Suspension improvements at stock ride height - Page 2 - Toyota Yaris Forums

Exiwolfman · 05-18-2014, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rigaud

Same reason I picked the TRD. No one had them in stock, you can find them on ebay for $165 (+-) plus shipping, got mine including shipping $200.00.

wow this is crazy...i so wish i lived with no rust lol cos my sway bar to install required heat on lower shock ...must be nice working on cars that are always clean .

Rigaud · 05-18-2014, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exiwolfman

wow this is crazy...i so wish i lived with no rust lol cos my sway bar to install required heat on lower shock ...must be nice working on cars that are always clean .

That picture is from Tooters car not mine. ;) I live in the land of road salt, lot's of it!!! I got lucky purchasing a 2009 this January that was mint. It won't see winter roads again. :D

tooter · 05-19-2014, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobTheYaris

I also spaced out my front wheels 5mm and the rears 10mm for a slightly wider stance, and installed wider 15x7 alloy wheels with wider 195/60 Bridgestone Potenza tires. This particular wheel/tire combination is the same as the stock wheel diameter, and so retains the factory accuracy of the speedometer and odometer.

It handles like a slot car.

Greg

What kind of wheels are those, I like how they look. I've been looking at getting something around the se size when the tires I have now are worn down.

Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk[/quote]

They're Rota RB 15 x 7 4 x 100 +35 offset wheels. They're about $500 a set with free shipping on ebay.

They're reproductions of Panasport racing wheels from the 1960's.

I've always liked that 50 year old design. It's nothing like the style of wheels being made today.

Greg

eablola69 · 06-06-2014, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTScott

I run stock suspension on my supercharged 5 door and have a 19mm rear sway bar and 205 width, 16" rim, tires. The sway bar really helps, but I think that the tire width makes a huge difference as well with the handling, as I feel big difference when I switch back to 185's on 15's for the winter.

Scott, is the red one on your signature the one with 16s on stock height? It's a 205/50?

j-san · 06-10-2014, 09:08 AM

Hey guys, so I started with new wheels and tires: 205/50R16. The new tires were an improvement over stock - better grip and the car felt more responsive to steering inputs. It wasn't a huge improvement, probably since I have a set of performance all-seasons instead of performance summer tires. I drove with that being the only improvement for a couple weeks and then installed the TRD rear sway bar. In my opinion, the car didn't feel any different turning into a corner, but while in the corner, it felt more planted and with less of the body roll. Zigzagging in a parking lot was where I noticed the biggest difference with much less roll and greater stability.

The next improvement I have planned are the shocks and struts. My Yaris has about 65k miles on it already and I know a number of knowledgable folks recommend shock and strut replacement around 60k miles. I want to keep the OE ride height and try some stiffer shocks/struts. I've read some good reviews on the KYB GR2 as well as the Tokico Blues and TRD Sportivo. As I understand, the higher performance shocks/struts are better suited to stiffer, lowered springs as the stock springs are rather soft and would likely result in a harsh ride with poor handling due to the mis-match between the springs and dampers.

I understand the KYB GR2 dampers are a step above OE spec and should play well with the stock springs. One step above that are the TRD Sportivos, and the Tokico Blues are better than those. The local Toyota dealer charges just over $1000 to buy and install the TRD Sportivo dampers and there is a local shop that is a KYB dealer/installer. I haven't called them up about their price yet, but I am certain it is less than $1000.

So, is it worth forking over the big bucks to have the dealer install the TRD dampers or save some cash and have the local shop install the GR2s. Would there be a noticeable difference between the GR2 and TRD? I'm not looking to build a track car, but I do like a car that handles well and is fun to drive.

Thanks.

justjesus · 06-11-2014, 05:08 PM

The TRDs are pretty much rebadged KYB, if I'm not mistaken. There's a thread on that somewhere.
edit: found it... link to thread

I'd go thru Micro Image to buy the shocks, whatever you choose to buy, and have a shop install them. Installing them isn't all that hard, though. If avail in your area, you can even "rent" some spring compressors for the job.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Track Suspension	id3379	Wheels, Tires and Suspension Forum sponsored by The Tire Rack	85	06-11-2009 05:59 PM
Stiffer suspension - same ride height?	fuji	Wheels, Tires and Suspension Forum sponsored by The Tire Rack	12	01-13-2009 07:53 PM
stock ride height or spring sag?	mikeukrainetz	General Yaris / Vitz Discussion	5	12-21-2006 01:00 PM
17" or 18" with stock s sedan suspension?	manborn	Wheels, Tires and Suspension Forum sponsored by The Tire Rack	12	10-13-2006 09:43 PM
Air Ride suspension for Yaris Sedan	fouad84	Wheels, Tires and Suspension Forum sponsored by The Tire Rack	7	10-13-2006 07:39 AM

06-10-2014, 09:08 AM	#23
j-san Drives: 2010 5-door hatchback Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: MN Posts: 50	Hey guys, so I started with new wheels and tires: 205/50R16. The new tires were an improvement over stock - better grip and the car felt more responsive to steering inputs. It wasn't a huge improvement, probably since I have a set of performance all-seasons instead of performance summer tires. I drove with that being the only improvement for a couple weeks and then installed the TRD rear sway bar. In my opinion, the car didn't feel any different turning into a corner, but while in the corner, it felt more planted and with less of the body roll. Zigzagging in a parking lot was where I noticed the biggest difference with much less roll and greater stability. The next improvement I have planned are the shocks and struts. My Yaris has about 65k miles on it already and I know a number of knowledgable folks recommend shock and strut replacement around 60k miles. I want to keep the OE ride height and try some stiffer shocks/struts. I've read some good reviews on the KYB GR2 as well as the Tokico Blues and TRD Sportivo. As I understand, the higher performance shocks/struts are better suited to stiffer, lowered springs as the stock springs are rather soft and would likely result in a harsh ride with poor handling due to the mis-match between the springs and dampers. I understand the KYB GR2 dampers are a step above OE spec and should play well with the stock springs. One step above that are the TRD Sportivos, and the Tokico Blues are better than those. The local Toyota dealer charges just over $1000 to buy and install the TRD Sportivo dampers and there is a local shop that is a KYB dealer/installer. I haven't called them up about their price yet, but I am certain it is less than $1000. So, is it worth forking over the big bucks to have the dealer install the TRD dampers or save some cash and have the local shop install the GR2s. Would there be a noticeable difference between the GR2 and TRD? I'm not looking to build a track car, but I do like a car that handles well and is fun to drive. Thanks.

06-11-2014, 05:08 PM	#24
justjesus View User's Garage Drives: 2008 Liftback Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Orange County Posts: 962	The TRDs are pretty much rebadged KYB, if I'm not mistaken. There's a thread on that somewhere. edit: found it... link to thread I'd go thru Micro Image to buy the shocks, whatever you choose to buy, and have a shop install them. Installing them isn't all that hard, though. If avail in your area, you can even "rent" some spring compressors for the job.