Hi everyone... finally dropping my box. I don't want to replace the struts for awhile tho... which springs would be the best for using the shocks long-term? Right now i'm thinking TRD, Tein H-Techs or Hotchkis are in the running. I don't want anything radical, just better handling (and ride if possible...) Any reccomendations?

 

I am running TRDs on stock shocks. The drop isn't drastic at all. Maybe 1" or a little more.

 

Got some Hotchkis, about 1.5" drop, smoother, more solid feeling ride and much improved handling. I love them.

 

How many miles on the stock shocks?

 

I'm running GoldLines, nice drop, GREAT handling and ride. They are designed to work with stock shocks/struts as are pretty much all the aftermarket springs.

 

I'm at 31K miles and I dropped it at around 11K I think...

 

That's pretty impressive with a 2" drop...hmmm.

 

H-tech's for me here. Love the ride and the moderate 1.25" drop

 

I have had the TRD springs installed since I bought my car and the drop (about 1.6 inches after it settled) is a must. I have a tC so its going to be different then the other 2 models but I honestly love it. I think a bigger drop would have been a mistake and a smaller drop would have went w/o notice. I think TRD is the way to go if you want to see a difference but dont want to worry about wheel rub. I bottomed out once going too fast over a big dip but that was my fault. Other then that, the car rides great. I can't comment on how the car rides before and after the springs because I never drove the car w/ the stock ones but thumbs up to the ones I have now. Hope this post helps.

 

 

Well, its a lot different for a TC than an xB... I had TRD's on my box and everyone always said," Why havent you lowered it?" -The TRD's are a very slight drop. Since then, I have switched to Tein S-Techs, and the ride quality is much better, and it allows the front to be as low as the rear, unlike the TRD's that still make the front higher than the rear, which looks silly IMO. Go with Tein S-Techs, no rubbing on 17's, not bottoming out. Nothin but a great ride.

 

Are your shocks stock then?

 

Yup, had them on for a few thousand miles w/o problems. My friends also have had theirs on for quite a while w/o problems.
All stock shocks.

 

I've had the TRD Springs with stock shocks for a little over 30k. They're still good as far as i can tell. The ride is stiffer and you can feel the road more with the trd springs.

 

How about you TJ, do you notice the front being higher then the rear with your TRD's?
I was thinking of getting them, but if thats the case, i am not sure.

 

It's interesting how in some threads on here everyone says replacing the struts is a neccesity, and on others like this one people say don't sweat it. I think I'm going with the TRD springs because of less potential BS from the dealer (have alot of warranty miles left.) Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

 

Lower spring rates. . . and to a lesser extent a less aggressive drop will increase the life of your shocks. Smaller drops allow for more travel, which spreads out the load of the shock over time (not always, but in general). Secondly, you avoid bottoming out, which is bad. Lower spring rates mean that your suspension disperses energy with longer, slower movements, rather than rapid springing. The slower movement also decreases the load on the shock. But both of the aforementioned properties decrease handling prowess.

 

Ok regarding that. I've been noticing that a lot more lately. Sometimes i don't notice it. But it seems more noticable ever since i installed the hitch (30lbs). When i first installed the springs, the rear settled first, then the front. After both the front and rear settled, it looked fine. I'll give another reply once i fill up my tank later.

 

My TRD's are fine. . . the front is slightly lower than the rear's drop, the way it should be. But sometimes it is exagerated because the rear bumper is not as low as the front, making the rear seem as though it were too high. But comparing stock to TRD's, the stockies make the car look like a 4x4

 

I have the 2" Spy springs (with a coil cut off the fronts) on my xB. 22,000 miles on the Spy's with stock shocks and struts, and they are still fine.