My 2009 xD has had one of the shocks go bad. (leaking oil) I have decided to take the opportunity to replace all four corners with upgraded shocks and struts. Right now I am thinking about using Tokico HP series for the struts and shocks. While I was doing my research I came across a "Performance" kit on EBay that had them combined with a Eibach Pro Kit, spring set, the price was not too bad, $535 USD. This got me to thinking about doing a full on upgrade, not just shocks and struts. Of course I have been researching all I can, reading every post on this forum and other sites. But, I still have questions, I'm hoping some of the more experienced folk here can answer them.

My first concern with the spring set is ride quality, I have always thought the stock set was a bit stiff, but, then again, I didn't like the body roll either! I have been reading that the TRD springs are stiff, so I'll be avoiding those, are the Pro Kit springs just as stiff? Does anybody have any experience with the ride quality of Pro Kit, or Sportline springs? I am only asking about the Sportline springs because I found out that they use a progressive spring on all four corners, the Pro Kit is a straight 160 lb. on the front. The Sportline front spring goes from 114 lb. to 211 lb., I'm thinking this might make for soaking up small bumps, like expansion joints, or uneven pavement.

The second is will I affect tire wear with the springs? The maximum drop on the Sportline is 1.7 inches in the front, 1.4 inches in the rear. The Pro Kit is 1.2 and 1.0. I know both of these isn't a huge drop, but I wonder if it would affect the chamber to the point of causing tire wear on the insides of the tires. I read someplace here that this type of wear is possible. I am running stock steelies with 205/55 sixteens.

Should I just do shocks and struts? Or, do the whole thing? I don't race, but, I would like it to handle better. Any help/suggestions will be much appreciated! Thanks!

Terry

 

i have sportlines with tokico hp on my scion xa. i wish i knew someone with prokit so i can compare but i don't. with the lower drop of the sportline, you will feel more ground no matter what, but it is not harsh. the combo is great and improves performance for sure. upgrade your endlinks and add a sway bar and you're set. pro-kit i believe is suppose to match oem. both springs are good choices, it just depends on what drop you want. there's also tanabe too. only heard good things about it also.

 

I've been thinking about the same combo for a while as well. I do believe the pro kit is a progressive rate spring as well as the sport.

 

for your first concern i have no clue about the pro kit or sportlines so i wont act like i do lol. as for the body roll, invest in a rear sway bar. the difference was night/day.

for your second concern: your camber wont be that off and it shouldnt make a significant difference in tire wear. i had stech springs (2.2in drop) and never had an issue with alignment or camber wear.

personally id go for the full upgrade. youll be better for it, and not have to worry about replacing the springs later anyway. plus im always a fan of moar low, lol.

 

So sorry I wish I could help. I have the ProKit sitting in the box at my house. I just don't have the time to do the install yet. I picked them up for $182 so not that bad of a price. I have read different reviews on the HP blues.

 

Hey Guys, thanks for the responses.

I checked out the pics of your xA Curt, very Nice! I like the stance, I may be leaning toward the Sportlines now, especially since you mentioned they are not harsh. I think that may have to do with the progressive springs starting out soft at first, that would help it take small bumps better. As far as "feeling the ground," I kinda doing that now, with my shocks shot, I got a busy ride! I don't mind feeling bumps some, but I figure an overly stiff, non compliant ride would wear me out if I took a road trip of 500 miles or more. I am into motorcycles, and loud pipes that might sound great around town, but on a long trip, that same amount of sound can actually make you fatigued, same goes for other mods, what may work in some situations, might be a total PITA in others! LOL!

I figured on getting a sway bar, but I am not familiar with upgrading endlinks, what are they and what is recommended? Any suggestions? I think I read one post by Cueball that mentioned them. And if anyone can recommend a sway bar to look at, that would be cool.

Nateson, the Pro Kit has progressive springs in the rear, the front springs are a straight 160 lb. spring, this information came straight from the Eibach rep I spoke to. I remember reading some of your posts, I could have swore you already did a spring swap, was I mistaken?

ThisorThatxD, thanks for your comments, 2.2 inches is a good drop, I feel better now knowing I won't be having tire wear issues.

Andrew, you just need to get busy! Those springs won't do you any good in the box! LOL!! Looking forward to hearing what you think of them when you get them installed.

This has been some great feedback, I am looking forward to hearing more. This will be my first shock/strut/spring swap, and before I do anything I like to be prepared. Selecting the springs has been a puzzle, everything so far has been subjective, and a matter of opinion. With bikes I am used to knowing the stock spring rate, and the spring rates of the after market springs, it's easy to tell how something might ride. So far with the car suspension companies, that data is a little hard to come by, like Eibach, I actually had to call them, nothing was on their site. Of corse, any information I get, I am willing to share, so that it's easier on the next guy.

Something I have not found yet is the torque specs for the mounting bolts on the struts and shocks, any ideas where those might be found? There's plenty of information about removing the parts, but not much about putting it back, I figure since these are kinda critical items, it might be a good idea to tighten things correctly.

T.

 

Good luck in what ever you decide. You could also check out microimage for parts like the sway bar. I think I measured the TRD at 19mm. I haven't pulled the trigger on the springs yet, waiting to buy a house to get the springs. (place to install them)
If the rep told you they weren't progressive on the pro kit, I would be inclined to believe him. Every where I've seen the pro kit though, they've been represented as progressive. From the pic of the product to the description. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EIB-8293-140/
Get what you like, and I hope you enjoy! Also tell us what you did, and how you like it.

 

I'll be sure and give an update Nateson, sharing information is what it's all about! Ya, the rep did say the front springs were not progressive, but, he did seem a little bored on the phone, perhaps he was not as accurate as he could have been. I am going to try them again, see if I get someone different. I'm also going to contact Tokico, see what information I can get from them, you would think either company would have tested their product with some possible combinations and have that information available.

T.

 

i was looking to see if they had my particular sway bar in stock but it seems they are all out...

http://shop.microimageonline.com/Ult...R-AR19-100.htm

the TRD one would accomplish the same goal with reducing your body roll, especially when you go lower. when i did my install, we just went with the german torque specs (good-n-tight), lol. checked everything a little later and all was still snug. no issues.

 

Hey Terry, heres my two cents.

I have the Tokico 's but running them with Tanabe's NF210's. Dont bother looking at my garage for stance. The pics I have there are when I was running coils. I need to update those. Anyway the ride is a bit bouncy on the freeway at times, so expect some rough ride. But over all I think its worth it. Nice stance, great handling. I'm running the TRD swaybar in back and the MEVOTECH MK80879 endlinks. Wont go into to detail about the endlinks, you can read my post about that. Car handles great.

And BTW, you can get all the torque and install specs on spark toyota web site...here is the link. Its the PDF on the right side. Good luck

http://www.trdsparks.com/displaypart...&parts_id=1795

 

Thanks Cueball, that was just the information I was looking for! I had just downloaded the xD manual, but the instruction sheet will be easier to follow. I'll look into the MEVOTECH end links, might as well put them in while things are apart. When you say your ride is a bit "bouncy" at times on the freeway are you saying you don't have any compliance? Like you hit a slight bump and your suspension doesn't move? Or, are you hitting a bump and your suspension keeps moving? Like your shocks and struts aren't controlling the springs enough?

T.

 

When the road has a series of wavy bumps, the car jumps around. I would say the suspension moves, but since its stiffer, you really feel the road. I'm running 18" with a 40 profile tire, so they dont help the matter.

If you looking for a smooth stock like ride. You need to get some Monroe's or other non performance strut.

 

if you want stock like ride, don't bother getting springs. just replace the shock with monroes.

if you want to lower it, you can use the springs on the struts/shocks you already have now, replacing the blown shock with monroe of course.

you can upgrade the struts/shocks tokicos if you want, but if your oem struts/shocks are in good condition, you can hold off on that and save some money, unless you're always driving in bad conditions and abusing the struts/shocks which will cause it to blow out faster.

the most expensive option, invest in coilovers. i cannot give any opinions for the xD because i never search xD threads.

sway bar - trd or progress gets the job done
end links - it's on the xb and xa for sure. it connects the front sway bar to whatever it is suppose to be connected to. here is a link with pics, you can look under the front of the car by the axle to see if you have it and what condition it is in.
http://www.clubxb.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20774

 

Yea itscurtsk, that is completely different than an xD. The xD endlink is a straight rod with pivots on the end. Take a look at the link I put on my other post about end links. There is a picture of it.

 

Hey Curtis, not all that thrilled with stock to tell you the truth, looking for an upgrade....

 

I've been lowered on sportlines and stock struts for almost a year now. Its stiffer than stock as with any lowering spring, but nothing that is overly annoying. I live in Delaware and I've driven to Boston and to Marquette, Michigan in the car and it was fine...not an uncomfortable ride or anything like that. I'll probably upgrade struts when the stockers go, but so far so good.

 

Thanks Monkey! Great to know you have some experience with driving a distance with those springs. I have been talking to Eibach about their development of the Sportline springs for our cars. (I also have a 2009) I asked the rep I was talking to if they could recommend shocks and struts to go with the springs and he said the development was done using the stock shocks and struts. I asked a similar question to the Tociko rep, if he knew of, or could recommend any springs that worked well with their HPs, and without any prompting from me he said Eibach. He said that they figured folks would be using lowering springs with their product, so they used Eibach as a base for development. From what I can tell from both companies, they seem very interested in making sure their product makes cars handle well.

T.

 

I've always been a fan of eibach products. This is the third vehicle I've used sportlines on. Eliminates wheel gap, but is also practical enough for daily driving.

 

nothing against eibach, but i had zero issues when i was on stechs in terms of clearance. i think our car's were supposed to be the first scion suv, but then they did a quick redesign back to a compact lol.

 

Ya, I'm feeling good about getting the Sportlines at this point Monkey, it looks like they have more going for them than how low they drop the car.

Funny you should mention the part about xDs being SUVs ThatxD, did you know they sell them in Europe as an AWD "Mini" SUV?? I always thought the car felt a little too tall at times, especially when going around a corner! LOL!