Alright Guys I Need Some Help

[kris5597]

next weekend me and a friend are getting our trd springs in and we need some help. can someone pls explain to me what to do and how to do it to take off the old springs and put the new ones on?

[JylBish]

Why not try and set up an install party so that someone can be there that has done it before. That way they can walk you through it, and help. :)

And install parties are a great way of getting the chapter together.

[kris5597]

yea i posted that in my chapter to see but this is if no one can help.

[goodguy889]

hey whats up. i just did my springs for the second time and this page help me a ton. if u have any questions just ask.
http://www.yoursciontc.com/information/howto_trd_springs.html

[Mr_Meaty]

That's a nice writeup.
I used the install sheet from Hotchkis for the 4 or 5 sets of springs I've installed:
http://www.hotchkis.net/files/installation_guides/19425.pdf
It will be the same except you will reuse your old bumpstops instead of replacing with the hothchkis ones. good luck, and take it slow and easy. The hardest part is taking the carpet out of the trunk.

[Eros]

I used the Hotchkis writeup as well. My buddy and I did it a little over a week ago and it took us 4 hrs. We would've gotten it done in 3 but the rear suspension is a PAIN!!! There's one bolt holding everything together under the car and it's EXTREMELY hard to loosen. I HIGHLY recommend liquid wrench or something like that.

[kris5597]

awesome guys thanks a lot i really appreciate it. THANKS MATT!!!

[Mr_Meaty]

One bolt? WD-40 and a breaker bar all the way!

[kris5597]

how do u remove the spring from the shock once you have it compressed.

[Stryker Trailwood]

there are 3 bolts holding the back strut onto the car not one.

and once the strut/shock is out of the car and you have the spring compressed you unscrew the one bolt on top thats left screwed in, slowly.
the front has a small circle of rubber that you can pry up with a flathead and remove, it covers the bolt.
the back has a cap that just pops off covering the bolt.

and for the front bump stops your suppossed to cut half the sections off or you might end up riding on them.

[Stryker Trailwood]

and i just realized that the one guy above just unbolted the shock itself and left the cap bolted in place, which you can do to compress the new spring back onto the shock and stuff but i dunno how great that is when taking the springs off of it.

[Phlame217]

After doing mine, a few tips:

Have a small air ratchet for the rear or you'll need a breaker bar to get the large bolt to losen there.

A spring compressor makes life a whole lot easier

Use chalk or a paint pen and mark the rubber boots and caps with a line to make it easy to get things back together correctly.

Always get no less than a 24 pack of beer per 4 people becuase the first 5 beers go quick during the rear section.

[Mr. Frost]

Always get no less than a 24 pack of beer per 4 people becuase the first 5 beers go quick during the rear section.

:rofl2:

oh so true

[Eros]

One bolt? WD-40 and a breaker bar all the way!

Well, we had the liquid wrench lubricator and a "custom/bent" pipe that we used as an extender of the wrench. The driver's side wasn't that bad b/c all I had to do was step on it. The passenger on the other hand was a different story. The direction to loosen it was up and there was very limited room to work with so I had to prop the wrench on my shoulder and lift up. I almost knocked the car off the stand b/c I was lifting so hard! I should've used the jack and actually lowered the wrench onto the jack using the car's weight to loosen it but oh well lol.

[gotDAMD]

Kris I have almost everthing you need except the spring compressor.

[kris5597]

like i said biff it would be cool for just me you and britt to do it. thats all we need not a shit load of people. if its alright with you dude we will come there. ill get compressors

[strike69]

That is really helpful

[Mr_Meaty]

You dont' cut the bump stops for TRD springs.
And you can rent spring compressors from AutoZone for free. Just make sure you get the "C" kinda that clamp on the outside, not the "I" kind that clamp on the inside.

For the rear, we actually mounted everything back into the housing, and lowered the car to put the top bolt back on...that way we made sure everything was lined up properly.

[kris5597]

that sounds like it might be a good idea to try. what did u do biff?

[Stryker Trailwood]

we had to cut the bump stops for my trd springs and the others we've done that drop for.

[kris5597]

really? should i do it?

[Mr_Meaty]

Hmmm...well, my bumpstops were not cut, and the TRDS I put i brians car, we did not cut the bumps...my hotchkis came with replacements so no need there...but on the H.techs In installed we had to cut the bumpstops. It's such a mild drop that I dont' think it's neccessary, certianly not in half...I dunno. I seriously doubt that toyota would OK a product that required you to "damage" a stock part in order to install.

[kris5597]

do the h techs lower it more than trd?

[Stryker Trailwood]

well it was at a toyota dealership we did my install at so...

[Stryker Trailwood]

yes the htechs are lower then trd

[kris5597]

well damn. so i guess the trds are highest lowering springs you can buy huh? if u understand that lol.

[Stryker Trailwood]

yes and i agree with that statement.

but even then the trd is a real good drop with 18s, the pic in my sig im still in the TRDs, i've gone to the H&R sports now though.

[kris5597]

yea i have 18s and i wanted a pretty good drop. and i can get the trds shipped for a lil bit cheaper than the hotchkis so thats why i was going with trd. i can get the hotchkis shipped for 167 and the trds for 160. but the trds are next day shipping so thats def a plus. but idk i just dont wana buyt them and regret buying them because they are not low enough thats why i was going with the hotchkis in the first place. which would be better trd or hotchkis? and im talking about handling differences b/w the two, drop, ride comfort all that stuff?

[Mr_Meaty]

...and the dealership cut the bumpstops? OK then...I'll buy that.

Now, I've had both TRDs and Hotchkis and the TRDS rode GREAT! I mean, like stock in the straights, and tight in the corners. Real nice. The Hotchkis ride better! But a little rough. I switched cause they just werent' low enought. Now you got 2 people in this thread that had TRDs and swapped cause they weren't low enough. I think the H.techs are the way to go...not to low, but lower and more even then TRD.

[kris5597]

yea i was thinking about the h techs but i wasnt too sure. i either wanted hotchkis or trd. i can get trd for 160 shipped next day and will be in fri so i can put them on. i can get hotchkis for 163 shipped but i gotta wait till next week till i get the springs. hard decision.

[Stryker Trailwood]

well, i didnt plan on switching, its a long and complicated tale.

i was perfectly happy with the TRDs/ now they are just sitting in my back seat waiting for the next car they have the oportinity to be installed on.

and heres proof of them being installed at a dealership by a toyota tech, and another friendly sciko.
:lol: like yall asked

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/gjpjr84/may28%20the%20lowering/HPIM2508.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/gjpjr84/may28%20the%20lowering/HPIM2506.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/gjpjr84/may28%20the%20lowering/HPIM2517.jpg

but yea, free dealership install on a sunday rocks.

[kris5597]

yea looks good. is there anything dif from the white springs to the red. at trd sparks it says that the reds lower it more than the whites is that true?

[Stryker Trailwood]

no, its the same spring with a different powdercoat. i never read it on trdsparks that they lower it more.

[kris5597]

o ok. hmm weird. u think i should just go ahead with the trds and see how it is and if i like it. and at least it will be lowered and if i want to change later i can?

[Stryker Trailwood]

well, i would look at cars with the TRD and cars with the Hotchkis that you want and decide which you like better and get that right off the bat.

if you rush too much into a mod you may regret or grow tired cause its not what you were trully looking for.

i would have been eternally happy with keeping my trds on. but since i had gone through the trouble of getting the H&Rs i was gonna use the damn things.

when i was first looking at springs it was either the TRDs or the H&Rs cause i wanted a drop that was either of those 2. i wasnt gonna pay full price for the H&Rs new and i found the TRDs at a killer deal and the free install so i went with those. this was back in mid-2006

[kris5597]

yea. well i have seen a car with trds but he has toyo proxes a bit higher profile than my paradas so im not sure how it would look but i love it. and i have also seen a car with hotchkis but it has 17s on it but with some nittos on it not sure what kind but yet again a higher profile tire. now my next set of tires might not be paradas so if i got proxes or something on my 18s i dont want it to rub fender with hotchkis. so maybe i should just get trds. just to be sure. besides. if it got old i dont mind paying extra money to get lower springs. plus i plan on getting trd shocks and struts so i better just keep the trd springs so i can put them on those.

[Stryker Trailwood]

you can use the TRD shocks/struts with any lowering spring, only if you wanna TRD match then yea theres that.

and if you have the right offset and rim width you shouldnt have rubbing issues, and even if thats true it wont be that much unless your going extreme with the offset and wide rims, we've got a tC here with tien stech drop on 18x8s with only a little rubbing which was fixed with cutting the fender and a little stretch on the front tires.

[kris5597]

damn i didnt know all that. so what would u do?

[Stryker Trailwood]

well, to be honest, i'm not you and can't say i know what your trully wanting.
right off the bat your wanting the hotchkis springs, which i dont like that drop personally so it wouldnt be a choice id go for.

[kris5597]

ok well for my own satisfaction i will take that as go with the trds and thats what ima do lol. thanks a lot for all your help dude. what springs u have on your car now? do u have any pix of it now?

[kris5597]

how far exactly do the trd springs lower the car?

[Stryker Trailwood]

i have the H&R sport springs.
not really any good pics yet, im still in winter mode.
i didnt want more then 1.6" or so drop and i wanted it to be relatively even or the front dropped more then the back. the TRDs are an even drop but since the back is lower then the front stock, it still left the back a little lower but not that noticable.
the H&Rs drop the front a tenth or so lower then the back so the final stance is the front even or a little lower.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/gjpjr84/HR%20sport%20drop/IMG00002.jpg

the hotchkis drop the back a good bit lower then the front cause some people want the bottom of the car to sit even. stock the bottom line goes up a little from the front. but the rear fenders are cut lower then the front fenders so the end result is that the back fender sits lower on the wheel then the front, but the bottom (lip of the bumpers and sideskirt) sit at an even level from the ground.

[Stryker Trailwood]

the TRD drop is about of 1.2". (they say only 1" but its more then that in expirience)

the hotchkis is like 1.7" front and 1.97" back i think

and just fyi the H&R SPORT springs are 1.4" front and 1.3" back.

[Mr_Meaty]

Those are the printed drops, and not at all accurate.
I had both springs...the hotchkis drop the rear a little more then the trds, and th hotchkis fronts drop it a good inch more then the trd fronts.

The trds sit with the rear looking lower then the front.
The hotchkis sit with the front lower then the rear.
The H&Rs, Tien S.techs and Tien H.Techs make the car look even all around.

If you have an 18.8 wheel with more then a 40 offset, you will rub with hotchkis. Pretty much any wheel with a 45 offset will not rub.

Do what you want...the TRDs ride great...they just dont' look even.

Oh, and Promotion tuning has the H.Techs for $143, so that's even cheaper.
If you dont' mind the work or wasted money, go ahead and try one spring, and if you dont' like it, get another...but if your gonna spend the cash, as well as getting the TRD shocks, why not just get a set of adjustable coils for $800 or so and adjust the height to exactly where you want it?

[Stryker Trailwood]

i have the H&Rs and my front is lower then the back, not even.
and all the pictures of the hotchkis ive seen have the back end up lower then the front looking just at the wheel and the fenders, and i dont think the difference is that noticeable with the TRDs sitting with the front a little higher

[kris5597]

ok cool. i want the back to sit lower than the front its what i want. ima go with the trds. and ima def look into the coilovers thanks a lot guys i really appreciate all the help

[Mr_Meaty]

OK...let's give this a shot:
here are the TRDs fully settled, it's hard to tell, but the front is higher then the back. It probably wont start to bug you for 6 months or so when you realise it's not getting any better:

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

Here are the Hotchkis...obviously lower in the front then the back:
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/330000-330999/330754_94_full.jpg

Here is the 3 finger gap of the TRDs up front:
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/330000-330999/330754_105_full.jpg

And here is the 2 finger gap of the TRDs in back:
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/330000-330999/330754_106_full.jpg

Then here is the 1 finger gap (if that) of the Hotchkis up front:
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/330000-330999/330754_96_full.jpg

And here is the 1.5 finger gap of the hotchkis in back:
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/330000-330999/330754_97_full.jpg

If you want more pics, go here:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/330754/3

Hope this helps clear things up.

[kris5597]

awesome thanks i really appreciate it.

[Stryker Trailwood]

thats different then the hotchkis i seen before.

also note that theres a difference with the car on 17s versus 18s. the difference in front to back with the TRDs isnt as noticable with 18s

[Mr_Meaty]

Yeah...I'd have to agree with that.
Here's a couple pics of mine on Hotchkis when I had the 18s on there:

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/PJLikins/Rims/RimsSideMedium-1.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/PJLikins/Rims/RimsAngleMedium.jpg

[kris5597]

yes very true and if it looks like that with 17s then it will look even better with 18s thats what i want thanks a lot guys for everything!:wohow:

[Mr_Meaty]

Oh, and in case anyone is wondering...this is what my car looks like now with the hotchkis on stock 17s:

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/PJLikins/PJs%20tC/December%202007/TTPhotoShoot007Medium.jpg