Investigating lowering Options

[Mangozac]

Hi guys,

Following on from my thread here I've been investigating lowering the Celi. I've done a bunch of searching and reading but still am a bit confused. I'll be doing all the installation myself, just need to get the parts.

So I'd prefer to get some Tein S-techs but just for kicks I went and saw a suspension place across from my work to see what they reckon. Note that they generally seem to raise more than lower - most of their clientele is 4WD owners looking to jack their cars up.
Anyway he quoted me AU$154 (about $120 US) a pair for a set of King Springs which he said would lower about 34mm. Fair enough.
I then asked about some struts. He recommended some KYB performance struts (dunno which ones) and they were about $250 each! So that's like $1000 just on the struts! For that kind of price it would be worth getting coilovers!

So I have a couple of questions:

1. How much should a set of Tein S-Techs cost me?
2. The Celi is 8 1/2 years old - is it really necessary that I replace the struts also when I lower?
3. I can't really afford more than about $500-600 on the project so if I can't do it properly for that price I won't bother at all.

The listed Tein dealer around here is Maroochy Car Sound, who I don't believe is the cheapest place to buy stuff I'll give them a call today and check it out....

Thanks,

Zac

[uberschall]

if i might make a brief contribution:

i happen to own BOTH an oem shock/tein s.tech setup AND tein super streets. in fact, i just switched from the coilovers to the oem kit today, as i'm planning to rebuild my ss dampers and wanted to save them the punishment of the detroit winter (freexing temperatures, and salt on the roads...injustices you hopefully never encounter).

the ss dampers are FANTASTIC. worth every penny you might pay for them. i race autocross, and the super streets put the celica in a handling class all it's own. while the car is at a power disadvantage to most of it's competitors, the suspension (and good tire choices) more than make up for it. the ability to corner-weight the car and dial in the appropriate height/damping combination is awesome. they not only handle fantastically, the ride is surprisingly livable day-to-day as well.

however, if you're not racing.... the s.techs are plenty of a drop for anyone who drives more than perfectly-paved carparks (i have snow to contend with, too...but honestly, lowering a car too much makes driving a hassle), and the ride is even better. if you are looking for aesthetics alone, i would highly suggest the s.techs, as they're far more economical than any coilover setup (even with new shocks) and ride better than the oem springs OR fancy adjustables.

that's my $.02, anyway.

[Mangozac]

if i might make a brief contribution:

Thanks uberschall, really appreciated.

For me performance is as important as aesthetics. Comfort is still important but second to the first two. As I've said before they are really only for street use (although I'd love to try the celi on a track some day).

The reasons I decided against the s.techs was that a) they seem overly expensive and b) they don't seem to give a noticeable enough drop. I'd like about 40-50mm on both the front and back. It seemed like the Pedders Sportsryder springs were the best bet if I only had to do the springs but the shocks need replacing too, thus the reason I am leaning towards coilovers.

Whilst everybody raves about the ss dampers, and they aren't too ridiculously priced, I'm hesitant about them because:
a) For warranty problems they have to be sent back to Japan to be rebuilt. In the meantime the car must be off the road for weeks (months?).
b) They have an 8-week lead time as they aren't stocked in the country (oz).

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I did a lot of reading about the D2/G4 coilovers last night and after that I'm now a little hesitant. The general consensus is that they are crap but good value. The thing is that I don't want to be having to replace parts any time soon (I'd expect at least 60,000km out of them). On the plus side, replacement parts for the D2/G4s are readily available, the Teins don't seem to be so friendly...

If the ss dampers were in the country I would probably bite the bullet and get them. Is there any other similar price/quality brands to the teins?

I briefly read about people building their own coilovers using some kind of sleeve kit and normal shocks. Any comments about this?