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

[bccentaur3]

Since you want tein s techs you can drop the car on some kyb gr2's. They are oem replacements struts. And yes you should replace your struts when lowering it, for the reason the car is old and you want to do the job once. Its a good idea to change out your strut mounts too. All in all since you are doing it yourself like a lot of us 6th geners it not going to cost you more than 600$ in parts. Since you are in AU I doubt you have any rust on your car. So you wont go breaking tools left and right. lol.

[Supersprynt]

KYB doesn't make any performance struts for the Celica, besides, that's way overpricing for KYB.

Check out the parts database for more ideas.

[Mangozac]

Since you want tein s techs you can drop the car on some kyb gr2's. They are oem replacements struts. And yes you should replace your struts when lowering it, for the reason the car is old and you want to do the job once. Its a good idea to change out your strut mounts too. All in all since you are doing it yourself like a lot of us 6th geners it not going to cost you more than 600$ in parts. Since you are in AU I doubt you have any rust on your car. So you wont go breaking tools left and right. lol.

Ahh but I live on the beach so rust is actually a problem. That said, she has no rust anywhere (that I know of) yet

KYB doesn't make any performance struts for the Celica, besides, that's way overpricing for KYB.

Check out the parts database for more ideas.

OK I don't remember exactly what they were but as you say, it's still ridiculously overpriced. I totally forgot about the parts database! Thanks.

[punkuup5150]

try andysautosport.com i think for the whoel set up shouldnt cost more then 4-500 if im right plus if u belong to a team u get a discount and if ur not on a car club team ect and u know a friend who is and has a website have them add u and ur car for a day or 2 and get the discount

oh i just researched it 433.40 before taxes and shipping and if u get the team discount its less but i know u can find the springs cheeper then 201.00 i think ive seen people selling them on here for 170 ish

Car Club Discount Members Receive:

15%
Parts manufactured by Andy's Auto Sport

10%
All other outside parts



This post has been edited by punkuup5150: Dec 17, 2007 - 11:56 PM

[Mangozac]

oh i just researched it 433.40 before taxes and shipping and if u get the team discount its less but i know u can find the springs cheeper then 201.00 i think ive seen people selling them on here for 170 ish

Thanks dude it's a nice thought but shipping costs from the US are nasty for big heavy stuff like that

It sucks that all this kind of stuff is so much more expensive here!

[an02]

it all depends on the height which you are dropping it to .. if your going to a maximum of 2 inches , i say it'll be fine ..

i had 2 inch pedders springs on for about a year or so , and they've never done me wrong , this was all done with the stock struts and what not .. plus my car is a 95' model ..

anything lower ?! i'd suggest coilovers !!

hope that helps

[Mangozac]

it all depends on the height which you are dropping it to .. if your going to a maximum of 2 inches , i say it'll be fine ..

i had 2 inch pedders springs on for about a year or so , and they've never done me wrong , this was all done with the stock struts and what not .. plus my car is a 95' model ..

anything lower ?! i'd suggest coilovers !!

hope that helps

Thanks mate. I't'll only be 1 to 1.5" (preferably the latter). What was the handling like when you just swapped the springs? For me improving the handling is just as important as improving the looks.

[thespacepanda]

For a 1" to 1.5" drop with performance gains might I suggest the Eibach Sportlines. They do increase the stiffness of the ride and provide a 1.5" drop all around. I have the Pro-Kits on mine but they're a lot more expensive for a very stiff ride. I think the Sportlines are the way to go.

[k-weaver]

I just lowered mine and spent less than $500. I got my KYB's from http://importrp.com/cart.php I believe they were about 50 bucks a piece. After shipping it came out to be like $230. I went with the S-Techs and got them for $140 on ebay. Had to order some parts from the dealer which set me back about $50 and after the 4 wheel alignment that brings my grand total to about $490.

[an02]

it all depends on the height which you are dropping it to .. if your going to a maximum of 2 inches , i say it'll be fine ..

i had 2 inch pedders springs on for about a year or so , and they've never done me wrong , this was all done with the stock struts and what not .. plus my car is a 95' model ..

anything lower ?! i'd suggest coilovers !!

hope that helps

Thanks mate. I't'll only be 1 to 1.5" (preferably the latter). What was the handling like when you just swapped the springs? For me improving the handling is just as important as improving the looks.

no worries dude !! the handling ?! .. beautiful !! it really was a perfect match for our aussie roads .. bumps and pot holes = no problems ..

its all up to you on how low you wanna go .. personally , i wouldnt go with 1"-1.5" you'd hardley notice anything , then once your use to the look , you'll want to go even more lower .. 2" was ok for a while .. anything lower then that and you'll have less travel from your shocks , which means your shocks will be hitting metal on metal .. over bumps and holes it'll feel like you have no shocks at all .. trust me i went 3" on stock shocks , felt like the car was gonna snap in half ..

now i'm at about 4" maybe lower .. LOL's , but thats on coilovers ..

hope that helps even more !!

[Mangozac]

After talking to Rom (DSRTFX) I'm now seriously considering some D2 coilovers so that I can adjust it for the perfect height. The driveway where I stay on the Gold Coast (when at uni) is too steep so I could even raise it a little when at uni and then drop it when I'm on uni holidays at the Sunny Coast.

I've got a new contact through a client of mine so I'll call him today to see about the D2s. For what it seems a set of springs and shocks will cost me the D2s seem really good value.

[an02]

After talking to Rom (DSRTFX) I'm now seriously considering some D2 coilovers so that I can adjust it for the perfect height. The driveway where I stay on the Gold Coast (when at uni) is too steep so I could even raise it a little when at uni and then drop it when I'm on uni holidays at the Sunny Coast.

I've got a new contact through a client of mine so I'll call him today to see about the D2s. For what it seems a set of springs and shocks will cost me the D2s seem really good value.

maybe rom's selling his ?! lol's .. he is the person to ask for when it comes to info on shot shocks .. he is the master !! lol's i know ur gunna see this rom !!

D2's on maximum height would probably be around a 2" drop from stock .. but that means tightening the spring .. which means your guna be changing spring loads and what not ..

[Mangozac]

maybe rom's selling his ?! lol's .. he is the person to ask for when it comes to info on shot shocks .. he is the master !! lol's i know ur gunna see this rom !!

D2's on maximum height would probably be around a 2" drop from stock .. but that means tightening the spring .. which means your guna be changing spring loads and what not ..

This is all getting too hard! I don't want to go any more than 2" at this stage but it sounds like even the D2's aren't going to be that suitable

Might have to chat to some more people and see what they reckon - maybe just lowering springs would work ok.

[NGHTKD]

i got 2" pedders and they the perfect height i rekon. like its a perfect balance - not too low but still lower enough to recognise, and the handling is just an awesome, so stable!!! but pedders are the lowest off the shelf spring in Aussie for our cars and are priced reasonably!!!

[Mangozac]

i got 2" pedders and they the perfect height i rekon. like its a perfect balance - not too low but still lower enough to recognise, and the handling is just an awesome, so stable!!! but pedders are the lowest off the shelf spring in Aussie for our cars and are priced reasonably!!!

Hey Callum do you know what the actual name for the springs was - Sports Ryder? How much did you pay?

I'm thinking that something easy to get like that may be the go. Plus, as you say, 2" seems to be the right height....

[NGHTKD]

-SportsRyder
-$340 for just springs, but they may vary in price. plus i got mate to install em so way cheaper, i think its closer to $600installed.

[Mangozac]

-SportsRyder
-$340 for just springs, but they may vary in price. plus i got mate to install em so way cheaper, i think its closer to $600installed.

Cool thanks man. You didn't do the shocks also? Was there a noticeable difference in the handling with the new springs?

[NGHTKD]

i didnt bother doing shocks and theres no sign of the stock ones giving up.
the handling... bloody awesome. like i remember the bodyroll of the stock car and its reduced so much, car becomes so much more stable and combined with the torqy (but powerless haha) engine it has surprised quite a few cars through the turns. suspension has been the most 'satisfying' mod ive done!

[Mangozac]

OK update time.

I went into Pedders yesterday and sussed thing out. A set of Sports Ryder springs will cost $340 + installation (but I'm doing that myself). They seem pretty decent quality, and drop 50mm (~2"). Everyone else seems to recommend them also.

But anyway I'm booked in for a 14-point suspension check on Thursday. That will give me a report on the condition of my current struts, etc. If they say that I need new struts then I reckon I might as well go the whole hog and get the D2s. Otherwise I'll prolly just get the sports ryders.

The only downside to the D2s is that the suppliers don't open up until the 7th of January so I wouldn't be able to get them until after the holidays. I wanted to get it all done before I go back to work so that if worst comes to worst I can have the car in bits for a couple of days...

What do you guys with D2s have to say about the quality? Would you recommend them? Is there any nasty surprises? From what I have read the initial ones D2 made were a bit dodgy but they seem to have sorted the quality issues out now.