the shocks available for these cars are linear and so lowering the vehicle does not effect how they react to the forces imposed on them. Keep in mind that higher spring rates will ruin shock absorbers not intended (Like the factory shocks) for the loads that a stiffer spring can apply

The moral of the story? Please oh please, aftermarket, make us some large lightweight swaybars!

 

its already out.

back on topic...............I first went w/ Spy springs. It made the ride alot more comfortable than the harsh stock springs. Yes, I felt the stock springs were to harsh for commuting. It just jusitfied swapping out the springs and droping the box.

Now I'm even lower w/ TEIN coilovers.

 

So I guess this is my real question:

What combo or springs and struts/shocks will lower it 1 to 1.5" while keeping the ride pretty much like it is? I'm assuming progressive rate springs, but which ones? Does the setup TRD offers accomplish that? If not, who?

 

I haven't lowered my xB. I still have to be careful not to scrape things.

Despite my care, I would be _really_ unhappy right now if I had lowered my xB. Pulling into a parking space today I just kissed the top of the curb with the bottom of the front skirt. No visible damage, but if I had been 1/2 inch lower it would have been crying time!

George

 

Hey V-man,

u gotta get me a good resolution pix of that ... so i can added to my wallpaper collection. that is an awesome photo!!! i notice the SE logo on the front bumper...very nice touch.

as for lowering the xB... it's a definite must. Not just for looks...but for ride as well. I've had Goldlines (2" drop) on mine... with 17" rims. The ride does not suffer...rather it feels smoother on the road and the clearance is awesome...

 

I did the TRD spring/struts convertion which did lower the XB by 1 inch....(it may not seem much but my neighbor came out and ask me right away if I had it lowered... ) anyway. I put the TRD set up in to improve the ride (decrease body roll while increasing comfort...). I'm currently looking for 15 or 16" rims so that I can have relatively tall tires to absord as much shock as possible. I may look for a softer compound tire as well....I'll let you know the results...