well i went into the scion shop today to price out the trd spring kit and the guy have me some real springs that he had left over for free and i didnt want to lower the front that much anyway. looks alot better. hope it doesnt drop much more than this. tell me what ya think. if it starts to look like a sinking ship im going to have to buy the kit. ha

BEFORE:


AFTER:

 

It looks better, but still way too high overall for my tastes.

 

What springs did he give you? It's more level, but still looks too high.

 

he gave me the rear trd springs that he had laying around. i dont really want it to low, i just want it be even out.

 

you cant beat free. and both front and back look pretty even to me

 

Height looks even, but way too much gap for me.

If you're on 18's with 225/40's (kinda looks like that), you might consider 225/45 next time you need tires.
They will fill out your wheelwells another 1/2" all the way around.

If I'm wrong (maybe 19's), what size tire/wheel/offset are you riding on?

 

18x7.5. yea i agree, i would like to get 225 45 next time

 

Here's a picture of jo_maoma's HTM on 225/45-18's, riding on Tanabe NF210's (1"F/1.7"R drop).
From another thread so I hope you don't mind me jacking the picture jo_maoma.

 

CIONIDE that's what my ride looks like after the TRDs. Hmm wonder if the OP let the springs settle or was that pic taken immediatley after installation.

 

+1

 

I love what you did. I want to level the car too!! How does it handles? Do you feel the difference?

 

all you really need is to find a buddy with the gen1 that doesnt use his stock rear springs and use those

 

The gen1 rear springs will level out the ride height, but they're designed for a lighter car, and are linear not progressive; therefore ride and handling will not be as good as going with the TRD rear springs. Gen1 rear springs might not be as safe either.

 

like me???? lol and most coils aren't progressive they just have dead coils so when you hit a bump and pop up they don't pop out the eibachs or whatever they are aren't progressive you get like 4 or 5 dead coils and 2 active ones my buddy just got them

 

That's what I'm looking to do. Just even out the rear. Did you only change the spring? not the struts as well? how's the ride? is it bouncy? Stiff?

 

The only difference with the gen1 springs with the ride is that is level it rides exactly the same as the original springs oh thanks and cory for those gen1 springs

 

Does anybody know the spring rates for stock vs. TRD's?

I am thinking about doing this same thing, installing TRD's in the back to just level it out.

Does anyone know if there would be any negative effects, like compromised ride or handling characteristics?

 

xb408. what's the verdict on the rear drop? Has it settled more? I just installed the TRD rear springs yesterday and the ride height is perfectly even at 26 3/4" front and rear. If the rear starts to settle, then I'm going to need to install the front springs as well.

While I was back there, I also added the TRD rear sway bar. The car handles exponentially better than before. Before it would just push in the corners, but now it seems to rotate a lot better.

 

but with this setup you run the risk of raking the car. that means you also have to adjust the headlights so you dont blind people.. especially if you have HIDs..

 

I hear ya. I already adjusted the headlights (HID) lower. It's just that I like a symmetrical drop from an aesthetic point of view. I just don't want the rear end to be lower than the front, which to me would be worse than the front lower than the rear. I added the rear sway bar to dial out some of the understeer but a lower rear would dial some of it back in. Well, it's a daily driver and obviously not a track machine so I doubt I'd notice the handling effects of a slightly lower rear driving at 5/10ths on the street anyway. I'm keeping my fingers that the rear doesn't settle more since this car is front engined and pretty light to begin with... I'd love to hear xb408 chime in since he has had this setup for a few months now.