Newbie needs help with springs and shocks

[xray scatter]

I am new to this forum and new to car modification. I apologize in advance if my questions seem stupid. I just purchased a Stock 2008 3 door LB. I was happy with the look and performance of my new car until I discovered this website. Now, there are so many mods I want to do!!!! Unfortunately, I can't do them all at once.. So, I have decided that the first thing I want to do is lower my ride. I have a few questions. I appreciate any help.

1. I am interested in the TRD lowering springs. The parts guy at my local Toyota dealership said that I have to replace the shocks and the springs. Why can't I keep the stock shocks and just replace the springs?

2. The price for the TRD shocks($500) and TRD springs($239). Is that fair?

3. Will this mod stiffen my ride and make it a harsher ride?

4. Will my MPG decrease, increase, or stay the same?

5. Can I use my stock rims/wheel covers with this lowering modification?

[Kaotic Lazagna]

I know that the prices of increased for the shocks, but I got my whole set up (TRD shocks, Tein S.Techs springs, Tanabe front strut bar) for ~$530.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

FE should stay the same, ride will stiffen up a little, and you can still use the stock wheels/tires, especially with the TRD springs.

[thebarber]

GET TRD SPRINGS HERE
http://www.trdsparks.com/displaypart...&parts_id=1136

for relatively the relatively mild drop of TRD springs i wouldnt suggest shocks if you dont have the dough. im going to be running on eibach prokits (similar drop to the trd's - - actually sold in canada as toyota lower springs since 06) and i dont plan on swapping shocks

if you DO wish to swap shocks/struts too, i suggest the tokico blues...theyre the same as the TRD shocks...heres a link to one of the site vendors sites....$333 shipped....
http://www.neverenoughauto.com/index...roduct_id=6363

thats the way ill go if the shock struts become too soft for my tastes...

[thebarber]

1. I am interested in the TRD lowering springs. The parts guy at my local Toyota dealership said that I have to replace the shocks and the springs. Why can't I keep the stock shocks and just replace the springs?SEE MY PREVIOUS POST

2. The price for the TRD shocks($500) and TRD springs($239). Is that fair? ITS A BIT HIGH, BUT THATS TYPICAL FOR MOST TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS....THATS WHY YOU SHOULD ORDER FROM TRDSPARKS

3. Will this mod stiffen my ride and make it a harsher ride? THE TRD SPRINGS HAVE A NON-LINEAR SPRING RATE, I THINK, SO THE FURTHER THEYRE COMPRESSED, THE HARDER THEY GET. I HAD EIBACH PROKITS ON MY OLD MATRIX XRS AND THEY WERE GREAT FOR DAILY DRIVING, BUT FIRMED UP NICELY WHEN PUSHED. SHOCKS WILL FIRM THINGS UP A BIT MORE, BUT NOT SUPER CRAZY FIRM BY ANY STRETCH

4. Will my MPG decrease, increase, or stay the same?SAME

5. Can I use my stock rims/wheel covers with this lowering modification? YES

[largeorangefont]

Get the Tokico Blues instead of the TRD dampers and with the $180 you save buy a TRD rear sway bar. They are $150 or so.
You can save another $100 buying non TRD springs.

You can really make the car handle well with this stuff:

Tokico Blues -$310 shipped http://www.wesellcarparts.com/store/...idproduct=7797
Tanabe Springs $168 shipped http://www.wesellcarparts.com/store/...idproduct=3085
TRD rear sway bar -$153 + shipping http://www.trdsparks.com/displaypart...&parts_id=1374

All that will be under $650 with shipping of the sway bar.

The ride will be stiffer, but not bad at all. The rear sway bar really transforms the car in the turns. It is only and extra 5 minutes to install when lowering the car.

EDIT: also, Progress springs are very good, and pretty cheap through TRD sparks. $130 + shipping http://www.trdsparks.com/displaypart...&parts_id=2634

[cali yaris]

Tanabe DF210 springs are $10 cheaper than that from my store, $158 shipped:
http://shop.microimageonline.com/pro...=4&productId=8

NF210 are $168 shipped
http://shop.microimageonline.com/pro...=4&productId=9

Progress are $144.95 shipped
http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10138