Shocks & springs

[staticorex]

Not really. Though it's advised. I've decided to wait to install my springs until I get new shocks. You can ride on shorter springs but it will greatly reduce your shocks life span. :) So I've heard.

[brickhardmeat]

Tanabe stuff was tuned to work with stock. They will be fine and will last a very long time. If you want a truly sportier ride you would want to replace you struts or get coilovers. In my opinion.

[cleong]

Originally Posted by staticorex

Not really. Though it's advised. I've decided to wait to install my springs until I get new shocks. You can ride on shorter springs but it will greatly reduce your shocks life span. :) So I've heard.

How I approach this is simple. Shocks take typically probably 40,000 miles/60,000kms to expire. I wouldn't want to wait that long to enjoy my car with lowered springs I like the way it handles and the way it looks. Ok, so I'm impatient......

Lowering springs reputedly reduce shock lifespan and there are sound reasons why this is so, but it has been much exaggerated. If you simply cut your springs, yes, this would be the case, because you'll start bottoming out and riding on your bump stops too much, eventually breaking it. But with a proper set of lowering springs, the spring rate is increased to compensate for the reduced shock travel, and avoid bottoming.

So I figured I'd do the springs first, while waiting for Koni to roll out their replacement shock inserts for the Yaris. I hope that by the time the factory shockies start feeling tired it would be the right time to complete the suspension upgrade with adjustable Koni inserts.