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Home > Performance Mods > Suspension & Brakes > Lowering Springs: What To Do!?

Lowering Springs: What To Do!?

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Platt
  • Detailer
 I have been doing mad research on lowering springs for the tC. My final top 2 choices are TRD & Hotchkins. For right now I am planning on keeping my stock shocks/struts.

I realized the TRD drop is 1.25 in. and i think with my 18's it will look good. Now i heard after the TRD springs settle for a month or so the drop is close to 2 in!? Is this true or b.s?

I want a smooth ride, not a bouncy hard annoying ride if you know what i mean. I heard the TRD springs work great with the stock shocks/struts and its quite comfortable.

I have heard bad things about the TRD's not being an even drop. Is this true?

For Hotchkins I love how these springs even out the cars height by lowering it more in the rear.

My main concern is will my shocks/struts wear faster with these springs since the drop is lower, or will it not make that much of a difference/

And how will the tC ride after? More rocky than the TRD or about the same?

These are my issues so please give me some good feedback and help me get the best springs for my tC!

Thanks in advance.

[#] Nov 21, 2005 02:47pm
viro
  • Detailer
 I lowered my car with TRD's. I also have 18's and it looks really nice!!!

Uneven? i do not think so, my car looks straight...

the 1.25" drop is enough to make the car handle and look better, and to be honest with you, i haven't noticed a difference in comfort...

my 2 cents.

[#] Nov 21, 2005 04:10pm
Platt
  • Detailer
 Hey thanks for the reply. Got any pics you can show me?

I just found out that the Hotchkins springs are linear which won't add that much stress on the stock shocks/struts unlike the TRD's which are progressive.

At this point in time i am leaning more towards the Hotchkins because of the drop difference and what i said above.

I care about looks but also ride quality is equally important. The price difference is not a whole lot, so i don't care about $, i just want the better spring for my car.

TRD or Hotchkins?

[#] Nov 21, 2005 05:24pm
jozif
  • Oil Changer
 I decided on the hotchkis over TRD. SLightly more drop to get rid of the gap, and from what I've heard keeps the ride quality pretty good.

From what I've heard, your shocks/struts will hold out about as well with hotchkis as with TRD.

[#] Nov 21, 2005 06:17pm
2dot4
Missouri, US
  • Tech Advisor
Platt wrote:
Hey thanks for the reply. Got any pics you can show me?

I just found out that the Hotchkins springs are linear which won't add that much stress on the stock shocks/struts unlike the TRD's which are progressive.

At this point in time i am leaning more towards the Hotchkins because of the drop difference and what i said above.

I care about looks but also ride quality is equally important. The price difference is not a whole lot, so i don't care about $, i just want the better spring for my car.

TRD or Hotchkins?


I'm getting TRD. And if you want better ride quality, progressive springs are better. And neither springs will tear up your struts if it's within a 2" drop - the only thing that will destroy your struts is if you lower your car way too much, and continually hit the bump stops. But a 1.25" drop won't do anything to your struts. If anything, the Hotchkis springs are more likely to do damage, because they lower the car more.

Also - all springs settle, so expect an additional .25"-.5" of drop within the two weeks or so following installation. some manufacturers include the additional .25"-.5" drop in their numbers, and some don't. but it's nothing to be concerned about. I had megan springs on my accord, and they lowered another .5" within the first week.

You want my opinion, get TRD - it doesn't void your warranty - hotchkis will. And the TRD springs have their own 12/12 warranty.

[#] Nov 22, 2005 02:49pm
suhhhh
  • Tire Changer
 consider eibach, that's what i have.
a bit expensive, but i believe eibach is the best in the market.

[#] Nov 22, 2005 03:56pm
Platt
  • Detailer
 Arn't the TRD springs made by eibach? That is what i have heard...

I really like how the TRD springs do not void the warrenty which is a biggie. You never know what can happen!

I'm just not sure if the TRD springs are going to fill enough of my wheel gap. That is why i considered going with Hotchkins.

Considering i have 18's is there really that much difference in the drop between TRD and Hotchkins? And i mean after they have time to settle...

[#] Nov 23, 2005 03:00pm
stcboy
Hacienda Heights
California, US
  • Oil Changer
 I took couple of months to decide what springs I wanted and i went with TRD springs. I love 'em because the drop makes it look more aggressive. There is a small gap left but i prefer that because if u drop it too much, it'll go over the wheels and doesnt look good unless you get spacers. Also, the ride was smooth and pretty nice without having to deal with speed bumps too much. You may scratch on some driveways but usually not. My friend worked at the Eibach and they do make some springs for TRD. Toyota just puts their sticker on them. Eibach is a good way to go too but for pricing, TRD is pretty damn good. Bought mine at www.mcgeorgeparts.com.

[#] Nov 23, 2005 11:03pm
jozif
  • Oil Changer
Platt wrote:
Arn't the TRD springs made by eibach? That is what i have heard...

I really like how the TRD springs do not void the warrenty which is a biggie. You never know what can happen!

I'm just not sure if the TRD springs are going to fill enough of my wheel gap. That is why i considered going with Hotchkins.

Considering i have 18's is there really that much difference in the drop between TRD and Hotchkins? And i mean after they have time to settle...


What part of the warranty are you saying would be voided by Hotchkis? And under what conditions?

The only time the warranty will NOT be voided by the dealer if the springs do happen to cause a failure is if the dealer installed them. Otherwise the dealer will say it could have been cause by the installation. That's true of any part, OEM or otherwise.

Also, say you replace your springs and something breaks and the dealer says they won't warranty it even though it's something that should normally be covered. Unless the dealer can prove that the springs caused the failure, it doesn't matter if they're OEM, TRD, or Tein they still have to cover it under warranty.

[#] Nov 24, 2005 03:03am
tikbhoy
  • Vehicle Designer
suhhhh wrote:
consider eibach, that's what i have.
a bit expensive, but i believe eibach is the best in the market.


prokit ?

sportline ?

[#] Nov 24, 2005 01:34pm
Platt
  • Detailer
 I went with TRD springs. Just ordered them today and i can't wait till they get here!

Question, after settlement do you think the drop will be 1.5 in?

[#] Nov 28, 2005 02:47pm
Vicious
Orlando
Florida, US
  • El Chupacabra
 yea, they'll eventually sag to 1.5... still within the specs

[#] Nov 29, 2005 10:28am
Oje
  • Tech Advisor
 Why do people buy the struts? Is it because they will hold up better on a lowered car, they will make the ride smoother, or both?

I want to lower my tC yesterday thats how bad i want it done, but i dont want to lose my ride quality. I had an SRT-4 and only did springs, not shocks and it rode like crap after i lowered it. I dealt with the ride because i loved how it looked but after going back to such a smooth ride i dont want to lose that if i lower it again.

[#] Nov 29, 2005 07:22pm
Vicious
Orlando
Florida, US
  • El Chupacabra
 Trd won't require swapping out your struts and from what I hear TRD is the comfiest ride out of all the other spring brands.. you really should try using the search button

[#] Nov 29, 2005 11:20pm
CervezA
  • Window Washer
Oje wrote:
Why do people buy the struts? Is it because they will hold up better on a lowered car, they will make the ride smoother, or both?

I want to lower my tC yesterday thats how bad i want it done, but i dont want to lose my ride quality. I had an SRT-4 and only did springs, not shocks and it rode like crap after i lowered it. I dealt with the ride because i loved how it looked but after going back to such a smooth ride i dont want to lose that if i lower it again.


No offense but your tC isn't a dodge

People do the struts for more of a sport tuned suspension. If you're on a track going through corners, you'd notice the difference.

[#] Nov 29, 2005 11:47pm
Platt
  • Detailer
 That is why i didn't go with Hotchkins or Tein. That much of a drop (2 + inches) is hell on your stock shocks/struts!! Ya, you might be fine for a month or two but they will blow eventually and your ride quality will be shit.

That is why i chose TRD. I am a everyday driver in my tC and i wanted some springs that would make my car look great without sacrificing ride quality and blown shocks...

People say the TRD drop is crap, and it doesn't look lowered at all. I just laugh. They look so much better in person and look so nice with 18's! Plus they settle really nice.

I am glad i chose TRD. Why spend an extra 500 bucks on aftermarket shocks/struts if u don't have to!

[#] Nov 30, 2005 01:43pm
Oje
  • Tech Advisor
Vicious wrote:
Trd won't require swapping out your struts and from what I hear TRD is the comfiest ride out of all the other spring brands.. you really should try using the search button


I'll thank you for answering my question.

However, the last comment is not needed and annoys me more than anything. What is the point of a forum? Please explain it to me, my understanding was that people are supposed to post messages for others to respond to. Therefore (sticking to your theory) if everyone used the search button, eventually most of the forums would never get posted in because everything will have already been covered.

[#] Dec 01, 2005 07:29pm
Vicious
Orlando
Florida, US
  • El Chupacabra
 it's just that a couple of days ago I once saw this type of question in the General discussion/suspension/exterior/ and engine sections at one time.. i'm just asking that you use the search button first before asking such a frequently asked question beforehand but in regards to your question I'd go with TRD.. I'm running TEIN's and I love 'em

[#] Dec 04, 2005 09:46am
Platt
  • Detailer
 TRD springs are finally in my car and i love them! The drop looks amazing with my 18's and it handels great! I payed my dealership 344 for labor and alignment. I will post pics as soon as the wheather warms up (9 degrees) so i can clean it up real good.

[#] Dec 07, 2005 01:31pm
wasabi1787
  • Tire Changer
 I just instlled trd shocks/springs and it is a huge improvement

the ride is slighty rougher but body roll and handling are improved tenfold.
save yourself $500 and install them yourself. 4 hours max.

[#] Jan 05, 2006 03:26pm

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