i'm looking for some affordable coilovers... which means either Tein Basics or the Tanabe Sustec Pro S-0C "Type II"...

3 questions:

1. since i don't care about going low (i only want about 1.3 -1.5 in drop) and they are both around $800, either will work. the question is, which rides better?

2. what is the "type II" all about? what are these HELPER SPRINGS that they lack. what do helper springs do? why would i want them?

3. does anybody actually have the tanabe's? i have found comments, but no actual experience when i did a search (yes i searched...). if so, how do they ride and how low do you have them set?

thanks!

 

i did find this review (i guess reviews don't get searched):
https://www.scionlife.com/parts/revi...id=15&offset=0

sounds good... anyone with them on a xB?

 

i was gonna say i thot i saw them reviewed somewhere , the xb will be the smae only less bouncy cuz of added weight and longer wheelbase. i dont believe anyone with an xb has em but maybe i'll be proved wrong. theyre the cheapest set of true coilovers.

 

The helper springs help prevent preload of the main spring and helps with the ride. I've heard the Tein Basics are really smooth. KevinxB has the Tanabe S-OC Type II, but he hasn't got them installed yet.

 

Uncompiled is right. Yes, I do have them but I haven't had them put on yet. Install further delayed due to an accident. But I'd be happy to let you know what I think of them when I finally have them put on.

 

thanks kevin... i'd love to hear about them when you get them installed.

 

My car is going in the shop for accident repairs tomorrow, with a 5 day ETA. So I hope soon after I will have the coilovers on. Hang tight!

 

bump for kev... got those coilovers on yet???

 

Oh yeah, I forgot all about this. Sorry guys! The coilovers are on, and they're great, nice ride. They don't seem any rougher than the stock setup. Still waiting for them to settle before I do any adjusting. Thanks to BrianxB for the install. Anything else you need to know, just post or PM me.

 

thanks kev for the update.

couple of questions:
so when you say they don't ride any rougher, does that mean it doesn't handle any better? or just that it rides the same, but handles better. i would hope it would be at least a little stiffer...
also, what height do you have them at now? (and perhaps when you start adjusting, how low/high can you get it?)

 

The car does handle better from what I've seen, but I'm not one to push my car to begin with. It does definitely feel more stuck to the road though. I have the back all the way down, and the front is just a little higher. The website says the back only goes down 1.5 inches but it looks like at least 2 to me. When I adjust them I'll probably bring the fronts down a little, they probably have at least another 1/2 inch they can go down from where I have them set now. I didn't measure before and after, so I can't give you exacts, but here is a pic of where they're at now.

 

thanks kev, looks great!

the last question i have is about bounce... i have tien s-tech's and i've noticed that when anyone is seated in the backseat they bounce around like crazy. how's the bounce on the tanabe's?

 

No worse than factory, a little smoother actually. I haven't had anyone sitting in the backseat though.

 

Man I wish they went lower , lol still lookin ghood and if they have a good ride it's hard to beat.

 

why not just get springs?

 

I wanted ride matched springs and shocks. I honestly didn't care that much about the adjustability. I didn't want to put on springs and have to change out my struts a few thousand miles later.

I priced aftermarket dampers and most of them, by the time you factor in the cost of springs, were just as much if not more than the cost of coilovers. Plus there is no guarantee that the dampers would work well with the springs I chose.

The only viable alternative for me was the H&R Cup kit, which no one else has apparently, and I didn't want to be the guinea pig.

 

so just to clarify,

if you got the more expensive tanabe s-0c (the type WITH helper springs)...

it would perform the same but the ride quality would be much better?

 

From what I understand, the helper springs are supposed to help with the ride. I'm not sure about performance. But, I have no complaints, so I couldn't say I'd spend the extra money if given the opportunity.

 

I have the sustec pros with the helpers springs on my xa for about a 10 months now, ride is still great as the day i put them on... I haven't driven hard on them until maybe 3-4 months ago, on semi-smooth but very demanding turns.. handles great, a lot smoother then stock, but still has a little lean.. i am trying to get some kind of rear sway to keep it flatter...
when the weather breaks some more i am gonna try and see how the ride is without the helpers and post a review

the only drawback is they can't go super low... i can still maybe stick a finger or two between the wheel and fender on 18's with 35 series rubber...