I was wondering what would be a good basic setup for the XB? Should I go with a coilover set up or just do springs and a shock set. I figure I just want a 1.5 drop with 17 inche wheel. The roads where I live are pretty good. The Xb will be my daily driver. I am a big guy with big friends so a 2 to 3 inche drop would scrape the tires. thanks Derrick

 

if you have the money to get a coilover kit, go for that. Otherwise, a spring kit at the kind of drop on the stock suspension would be just find on good roads.


Tein Basic Coilovers (If you have the money to spend)

or

Tein S or H tech springs (and if you so desired--> w/ Koni Yellows, or Waydo Sportivo suspension.

 

^^^^^ I agree if you can shell out the money for coil overs do it, but if youlive in a place like Puerto Rico where its imposible not to find yourself driving your car into a HUGE pothole then go with springs and shocks. I have hotchkis and koni adjustables. I dont recommed the hotchkis because the ride quality is NOT that great and the springs really dont drop that much, but Tein is definately the way to go. If you choose to change your shocks go KONI YELLOW!!! I have them and its that BEST suspension set up ive had on any of my cars. Ive tried everything from KYB AGX, Tokicko ilumas, H&R (unless its the cup kit, which is good, but very rough) and with these new scions you really dont have much of a choise now, but there are afew good ones out there.

 

just to point out. if you get a full set of konis + springs
(~650$)

then you are already within the price range of low-end coilovers like tein Basics or Tanabe Sustec s-0c.

If you have that cash then the only thing you should be deciding is which adjustability you prefer, Height or Dampening.

Otherwise I'd say it really depend on how little money you want to spend and how much you care about comfort vs. performance.

The bare minimum of each I'd say is:

Comfort:
Replace Shocks (monroes, Konis)
Comfort Orientated Springs

Performance:
Rear Sway Bar
Performance Orientated Springs
Replace Shocks (Konis, or H&R Cup Kit, or TRD)
Upgrade Front Sway Bar Endlinks/Bushings

I didn't include wheel/tire upgrades, such as lightweight alloy wheels and thicker sidewall tires.

 

i agree with the above post about the comfort.
i swapped out the stock suspension for a full set of monroes and the ride has definitely improved. they have a "comfort zone" where they ride soft for daily driving, and automatically adjust for those hard turns. they arent for hard driving in general, but my full set of shocks/struts cost me less than a pair of koni shocks would (about $200).

as it is your daily driver and you have some big friends, i would definitely suggest considering the "comfort" route over the "performance" route. it can get pretty bumpy in the back, especially if you throw in stiff lowering springs on the stock shocks.