Lowering Springs

[RHAYZ]

Looking at some Tein Springs for a 2005 Scion TC....it says its a 2.4'' in the front and 2.0'' in the rear...is that to much of a drop on a tc thinking also putting a lip kit on it so i didnt want it to be extremly low

[Mr. Frost]

from what i hear..im not quite sure..but s techs with a lip kit...not a good eye deer

[Vanessa]

from what i hear..im not quite sure..but s techs with a lip kit...not a good eye deer

Mr. Frost and I have Hotchkis springs and we love 'em. :dance:

[roidrage]

I just got the tein springs on my 08 tc, i love them looks sweet also

[aalbertson3]

Moved to Stiffies. :smile:

IMO the Hotchkis springs give the tC the best drop. Some of the other springs out there don't give a even drop front and rear.

[Lunchbox]

Hotchkis FTW...

The ride is alot smoother than TRD springs, and the drop is juuuust a tad lower.

[JoshCrane1]

18"s, s-techs and 18's, love the setup. buttttttt, my friend with trd's settled lower in the rear than mine. so all in all, im only half an inch lower in the front than his trd's, and a whole inch higher in the rear than his trd's. here's a pic of my setup.

[Mr_Meaty]

WOW! Can I post my TRD vs Hotchkis pics here too!?

TRD:
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/330000-330999/330754_108_full.jpg

Hotchkis:
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/330000-330999/330754_94_full.jpg

[fightinsk8ers]

Everyone says that the S-techs are to low but i have a couple of friends who have them and they are really not that bad. Im gonna wait and buy them in the spring time and then im definitely getting my car aligned because i want tooooo!

[fightinsk8ers]

Hey meaty! how about S-techs and those i/c pipes that hang low on your turbo toyota kit?

[Mr_Meaty]

My pipes aren't as low as they look, but I should be able to raise them a little by adjusting couplers and clocking the turbo.
But my front end is lower then most hotchkis...its actually lower then s.techs!

[Hunner]

I'm on Stechs right now and i love them. I was going to sell them because i was sceptical about them before i put them on. I was going to buy htechs or trds, but i went ahead and put on the stechs. I am extremely happy I did. It looks better and handles noticably better when you take hard corners. And i have yet to even scrape on anything (and I live in a pretty rural part of Arkansas). Do the stechs. You'll be happy with them.

[The_Dalai_Lloyd]

I love my s-techs, but in panama city the roads suck, so I scrape my splash lining every once in a while. I wouldn't pu a lip kit on with s-techs unless the roads where you live are maintained pretty well.

[SouthsideWizz]

If you're looking to street and strip(meaning drag racing legally at an NHRA track), I don't drive like an idiot and the roads aren't that bad, and I just got my S. Techs in the mail, and here's my question(s):

1) Do I need to be worried about messing up my shocks running high RPMs in a straight line?

2)Do I need to look into a set of shocks right away?

c) I did that on purpose.

[Mr_Meaty]

If your dragging, not right away. If your AutoXing or doing a Time Attack Street Course, yes, you want new shocks. The shorter springs do not allow the stock shocks to fully extend. I beleive Koni, Tokico and TRD are your current choices of aftermaket shocks. I got the Koni and i LOVE them (their adjustable) but you gotta cut your stock front shocks.

[InExe]

So basically all in all S.Techs arent too bad? I was looking at getting some, along with a lip kit. The roads around are are kept up, and most of them were recently paved. So should I have anything to worry about?

[fightinsk8ers]

just worry about steep driveways...

[InExe]

You think that should be the only problem? What about speed bumps? I already try to avoid them as it is.

[LiLRoN]

I got TRD's and they are good....smooth ride:up:

[fightinsk8ers]

you will be fine if you go over em slow enough im sure your not gonna fly over em...all you gotta do is be careful tahts it

[SouthsideWizz]

Anybody found a How-to guide for the S. Techs?? I need to know what tools I need and a nice guide with pictures?

[InExe]

you will be fine if you go over em slow enough im sure your not gonna fly over em...all you gotta do is be careful tahts it

Alright, Cool man. Thanks.

[Mr_Meaty]

They should come with directions. Or you can download the Hotchkis instructions from their site and everything should be the same except you have to cut the stock bumpstops cause Tiens dont' come with new ones...Hotchkis does.

[ev]

I have s-techs and love them! i wanted a lip kip, but I know it would be gone in a week..so yeah

[mallory]

just worry about steep driveways...

Now thats no lie. I have Hotchkis springs and I scrap pretty bad in places, even if I try to angle out of it. Speed bumps aren't to bad, I just try to avoid those things!!

[BlkCherri]

I have S Techs and the only reason I have any scrap marks whatsoever is because of letting people drive it who don't know how to drive lowered cars. Grrr.... IMO, S Techs are freakin' awesome. I get more compliments from people with tCs who's cars are low because mine is WAAAY low for some odd reason.

[Mr_Meaty]

got any pics, BlkCherri?

[BlkCherri]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v258/LttlMss/Blk%20Cherri/scikoticscrewontheshore023.jpg

[Mr_Meaty]

Damn! that DOES look nice! My hotchkis are lower then others hotchkis as well, and I dunno why!
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/PJLikins/Rims/RimsAngleMedium.jpg

[BlkCherri]

Thanks! :) That's definitely a nice drop, too! Looks alot like mine does. Weird how 2 cars with the same springs can look so different....

[Mr_Meaty]

OH, we have different springs. you got s-techs...I got hotchkis.
But I like em both!

[fightinsk8ers]

yeah i got confused for a minute haha

[BlkCherri]

OH, we have different springs. you got s-techs...I got hotchkis.
But I like em both!

I thought that's how you might take it.... should have made myself more clear. I just meant that people with say S-Techs, their cars look different than mine does for the most part.... that's all.

[Mr_Meaty]

Oh, I see, and I agree! Other peeps with Hotchkis look different then mine as well! :lol:

[Cricket]

dropped on h-techs....looks lower than some s-techs i've seen....

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b262/cricket52579/tC%20More/tClakereflection2.jpg

[fightinsk8ers]

dropped on h-techs....looks lower than some s-techs i've seen....

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b262/cricket52579/tC%20More/tClakereflection2.jpg


no all s-techs ive seen have been way lower

[Cricket]

no all s-techs ive seen have been way lower
Ehh, it depends...but the height is fine for me, although i dont have a lip kit, i live in the Poconos of PA......worst roads in all of the USA. Just having 18s on it is killer enough. ugh

[StreetSweeper]

So i guess..Ill move my post here..Im also lookin at s techs or skunk...I love the drop of skunks but how will it all line up with either...When i got lined up with trds the guy told me i still had some to play with any problems with s tech or shunk..pics of skunks please!!!!

[fightinsk8ers]

i dont think anyone has skunks

[StreetSweeper]

well that blows!!!

[Mr_Meaty]

A girl in my crew has them, so I'll link her to this thread if she's got pics.

[StreetSweeper]

Sounds good...thanks man

[fightinsk8ers]

oh ok well thats good awhile ago we were talking about this and nobody knew of anyone with the skunk springs..

[Space Cadet]

Well, I have the Eibach Sportlines, and I love them!! I think they are just all around better than the S-techs (installed on 4 other scions in our chapter). They have more coils an a stiffer springrate than the S-techs.

What do you guys think???

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u174/tCBoi/My%20BCP/th_P4030211.jpg (http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u174/tCBoi/My%20BCP/P4030211.jpg)
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u174/tCBoi/My%20BCP/th_P4030209.jpg (http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u174/tCBoi/My%20BCP/P4030209.jpg)
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u174/tCBoi/My%20BCP/th_P4030207.jpg (http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u174/tCBoi/My%20BCP/P4030207.jpg)
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u174/tCBoi/My%20BCP/th_P4030206.jpg (http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u174/tCBoi/My%20BCP/P4030206.jpg)

[fightinsk8ers]

nice drop

[Mr_Meaty]

Can't relly tell from those pics, but we got one here to. I like em.

Here some newer shot's of my Hotchkis:
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/PJLikins/PJs%20tC/December%202007/TTPhotoShoot015Medium.jpg
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/PJLikins/PJs%20tC/December%202007/TTPhotoShoot013Medium.jpg
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/PJLikins/PJs%20tC/December%202007/TTPhotoShoot010Medium.jpg
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/PJLikins/PJs%20tC/December%202007/TTPhotoShoot002Medium.jpg

[ta2dtart]

yeah i have skunk2's, phil sent me a link over here, i dont have pics right now but i will take some asap (soon as car is washed) and post for you guys, i like them alot, nice drop and its made the ride stiffer. :)

[ev]

Hey Dusty, did you ever put them spacers in?

[fightinsk8ers]

Phil i really like the drop you got with your hotchkis....im leaning towards s-techs but i really like how yours looks...do you have the camber links also?

[Space Cadet]

Hey Dusty, did you ever put them spacers in?


Not yet, doing it soon tho!! My car got hit, its going into the shop this week, and then I'm getting some new rubber, so I'll get them on before that...

[Mr_Meaty]

Craig...Thanks!
I really love them, but sometimes with I got the S.Techs cause my fronts are a little to low, but that may be from the shocks not rebounding as much as stocks.

No camber links here either...the shop I went to for an allignment were able to dial it out to within spec with just the stock adjustemnts in the tC.
Here's a couple shots of my camber with no kit after an allignment:
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/330000-330999/330754_101_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/330000-330999/330754_102_full.jpg
And I got some comparison shots of stock vs. TRD vs. Hotchkis on my cardomain site as well:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/330754/1

[ta2dtart]

attached are two images of my car w/ skunk2's :) sorry it took so long

[Mr_Meaty]

Hmmm...they look look lower in person. what size rims and tires?

[StreetSweeper]

my trds look lower than that...i thought the drop was 2in????

[ta2dtart]

the drop is 2", the rims are 17" and i dont remember the tire size

[fightinsk8ers]

im still gonna stick with the s-techs hey phil i forgot how long do wait until you get an alignment after you drop it....2 weeks or so????? thanks

[triniosito]

Mr. Frost and I have Hotchkis springs and we love 'em. :dance:
Hotchkis FTW

[triniosito]

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u302/triniosito/Cars/8384.jpg

My ride sittin on hotchkis

[StreetSweeper]

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u302/triniosito/Cars/8384.jpg

My ride sittin on hotchkis



omg i like that drop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! is that a better drop then s techs?? hows the ride?

[Mr_Meaty]

WOW! alot of times I see guys on Hothchkis and they look higher, but your drop looks EXACTLY like mine on hotchkis, trini! I'm glad, cause I thought there was something wrong with my car! :lol: You on stock shocks?

Yeah, you wanna give it like 2 to 3 weeks to fully settle before you get an allignment, unless you find one of those places with lifetime allignments...then you can go as soon as you put them on, and then again after a few weeks.

redline...I think the hotchkis actually drop a little lower then the s.techs in the front, but same in the back, so the s.techs end up being a little more even...but the ride is SUPERB! Not to rough and tight inthe corners. Mine turns on rails...but I also have Koni shocks and the Hotchkis front/rear sway bar set! :lol:

[StreetSweeper]

WOW! alot of times I see guys on Hothchkis and they look higher, but your drop looks EXACTLY like mine on hotchkis, trini! I'm glad, cause I thought there was something wrong with my car! :lol: You on stock shocks?

Yeah, you wanna give it like 2 to 3 weeks to fully settle before you get an allignment, unless you find one of those places with lifetime allignments...then you can go as soon as you put them on, and then again after a few weeks.

redline...I think the hotchkis actually drop a little lower then the s.techs in the front, but same in the back, so the s.techs end up being a little more even...but the ride is SUPERB! Not to rough and tight inthe corners. Mine turns on rails...but I also have Koni shocks and the Hotchkis front/rear sway bar set! :lol:


So is that the look that i pretty much lookin at?? Mine will drop a little more in the rear cause of my subs but i like that drop..i think i my convert from tein to hotckis

[fightinsk8ers]

im teeter tottering on that one also...hmmm hotchkis or tein hmmmmmmmmm hmmmmmm hmmmmmmmmm

[StreetSweeper]

someone give me a side by side pic of hotchiks and tein s..please

[Mr_Meaty]

You mean like one tC on s.techs next to one tC on hotchkis side by side in the same picture?
Sorry, don't know anyone with s.techs here.

[StreetSweeper]

or if some one coudl photoshop them togehther that would be nice too..i really need to decide

[fightinsk8ers]

You mean like one tC on s.techs next to one tC on hotchkis side by side in the same picture?
Sorry, don't know anyone with s.techs here.


doesnt have to be same pic could just photoshop it together...

[StreetSweeper]

doesnt have to be same pic could just photoshop it together...


right!!!

[tCfrk86]

I just bought some Tein's today, i need new shocks but i found some aftermarket shocks to get. Ill post pics or start a new Thread when i do.

[Mr_Meaty]

What shocks did you get?

[kris5597]

alright so all in all trd settels about that same as the hotchkis but the hotchkis are a lil lower. but the trs settle lower in the rear?

[Mr_Meaty]

Um...no.
My TRDs gave me a 3 finger gap up front, and my hotchkis give me a half a finger gap up front.

My TRDs gave em a 2 finger gap in the back and my hotchkis give me a 1.5 finger gap in the back.

Here, I got some comparison pics:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/330754/3

[kris5597]

ok thanks all i wanted to know

[akscionrdr]

where do they base the drop on. i dont see it i always thought the drop was based on the wheelbase drop. i am new on this i even droped another car b4 i guess i am dumb on droping a car.

[akscionrdr]

i guess what im saying is that i want a 1 1/2 inch drop from the top of the wheel base on the car itself. it looks apropiate.

[kris5597]

if u want about an 1 1/2" then go with trds. when they settle you get about 1 1/4 in the front maybe thats an estimate and 1 1/2" in the back.

[Mr_Meaty]

are you saying 1 1/4 in front and 1 1/2 LOWER in the back then stock?
Or that after the drop you will have 1 1/4 in front and 1 1/2 gap in teh wheel well after the drop?

The TRDs drop the car evenly, front and back. If you measure your wheel well gap right now (stock) you will see that you have a larger gap in front then in the back.
Dropping the front and back evenly will STILL give you a larger gap in the front then in the back, but it will be lower all around.

If you want about a 1.5 inch drop and want the weel wells to LOOK even in front and back, I would suggest the H&R springs or Tien H.Techs if you wanna save money.

[akscionrdr]

yep the hotchkis is pretty even all around!:Vache04:

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh72/akscionrdr/SNV31106.jpg?t=1205050401

[LiLRoN]

yeah the wheel wells are bigger in the front

[HyPnOtIk]

I Have S techs and i love them !!!

[JoshCrane1]

are you saying 1 1/4 in front and 1 1/2 LOWER in the back then stock?
Or that after the drop you will have 1 1/4 in front and 1 1/2 gap in teh wheel well after the drop?

The TRDs drop the car evenly, front and back. If you measure your wheel well gap right now (stock) you will see that you have a larger gap in front then in the back.
Dropping the front and back evenly will STILL give you a larger gap in the front then in the back, but it will be lower all around.

If you want about a 1.5 inch drop and want the weel wells to LOOK even in front and back, I would suggest the H&R springs or Tien H.Techs if you wanna save money.
trd's suck, my buddy had his on for 30,000 miles and the rear sagged lower than my s-techs. tein has a lifetime sagging warranty. TEIN FTW!!!!

[pwee08]

trd's suck, my buddy had his on for 30,000 miles and the rear sagged lower than my s-techs. tein has a lifetime sagging warranty. TEIN FTW!!!!

reading through these threads i think you just dont like trd's lower springs most ppl havent complain about them here

[JoshCrane1]

reading through these threads i think you just dont like trd's lower springs most ppl havent complain about them here
your right, i dont like trd's springs, they are overpriced, underquality(sag), and barely lower the car. i think that trd has been skating on their good name for too long, and slacking on their R&D, while the aftermarket community is nippin at their heels and scaring them to get shit out quickly while sacrificing quality.

but so what if i dont like trd's springs? there has to be a reason right? well when i see their springs droppin over time, makes me wonder what else they make will wear over time.(shifter base breaking, s/c compressor and bearing problems etc...)

u can buy whatever you want, 3 peeps in our chapter have s-techs and love em. and theirs plenty of peeps out there that love their trd's.

you can read my posts on almost every other subject in the forums, i give honest advice and dont screw people around. if i am wrong i will admit it, but...

if im giving my honest opinion and advice, you can either listen and maybe learn something or ignore me, and learn the shit on your own.

[pwee08]

nah its cool dude lol im just saying but thing is i got them and then said it on the forums but ill see how they ride in like 1-2weeks is when ill be gettin them and puttin them on

[Invisible Camel]

anyone heard anything good about road magnet springs?

[JoshCrane1]

anyone heard anything good about road magnet springs?
nothing, search scion life, they might have somethin.

[ChodeyTC]

What about the H-Techs? I was leaning towards those but if the S-Techs drop it nice, and I don't NEED the camber kit, I might be heading in that direction... Don't wanna go too low due to my steep driveway, but there are always ways around that... So what input can I get on the H-Techs?

[kris5597]

yea any lower and i would have to roll my fenders with my enkei rims they have too far of an offset which i like makes the car look wider. id like to go a lil lower in the front with the trds but o well gotta stick with what i got. like the offset too much.

[StreetSweeper]

reading through these threads i think you just dont like trd's lower springs most ppl havent complain about them here


true that man.. Ive rolled on TRD's now for 20k and they are as good as new even with 60lbs of subs in the trunk..Its a matter of choice u wanna go low TEIN if u wanted to see a diffrence go with TRD..I Love TEIN but I love my TRD'S better..Everyone will have there views on what is better..once agian it how low u wanna go if i can avoid thing..blah blah blah same stuff we all worry about

[pwee08]

yea i was going to put them on this past weekend but something came up with my friend so i couldnt put them on but i wanna put on the TRD's cuz its not to low or to high and since im always driving back and fourth to miami so i think TRD's would be the best

[The_Game]

Lets just say i was planning on putting them on and around where i live they got speedbumps, dips and rough roads as it is and having those would be not that great for me so i bought them than sold them as soon as i got them from FedEx lol I have aftermarket bumpers and if i put those springs on i would have dragged horrilbly. With the stock kit (Lip not included) its really low almost touching. But with the lip its do able but not much room. Just dont hit a bump too hard and you will do fine :up: lol But if you get them please post pics!!

[Invisible Camel]

Ok quick question. How do you know how low you dropped your ride? Are you going by what the springs box said? Or are you measureing the actual height of you car before and after? Truckers say they have a 2 inch lift of their trucks and it looks like they raised it a foot and a half (18" lift). good question just wondering.

[JoshCrane1]

Ok quick question. How do you know how low you dropped your ride? Are you going by what the springs box said? Or are you measureing the actual height of you car before and after? Truckers say they have a 2 inch lift of their trucks and it looks like they raised it a foot and a half (18" lift). good question just wondering.
measure wheel to fender, not tire to fender, before you lower. and then again a week or too after you lower(settling will occur). should be around what the box says.

[Invisible Camel]

ssssssssweet thanks man.