OK I've never lowered a car before and everyone tells me that if I lower my xA it will create all sorts of future problems and it wont last as long. Will lowering springs really shorten the lifespan?
I know it wears out the shocks faster, but how frequently would I have to replace them?
I plan on keeping this car til the end and I would really like to keep the maintenance issues to a minimum. I was thinking about getting TRD springs and keep it under warranty, but would the type of springs really matter as far as maintenance issues go?

 

long term effects? your xa ends up looking ten times sexier.

 

That's from old school lowering, chopping springs, etc. Other than the shocks and struts and the fact that being lower may draw a few more chips to the lip, it shouldn't really affect much else.

 

TRD springs are not going to lower your car enough for you to think about future issues. Dumping your car 3 inches or more will put alot of stress on your suspension bushings, ball joints, tie rods, ETC.

You shouldn't worry about any ill-effects. The shocks may go prematurely, but if you are going to put springs on there, you should consider shocks as well (from a performance standpoint at least).

 

1" drop won't kill you, your ride, or your shocks in any hurry. Besides, the warranty will have your back if it makes you feel any better.

But seriously, please, please dont go to the dealer to get it installed. They will shamelessly rape you out of $600.

 

The only long term affects that i can think of besides shocks, struts, bottom of the front or rear bumper or side skirts, would possible have to be crack oil pan. I had a lower honda before, went through 2 oil pans, 3 front bumpers when body kit was on, lots of tires & just alot of scrapping. But then again i was slammed 3 1/4 with a full body kit.

 

All of the vehciles I've owned since 1982 have been lowered, and some even raced on organized race tracks, with the exception of a 4x4 Ford Ranger I had, and my Bronco, which are lifted.

The only probelm I recall, was the flange of my Thorley header on one of my Celicas being scraped and ground down a bit.

Other than the scraped front lips or airdams, it was fine. On an xA, it makes it look 100 times better.

 

lower it.. i command you.. i lowered my xb..its so much easier to handle drive, turn,,,etcc.. and i looks 1000000x better.

 

lowering can cause a rougher ride put a little more stress on shocks, joints, links and bushings. its not goin to make it where you're replacing parts every 2 to 3 years but if you driving through crappy roads with potholes every day it might affect it quicker. anywho lower it!!!! all scions shouldve been lowered from factory! (now thats some wishful thinking)

 

You may want to consider where you live too. I live in a town with a number of railroad tracks and a few strange intersections with shallow gutters that eat lowered cars. I have seen lowered cars go through these intersections at ridiculously slow speeds, holding up traffic. I live in a development where I have to cross 1 set of railroad tracks and 3 cattletraps. No lowered cars where I live lol.

 

from my experience, cv boots wear out alot faster when your car is dropped.

 

Well my dealer quoted me 190 for the springs and 260 for the installation, plus I have a 10%off coupon. Would getting springs somewhere else void the warranty?

 

if the dealer installs the TRD springs, it will be warrinteedwith your car warranty. but if you buy the springs and install them somewhere else, TRD will warranty your spings for only 1 year after installment

 

I'd ask them what the estimating guide time is. Ask them to break down the actual time cuz they're cahrging you about 3 hours of labor, make them prove it with the guide. They have a book that tells how much to it should take to R&R (Remove and replace) the parts.

It's a 45 minute job at a moderate pace, less if they done some already.

If you have someone else put them on, TRD will only warranty the springs. If something goes wrong with your springs (unlikely) they would replace them, but you'd have to pay for the labor. If the dealer does it, (at 3 times the cost it should be) and the springs go bad, they won't charge you the labor, but you've already paid the equivalent of 2-3 installs so are you saving anything? If the springs are OK, but there is a problem that arises out of installation, the installing shop would be liable, within limits, so at that point it shouldn't make a difference whether its a local shop or the dealer.

BTW, you can get better springs for less than that too, IMO

 

The TRD springs wont be low enough for your car IMO. All it will do is make you want it just a touch lower. I strongly recommend the Tein S Techs, they sit the best. (IMHO)

 

Ah, no. Not my dealer. I paid, hold on...

$415.00, labor, everything. Dealer installed, TRD springs, on my xB.

I am glad I got them. I'll be doing this to the xA soon.

 

I've driven lowered vehicles for almost 10 years with no major problems.

 

How do the S Techs run on 205/45/17 tires?
I really want to avoid any rubbing/scraping issues; too many speed bumps where I live.

 

I rode on tein s-techs on 215/45/17 tires, no problems at all. Now im ridin on 16" wheels and am much happier.

 

^^^ depends mondtly on the sizing of the tire as the deciding factor on rubbing/fitment issues.