sport strut/shocks options

[tmontague]

Does anyone know of the available shock/strut option for our Yaris?

I know Tokiko Blues are no longer made and their are a handful of Coilovers for the Yaris (Megan EZ street and Teine Basis being the least costly it seems)


TRD has sport versions but their price is astronomical.
But what about KYB Excel G's? I've read on various forums on line that they are just another variation of the OEM versions. I've also heard that TRD's are just rebadged KYB's?

Does anyone have any experience w/ KYB's or know of any other options?

[MUSKOKA800]

My TRD dampers are manufactured by KYB with KYB stamped right on their body. They are however valved to TRD spec with much higher damping rates than OEM spec.
KYB Excel G dampers may be a new name for their GR2's of the past which were advertised as OE replacement spec. I used GR2's along with Eibach ProKit springs in my '95 Talon. The combo worked well with a much more "comfortable" ride than the TRD package in my Yaris.

[Exiwolfman]

KYB and Tein springs for last 50k ( combination of sprtline springs and now on Teins )
I find they are priced well and work with out any issues.

[tmontague]

Did you notice if the KYB were stiffer than the oem's?

[Exiwolfman]

Did you notice if the KYB were stiffer than the oem's?

Yes...but nothing crazy definitely better than stock and can take the abuse of lowering springs , just make sure to cut ur bump stops .
Over all they work great :thumbup:

[ern-diz]

...and can take the abuse of lowering springs

Based on posts in this thread, KYB became my choice for replacement of the stock struts/shocks if/when they go, but someone said literally the exact opposite in another thread about this. Post claimed the KYB's weren't going to make the 10k mark. How many miles are you in on your KYB's, Exiwolfman?

[Exiwolfman]

Based on posts in this thread, KYB became my choice for replacement of the stock struts/shocks if/when they go, but someone said literally the exact opposite in another thread about this. Post claimed the KYB's weren't going to make the 10k mark. How many miles are you in on your KYB's, Exiwolfman?

Just have answered that post and i would say im at 60km now and 2 winters , first sportlines now on teins and the kyb's are holding up well .

[ern-diz]

Just have answered that post and i would say im at 60km now and 2 winters , first sportlines now on teins and the kyb's are holding up well .

Okay, good to know. Thanks for the info.

[jmanous]

Its nice to have some feedback.

The comment was: I *feel* that they wont last with the particular springs (megan) because I drive in NYC & NJ a lot and there are gigantic ditches everywhere... Time will tell. :)

[ern-diz]

Its nice to have some feedback.

The comment was: I *feel* that they wont last with the particular springs (megan) because I drive in NYC & NJ a lot and there are gigantic ditches everywhere... Time will tell. :)

Also good to know; thanks. :thumbsup:

[soldout]

Guys that are already lowered and daily drive their cars during winter with snow how does your Yaris perform? I bought WS80s for winter and have purchased MI springs about a month ago but also want to swap the shocks for the TRD shocks. I have a huge 2400 mile trip for work coming up and was planning on doing the springs and shocks when I return but I am wondering if I should lower at all because of daily driving and snow.

[Bluevitz-rs]

Guys that are already lowered and daily drive their cars during winter with snow how does your Yaris perform? I bought WS80s for winter and have purchased MI springs about a month ago but also want to swap the shocks for the TRD shocks. I have a huge 2400 mile trip for work coming up and was planning on doing the springs and shocks when I return but I am wondering if I should lower at all because of daily driving and snow.

I'd personally wait until spring to lower.

[tmontague]

I was going to wait until spring as well but then just said f*ck it and installed them in August when I got them.

Where I live there is at most ~4 snow falls a winter that accumulate anywhere from 10-20cm. Maybe 1 that is over 15cm. With my ride height I should be fine in anything up to 15cm and have zero issues in anything up to 10cm.

The roads are cleared enough and if it's that deep then I just don't drive to school that day and call my own snow day.

If I waited i'd just have been in the same boat next winter anyways. I'm happy with my decision, but all the above are things you'd need to consider with where you live.

Keep in mind, it's more the axles that bottom out first (as well as front bumper I guess) and when you are lowering your car your axles aren't really going any lower.

[WeeYari]

I got me a good little crease in one of my rockers. Caused by a hunk of wheel well ice that was lying in the entrance to a strip mall. Could happen at stock height yes, but that much of a greater risk when lowered. It's not necessarily all about beaching yourself in snow. Just saying...

[tmontague]

good point...I wonder if that is why one of my rocker panels when I purchased it has a smoother indent (no paint damage or scratch) along the middle of it?

You definitely need to be more careful if you're driving in snow when you're lowered. Personally if I absolutely had to drive on a day that had more than 10cm of snow and the plows had not been out yet, I'd just take the fiancees Echo which is stock height and allows me to worry less.

[Exiwolfman]

good point...I wonder if that is why one of my rocker panels when I purchased it has a smoother indent (no paint damage or scratch) along the middle of it?

You definitely need to be more careful if you're driving in snow when you're lowered. Personally if I absolutely had to drive on a day that had more than 10cm of snow and the plows had not been out yet, I'd just take the fiancees Echo which is stock height and allows me to worry less.

HAHAHA ... come up here to Collingwood and drive in the winter with lowered car , im 2 inch lower and we get feet of snow not cm .
So far no problems i just give her lol and go for it but if it gets to deep just use the Juke lol

[tmontague]

aaaaaah, the difference 1-2 hours North makes when you are talking about the great lakes

[Thirty-Nine]

So it looks like there aren't a whole lot of options, eh? I have about 60,000 miles on my Tokico HPs, and at some point they'll need replacing. I really don't want to install a set of coilovers again. Looks like my options are the Excel-G (which don't seem very high performance) or TRDs.

[tmontague]

So it looks like there aren't a whole lot of options, eh? I have about 60,000 miles on my Tokico HPs, and at some point they'll need replacing. I really don't want to install a set of coilovers again. Looks like my options are the Excel-G (which don't seem very high performance) or TRDs.

What was your experience w/ CO's?

[Frank the Tank]

I'm guessing the STAGG's that are all over eBay are junk?

[invader166]

I'm guessing the STAGG's that are all over eBay are junk?

Well...they're made in China, so......probably? :iono:

There's mixed reviews on them online. A couple of people on the forum use them and are happy with them, but apperently they don't last as long as KYB's? :iono:

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53550&highlight=stagg

I have a set and I'll be installing them next year with a new set of MI springs. I'll make a post about them at that time.

[tmontague]

If they are valved as performance shocks/struts than they'd be a great deal even if they don't last as long as the KYB's but i'm pretty sure that they're valved like OEM.

Looking forward to what you think of them when you install them

[Rigaud]

Koni Yellow!!!!!!

[Bluevitz-rs]

Koni Yellow!!!!!!

I've had mine for 10 years. Changed the oil in them once and repainted them. Almost 200,000km

[Rigaud]

:thumbsup:I've had mine for 10 years. Changed the oil in them once and repainted them. Almost 200,000km

[ern-diz]

I've had mine for 10 years. Changed the oil in them once and repainted them. Almost 200,000km

Searched their site and Yaris isn't in the list. Tried Echo just for kicks and there were no results. Assuming they don't make them for our cars anymore?

[Bluevitz-rs]

I think they were listed under scion xA, xB for pre 2005 chassis. Not sure if they continued on with the new body style.

[Thirty-Nine]

What was your experience w/ CO's?

I was not happy with the Megan Racing coilovers I had. They were extremely stiff, too low, and the paint flaked off the springs in less than a year. Plus, I never actually adjusted the height or damping, so I didn't really need them. They were great for autocross and track use (at least in terms of damping), but I don't competitively autocross anymore or track the vehicle, so I was looking for a good street setup. Megan Racing Coilovers were not it. Plus, their customer service was terrible. This was 2008.

I switched to Tokico HP shocks/struts and Tein springs and have been happy ever since. My Tokicos have about 60,000 miles on them, and while they may not need to be replaced yet, I've been curious as to what my options will be. At this point, I'm leaning to the STAGG setup, since I'm not convinced the KYB Excel-G are really a performance shock; more like an OE replacement. That being said, I don't know for certain if that's the case.

[invader166]

I think they were listed under scion xA, xB for pre 2005 chassis. Not sure if they continued on with the new body style.

Nope, looks like they didn't. Nothing listed for either the Yaris or xD. Still, 00-05 Echo shocks are available.:thumbsup:

[Rigaud]

They have but you need to contact them. We get them up here at Perry auto in Laval,Quebec. All Koni products are usually on sale in May every year.

[tmontague]

Are the Koni Yellow's perfroamcne oriented? I've been turned off from CO's as they just don't make sense for my application. I plan on doing some autox next summer for the first time as some friendly competition against myself to improve on driving and be able to push my Yaris a bit more. Doesn't seem to make sense to have a bone jarring ride every other day except like 2x a year where I need the stiffness. TBH, I find the MI springs with new stock struts (Monroe's) to be more than stiff enough when I am pushing corners hard on back country roads. I've yet to get what I'd call much if any body roll.

Koni's seems like a good option. Are the Stagg's not rated as OEM rated for dampening?

[justjesus]

TBH, I find the MI springs with new stock struts (Monroe's) to be more than stiff enough....

I loved my MI set up. I miss it sometimes. But I needed ground clearance to hit the dirt roads..

when I am pushing corners hard on back country roads. I've yet to get what I'd call much if any body roll.

This might change during autoX, with the constant turns, transitions, etc... you can go from "leaning" right to "leaning" left in the blink of an eye. THAT'S when you know you're getting some body roll. I remember Lt. Noogie on this forum was surprised to see a pic of his car in an autoX event. He never thought his car had *that* much roll in it!

[Frank the Tank]

They have but you need to contact them. We get them up here at Perry auto in Laval,Quebec. All Koni products are usually on sale in May every year.

you have a link?