I put some 18s with 35 series tires on my box and the ride got a little rougher. Now Im looking into lowering springs but want to find out if there is a set which will lower the car but soften the ride. Im looking for a mild drop of no more than 2 inches. Preferably 1.5.

 

I am going to state the obvious here.

When you lower a car, obviously there is going to be less room between your car's body and the ground, and less distance between shock body and the stops. By getting springs with a lower spring rate (less force required to compress the springs) you are making it easier for your wheels to travel up, and your car down. This means that softer springs which are also lower mean you are going to run a much higher risk of bottoming out the shocks, or worse; scraping the ground.

Pick up your springs of choice and replace the shocks with Monroe or Koni.

 

I have 17's on mine with Tanabe NF210's.

I hated the ride until I replaced the rear shocks with Koni's, which are adjustable.

This improved the ride a lot. Then I replaced the front struts with monroe's.

It now rides better than stock and I think the stance looks great.

 

I have been looking at threads about changing shocks and making a ride difference. My box is a daily driver and I want the lowered stance with a soft ride. Im gonna look into shocks but cant see paying for Konis. Any good reputable places to buy the Monroes?

 

NAPA. Part #5987, which is for an Echo. They do not have the xB in their system.

The 5987 is the rear shocks only. Try those out for size before upgrading the front struts as well.

 

Ok great. My company has a Napa accaount so I should get great company discounts.

 

Well I got Megans and they ride pretty stiff. I think either Teins or Goldlines are a little softer.

 

I vote foe the NF210's, I use them and the feel is just as soft as stock.

 

I wouldnt say stock is soft. Now that I think about it, shocks have alot to do with ride quality. Im ordering some monroes tomorrow.

 

I've got the Tanabe DF210 springs and now that things have settled, my rear end sits slightly lower than the front, which annoys me to death. I know part of it is because I've got 2 12" subs in a box in back, but I don't want to remove them just to level the ride. I've heard that the monroe #5987's make the rear end sit just slightly higher than the stock shocks. Anybody know if that's true? I sure hope so 'cause I'll pick some up if that's the truth.

 

Wouldn't the TRD lowering springs and the TRD shocks and struts lower and soften the ride?

 

I'm not sure about the trd making the ride softer. They are more expensive though. I have read that the front struts lower the front another 1/2in. I'm just gonna go rears first and when I change my springs then do the front with monroes also.

 

the monroe struts will drop you an additional 1/2" in front.

 

tein s-tech springs will soften the ride over stock.

 

Arrrrgh, I was going to try to avoid changing out the front struts! LOL Anyway, do you happen to have the part # for the Monroe front struts that the xB needs? I think shocks & struts may be my next "mod".

 

I wish there was such a thing as soft lowered ride.

 

those shocks are about 1/2 inch to an inch shorter than stocks. If anything it will drop the rear a bit more.

 

Dang I needed this thread! I just lowered mine this weekend with the DF210's and my ride might be a little worse, now I need to replace shocks/struts b/c my wife is complaining! (she just had a c section and the roughness bothers her incision)

 

congratulations on the new addition. I hear you loud and clear, my wife is complaining about the bumpiness too. I heard that most people start with the monroes on the back. That is what I'm doing, I just havent put them in yet. maybe tonight.

 

Part number for the monroe front is 71575. I ordered a set of rears today from Napa and they will be here tomorrow. I will install them after work and give an update. My son and wife have complained about the ride some but overall with 18s and on stock suspension its fairly stiff. Now my box only has 1500 miles on it but I figure the ride won't get any better especially once lowered on mild tein h-techs. I can't see paying for konis so monroe is my only choice for now. At least until I decide to bag my box.