Suspension Dilemma

I have had both setups, the k-sports are ok, but they are very squeaky, but it could very well be my tires (they are way to big). If i had to do it all over again, i would have probably got the bilstein and the h-tech's. Mostly because i'm getting old, and my wife complains about my driving. Cant have much fun with the car anymore.

I have the bilstein and the s-tech sitting in my kitchen. I have not decided if i want to sell them yet. But if i do, it would be a direct bold on. Should not take somebody more then half an hour with air tools to install them, about an hour or two with out air tools. The springs are about a year and a half old and the struts are about a year old. I paid around 550 for both brand new.

You are in BR right? Well if you ever come down to metairie, and you want to see how the k-sports feel like, just let me know and maybe we can meet up somewhere.

I agree with what Jspex said with the Koni's but in my case, i've never had any aftermarket parts for my suspension for my corolla when I had it. Now that I have the civic, everyone tells me to get Koni's fully adjustable struts and thats what everyone on the civic forums is getting with no negative feedback. They are supposedly the best thing for my gen civic. Im sure their product reliability carries onto corolla's....

I don't get out much, but if you're ever in BR, let me know. How was the ride with the bilsteins and s-techs? You know how bad south Louisiana roads are. How would that compare to GR-2's w/ S-techs?

I don't usually go to br that often, not this weekend, but maybe next, i might make it up there.

The handling was great, driving on good roads or the interstate, felt just like stock (but that was on 17" rims and 40-45 series tires. Now the problem comes in when you hit a dip in the road or crack in the road. If you are on stock tires and rims, you will have no problem. But if you have the wrong combination of rims(offset) and tires(size), then you are going to have a problem with the rear tires rubbing the fenders, unless you roll them.
Are you familiar about the section of the interstate right before the spillway, going towards New Orleans, that's really choppy? Like there are a series of dips, about 5 in a row? Well anyways its horrible. Any dip like that you you will feel like you are about to bounce out of the car.

Well i never had the GR-2 but i have herd that they comes stock on the car? Or at least they are the stock replacement. I wouldn't personally recommend them for the s-techs. When i went to change out the stock ones for the bilsteins, three out of the four were blown. The bilsteins are a little bit thicker than the stock ones too.

On that note, the k-sports ride much better and are much lighter, than the strut/spring combo.
The only real problem i have with them are the brake line mount, or lack there of. And the cheesy metal things that they give you to mount them to some where. Oh and the 200 dollar price difference.

Like i said, if i had to do it over again, i would have gone with the bilsteins and the h-techs. The car wouldn't be as low or handle quite as well, but the ride would probably be much much better.

I"ve heard people say that the Bilsteins were stock replacement as well, but I dunno. I'll keep doing my homework. I know I want the S-Techs, tho. I think I'll just go ahead and order them when my tax returns come in this week(ish). Did you need camber bolts to keep the alignment in check?

ofcourse they are oem replacements.

UPDATE: I just ordered Tokico HP shocks ($316 shipped!). Should be here in 2 weeks. What springs should I get to get decent lowering (but not too low... crappy roads in S. Louisiana!). I'm thinking about the H&R's. How do they look on 8th gens? Again, any and all help is appreciated.

I don't think you'll be able to get the same H&R springs I have locally. phal99 from VVTi.net is riding on H&R's also but i guess he has a different model because he only gets a 1.5" drop and his spring rate is kinda soft.

Where did you get yours?

Hey if you are really set on the s-tech, i'll sell you mine for a really good price. They have not been on the car that long. I think about a year? They are still in very good condition, since i don't drive that much. I really have no use for them since i have the k-sports now.

I can take pics of them if you want too. Still have the box and everything. And these are real, not the fakes ones some people are trying to sell on ebay.

http://www.tein.com/counterfeit/warning.html

I don't know about them. I've heard of more than a few corolla owners using the Tokicos with S-Techs and having premature blowouts. That's why I'm very strongly leaning towards the H&Rs. We'll see. I get paid again on March 2nd (), then I can order the springs.

I got it from my ae101 back in Manila, Philippines.

Nice! So you think the H&R Race Springs (supposed to be a 1.5" drop) will lower the car enough to still ride nicely but also look low enough?

Yes, it might have a "stock" feel ride. You just might be disappointed about the drop, it may give you a 4-3 finger gap from the tires to the fender. If you just want your car to look low and don't care very much about the performance, just get Teins S-Tech.

I want it to be a little lower (but not slammed). Louisiana roads are total crap. Besides, I think with the spring/shock combo I'll have, the car will still be compliant enough for DD, but it will also be better for an autoX or 2.
I'm looking into Whiteline rear sways as well. Might get one by the end of the year.

^ def get the whiteline rsb, they are a vast improvement for our 8th gen stock rsb (just got mine a few days ago)

check out the group buy forum in toyotanation
raptorracing might have two left in the warehouse in the US since i bought one of them..191$ shipped.

Ground control front and TRD rear (both use EIBACH springs) with koni internally adjustable shocks and struts. i have the front end about 1/2 inch high.



i swear by eibach springs. if you know the spring height and diameter you need you can go on there site and order your springs in ANY spring rate you could want. the koni shocks/struts have been awesome, ive raced on them for over 3 years and street driven for 5 total... they are on theyre last leg but still holding strong. ill either get a new set of koni externally adjustable, tokico HTS, or KYB AGX.

i had all tokico shocks/struts and springs on my old 83 280zx and the ride was very comfortable, yet sporting enough for the heavy car.

Very nice. I love your car.
I can't wait to get my H&R's in and put them on my car along with the Tokico HPs I have sitting in the garage.
I'll post pics (before/after) when I take a day to put them all on.

sounds like a nice setup...


im just suprised that nobody has mentioned eibach yet...

I like Eibach, but the Sportline is too much, while the Prokit just isn't enough for me.
I knew that with Groud Control coilovers, you could get custom springrates, but I didnt' know you could get totally custom springs. I'll have to remember that later when I get a project car. I'm trying to find an AW11 or AE86. There's also I guy that's getting rid of a FWD turbo FWD 1g DSM. If I did get that one, tho, I'd do the AWD drivetrain first off. But that's another topic.

where did you buy your stuff? i cant find a list of suppliers anywhere