Lowering a daily driver: let’s have an honest discussion

[stiglitz]

I drive my ‘15 L M/T everywhere. Some roads are good to great, others are decent to okay. Seldom do I find myself on terrible surfaces. Weather is rainy 9 months of the year with maybe a month of mild snow, sunny for the remaining.

I love this car in its stock configuration. But I have extra cash to spend and since I was a teenager I’ve always wanted to mod a car.

From a longevity, reliability, and comfort standpoint, will there be a noticeable negative difference? The mods I’m planning on:

15x7 +38
195/55 or 195/50, still deciding
Megan Racing lowering springs or Tein S Techs, still deciding which ride height is better for daily driving (1.5” vs. ~2” drop respectively)
TRD rear sway bar
Still deciding if I should replace the stock shocks/struts with Bilstein B8. I’m at 115,000 miles / 185,000 kilometers

Will the car be more fun to drive? Of course. But will these mods result in more maintenance/upkeep, and/or make the ride noticeably less comfortable? If so then it’s not worth it to me. I drive 2.5 hours round trip 5 days a week, and anywhere that I happen to go on weekends.

I don’t mind sacrificed fuel efficiency as long as it doesn’t drop crazily by like 10mpg. Looking for your opinions and experience, thanks!

[WeeYari]

The 15x7 wheels wrapped in 195/55s is a nice setup. I've run the Megan springs and loved the 1.5" drop which eliminated a perfect amount of wheel gap and provided a slightly stiffer ride than OE springs. The Tein springs are considerably stiffer and would deter me from daily use in your circumstances. None of what you are considering would result in increased maintenance costs or reliability. Fuel economy would not take a hit provided you stay away from uber heavy cheap wheels.

[stiglitz]

The 15x7 wheels wrapped in 195/55s is a nice setup. I've run the Megan springs and loved the 1.5" drop which eliminated a perfect amount of wheel gap and provided a slightly stiffer ride than OE springs. The Tein springs are considerably stiffer and would deter me from daily use in your circumstances. None of what you are considering would result in increased maintenance costs or reliability. Fuel economy would not take a hit provided you stay away from uber heavy cheap wheels.

Hey thanks for the response, very helpful! The wheels I am leaning towards are Enkei Compes.

Any comments on replacing the struts and shocks? My gut is telling me to but I also don’t want to spend more money than I need to. I know you can’t see the condition of my OEM parts but any input helps

[mitch9521]

I run Megan Racing lowering springs on 205/45/R16 BFG Comp-2 Sport tires and run the stock 15x5.5 steelies in stock spec 175/65/15 for winter. Yet to get stuck or have major issues trudging through snow. I rarely drive off paved roads in either of my vehicles. Been going on nearly 2 years without issues from the Megans.

Though I see an upgrade to Bilstein B8s or the full B14 coilover set in my near future as I am still rocking the stock struts with cut bump stops.

[stiglitz]

The 15x7 wheels wrapped in 195/55s is a nice setup. I've run the Megan springs and loved the 1.5" drop which eliminated a perfect amount of wheel gap and provided a slightly stiffer ride than OE springs. The Tein springs are considerably stiffer and would deter me from daily use in your circumstances. None of what you are considering would result in increased maintenance costs or reliability. Fuel economy would not take a hit provided you stay away from uber heavy cheap wheels.

Do you mind providing photos of your set up with the Megan racing springs? And what the wheel specs are

[WeeYari]

https://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27106

[Neinris]

I've been on Tein's lowering springs for four years now. The ride is still comfortable for me. I cheaped out and had just bought the front Bilstein B8 struts, and plan on installing them this weekend. We'll see how it goes.

[stiglitz]

https://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27106

After giving some time for the springs to settle, what is the maximum drop that you think they’ll get to in terms of finger gap? Measuring from the center of your wheel to the arch would also be appreciated.

The only photo examples of Megan Racing springs that I can find are the above post you linked, and this post (https://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?p=839145#post839145). However both setups are 16” wheels. Mine will be 15” wheels (3dr hatchback). The wheels I’m choosing don’t look that great with a giant wheel-fender gap so I’m still trying to decide. Any input is appreciated

EDIT: here’s an example of a hatch with 15” wheels, but they’re TRD springs which supposedly give the same drop. I wonder if mine would look like this with Megan Racing springs after they’ve settled..

[Neinris]

Here's mine on Tein's:

https://www.yarisworld.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=1293&pictureid=6370

[stiglitz]

Here's mine on Tein's

This is after four years?
Isthis photo on stock struts or after you recently installed the Bilstein?
Also are these 15 inch wheels?

[WeeYari]

15 vs 16 inch wheels doesn't matter provided the appropriate tire sizing is used.
195/55 on 15s wheel gaps the same as 195/50 on 16s.
3dr vs 5dr is also irrelevant.

I can't measure anything since I have returned to stock. 1.5" drop is the settled in total drop.

[Neinris]

This is her today with the Bilstein Struts. I drove her around the block a few times, to let them settle. Looks like she’s raised a bit up front now. We'll see in a month or so. The ride actually feels better now. Less oscillation after I hit a bump. And the steering is more predictable.

[Neinris]

This is after four years?
Isthis photo on stock struts or after you recently installed the Bilstein?
Also are these 15 inch wheels?

Oops! Sorry I didn’t answer your question. A little history on my Dee Dee, I installed the Tein’s lowering springs back in August of 2018. The first photo was taken a year after. The front struts and rear shocks in the first photo were stock. The car is 2008 model, so she was about 10+ years old in that photo. The second photo was taken today, and after I’ve installed the Bilstein struts. Seeing that she seems to squat a little now, I’ll be replacing the rear shocks with what’s supposed to be in set with Bilstein B8s.

The wheels/tires are 185/60 R15. I’m thinking of going up to 195/50 R16, or 215/45 R16.

[Neinris]

Here’s a better view in the sun, where the tires are not blending with the shadow.

[stiglitz]

Here’s a better view in the sun, where the tires are not blending with the shadow.

This look amazing, thank you. Once I install my wheels and suspension I'll be sure to send a picture to you since you've convinced me to go with a very similar set up!

Did you cut the bumpstops at all? Still trying to wrap my head around that part and decide whether I should do it

[Neinris]

I did not trim the bump stops, it think I still have 3-4 inches of travel left. I tested her out on the road where there’s a lot of bumps and pits, nothing too extreme. What a huge difference the new struts make. She used to feel like she was bottoming out when I used to hit those same bumps and pits, shaking the whole chassis, but now she feels like a regular ride. I’m really happy with them.

[stiglitz]

I did not trim the bump stops, it think I still have 3-4 inches of travel left. I tested her out on the road where there’s a lot of bumps and pits, nothing too extreme. What a huge difference the new struts make. She used to feel like she was bottoming out when I used to hit those same bumps and pits, shaking the whole chassis, but now she feels like a regular ride. I’m really happy with them.

Thanks a lot! Super excited now

Do you know how to tag forum users in a post? Once I complete my build and post it on here I’d like to credit the people that helped me

[Neinris]

I can’t take full credit. I just took other people’s advice as well. Ern-Diz, Myfirstyota, and 06YarisRS to name a few and many more. You should check their post out. I have my own crazy ideas in the works though. Still working on an alternative way to do a rear disc brake conversion, maybe a 5 lug conversion (5X114.3) just for looks, and a 3ZR Frankenstein with 2ZR-FE cylinder head and ECU, and FXE pistons. But that last one might be still years to come. But I’ll be sure to post them here when I do get to them. :smile:

[remcafee]

you should cut the bump stops, the instruction manual on the tein springs say to cut bump stops 1/2 an inch

[remcafee]

I did not trim the bump stops, it think I still have 3-4 inches of travel left. I tested her out on the road where there’s a lot of bumps and pits, nothing too extreme. What a huge difference the new struts make. She used to feel like she was bottoming out when I used to hit those same bumps and pits, shaking the whole chassis, but now she feels like a regular ride. I’m really happy with them.

if you cut the bumpstops you might get the front down a little lower, more than likely you are riding on the bump stops right now because they are stock height and lowered springs, it will also limit the length of strut rod travel so you are not getting the full potential of that struts performance because it cant "compress" as it was designed to do

[Neinris]

if you cut the bumpstops you might get the front down a little lower, more than likely you are riding on the bump stops right now because they are stock height and lowered springs, it will also limit the length of strut rod travel so you are not getting the full potential of that struts performance because it cant "compress" as it was designed to do

Oh... Thanks! I didn't know that... I'll see if I have time to mess with her this weekend.
I ordered a pair of adjustable sway bar links, 300-360mm, but they're meant for Hondas.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/184768892209?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110 01%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D201609081050 57%26meid%3D4278face46724d13b26ed26404e5d5d3%26pid %3D100675%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D392333968312% 26itm%3D184768892209%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D23 80057&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3Adb5c3a30-3ec4-11ed-baab-fea2700dcb82%7Cparentrq%3A8181396a1830a9f0b788c6b6 fffe0d22%7Ciid%3A1

They have 10mm end bolts, but I talked to the seller, and they're supposedly including the adaptors for 12mm. Like what's on these other pair.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/133374899900?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110 01%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D201609081050 57%26meid%3D4278face46724d13b26ed26404e5d5d3%26pid %3D100675%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D392333968312% 26itm%3D133374899900%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D23 80057&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3Adb5c3a30-3ec4-11ed-baab-fea2700dcb82%7Cparentrq%3A8181396a1830a9f0b788c6b6 fffe0d22%7Ciid%3A1
Hopefully they work. I have a clunking noise, even before I replaced the struts, I'm hoping it's just from bad sway bar links, but I'm afraid it might be from a worn sway bar bushing. :frown:

[remcafee]

hows the control arms? check the back bolt, its common they break off inside the subframe

[Neinris]

hows the control arms? check the back bolt, its common they break off inside the subframe

Sorry I didn’t mean to hijack this discussion. The lower control arm back bolts are fine. I know because I replaced the bushings to the lower control arms just a little over a year ago. And I had the clunking issues then already. I’ve inspected the sway bar bushings and they seemed fine, but can’t really count them out yet.

Back to trimming the bump stop, my ride doesn’t feel like I’m not even bottoming out. And I’ve tested before and after I went with the Bilstein B8, and the ride is a lot comfortable now. With the stock strut I was bottoming out, and the bump stop was stock length also. So I don’t know if I should trim or not.