Teins with stock shocks/struts, opinions?

[detroiter]

So I've boiled it down to using my stock shocks/struts because my Tokicos are certainly worn out from Michigan roads...now my question is are the stockers ok for use with the Teins or am I better off just putting the stock springs back on as well?

[1.5]

You needed a second thread for the same question?

The answer is still the same... yes you can use your teins on those just fine.

[detroiter]

Wow, I forgot about making that other thread. 16 hour work days do that to you :( Thanks for the reply though, I'm just torn if I want to go back to stock ride height or keep it lowered.

The pros are if I go back to stock height, the ride comfort will be a lot softer and not
so much extra wear on the tires

The pros with Teins is that I'm already lowered so I won't have to fork out for another
alignment and also the car looks pretty good with it.

Choices choices...

[1.5]

Dont go back to stock height its ugly and handles like jello. Don't worry about your stock shocks, mine had 70k miles before I pulled them and they are fine. You can deff run those at least until you get new tokicos.

[b20vteg]

s-techs rolling on stock shocks is "supposed" to ride almost as well as stock springs. not sure yet, but i'll find out later this afternoon - installing mine this afternoon... will check back here and report ride quality.

[1.5]

The teins will be stiffer and tighter than stock.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Expect half the life (at most) as those Tokico's if you drive on the same roads as you did. lol.

[b20vteg]

just got back home from installing my s-techs at a friend's house...

verdict: with bump stops cut @ 50% as per the instructions provided by tein, the ride is IDENTICAL to stock. handling definitely feels improved somehow, even thought the springs are soft as hell... will post up pics tomorrow.

[1.5]

Good call on not going stock height

[detroiter]

Don't forget after a week or two, to get the alignment checked and squared away!

[b20vteg]

Don't forget after a week or two, to get the alignment checked and squared away!

will do. although the car feels great - not pulling in either direction on the freeway.

pics as promised (phone camera doesn't like the sun):

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/b20vteg/yaris_stechs1.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e110/b20vteg/yaris_stechs2.jpg

geez, i feel like i totally jacked this thread :redface:

[detroiter]

Don't feel that way at all man, I totally don't mind!

The car looks great! I think this is the first "new style" Yaris that I've seen lowered too, it looks already really low for just installing them. After a week or two, the springs will settle in even more. That's why I was saying to keep an eye on that alignment, it feels alright now but once they settle in more, it's going to change for sure.

Have your cruised around a bit since the installation? How does it feel driving with the stock shockers? Any kind of bounciness or pogo'ing?

[b20vteg]

nope, not at all. as stated in my previous post:

verdict: with bump stops cut @ 50% as per the instructions provided by tein, the ride is IDENTICAL to stock.

not bouncy and no pogoing at all. the ride quality is exactly the same as stock. i wonder if the stock spring rates are different though from gen2 to gen3, because the s-techs are definitely softer than my stock springs. :iono:

[1.5]

Congrats enjoy them, I had no idea you were in a '12. Give em a good 100-200miles or so and hit some twisties. Hope they settle a little more for you.

[detroiter]

I just got back from changing my shocks/struts as well...

Well er....shocks anyways. My mechanic just moved shops and he didn't have the
spring compressor mounted to the wall yet, so he couldn't do the struts. He forgot about that until he went to do them. So the rear shocks were installed at least and I have to wait until tuesday to get the struts installed.

I can say without a doubt, those Tokicos must have seriously been blown out or something because instantly driving away, with just the rears installed, it was a night and day difference. It was like driving on a cloud and the rear was MUCH more flat and stable. Soaked up bumps and dips without beating you up. I guess since shocks and struts wear out over time usually, you just don't realize how bad the ride quality is until you get them replaced. I look forwards to getting the struts on and I'll be smooth sailing


B20, just give it a week or two until they settle in, they will feel much better and not so soft.

[1.5]

So you kept the teins you had?

You can rent a spring compressor from Advance for free. Its $50 deposit and when you return it you get the full $50 back.

[detroiter]

yeah, i just kept it on the teins and put the the stock shocks back on. Well I had my mechanic put the shocks and struts on, but he couldn't do the front struts because of his machine not being installed. I'll just take it back on Tuesday and he'll do it in no time.

Rides a night and day difference with just the rears, can't imagine what it'll be like when the fronts get installed

[1.5]

Nice!!! Suspension mods are the best.

[detroiter]

It was funny because being from Detroit, it's like 8 out of 10 cars are domestics...the shop was all lifted F-150's, old muscle cars, etc...

So I pull in and this one guy starts talking to me and says that he likes it. He's kind of giving it a funny look and turns to me, he then says "you know, that thing is really low!" lol. I've seen lower cars than that but I guess for a econo car like a Yaris, it is pretty low.

[1.5]

lol especially for detroit with the roads you guys have

[detroiter]

Lol have you seen the roads here? It's like driving through Bagdhad!

Tampa a month ago was amazing to drive through, I love the roads there. The only thing that gets me and maybe it's because I'm from Detroit (cars and racing is in our blood lol)...is that it seems EVERYONE drives like a 300 year old grandma lol. I must have looked like a asshat whizzing in and out of traffic...yet I was only doing the speed limit and going around everyone who is doing like 10 under!

[1.5]

Haha^^ Yea our roads are pretty decent. The reason "...it seems EVERYONE drives like a 300 year old grandma..." is because 80% of the drivers here ARE 300 year old grandmas lol

[detroiter]

haha very true...I was also shocked how many Denny's there are! We used to have them around here but now they are kind of few and far between. In Winter Park, there was one on almost every corner lol

[1.5]

Wow lucky they have always been all over the place around here but lately a lot of them have been closing too.

[20104dr]

Just an FYI, you dont need spring compressors to change out struts that have lowering springs. They are already shorter than the original. The spring tension isnt as high as stock springs on stock struts or any strut.

[1.5]

Not all lowering springs are shorter ^

My ksports were the exact same size as stock springs

[detroiter]

I totally forgot all about that! If I remember right, the Teins definitely are a bit on the short side compared to stockers. Wish I had a hand nearby to help me finish the fronts so it helps save me a few bucks and also cut the waiting time to get it done.