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Thinking about lowering springs

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by Daves09prius, Jun 2, 2014.

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  1. Daves09prius

    Daves09prius Active Member

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    I have 160+ thousand miles and the Prius is starting to feel like a boat. If I'm going to go to the trouble of replacing the struts, I'm replacing the springs too.

    From previous years of research (aka mod dreaming) on priuschat Eibach seemed to be the way to go, but Eibach discontinued springs for the Gen II.

    I was thinking about H&R, or B&G springs. Does anyone have any recommendations?

    I found the H&R's from THMotorsports for $219 shipped! what are people's thoughts?

    H&R Sport Spring TOYOTA PRIUS
     
    #1 Daves09prius, Jun 2, 2014
  2. Daves09prius

    Daves09prius Active Member

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    #2 Daves09prius, Jun 2, 2014
  3. 69shovlhed

    69shovlhed Surly tree hugger

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    only problem with lowering springs is if you have to go off pavement. rutted gravel roads are not fun in this car even at stock height. put some 205/60's on that puppy and do a corolla front sway bar while you got the struts out. it will ride sweet.
     
    #3 69shovlhed, Jun 2, 2014
  4. WNY-HYBRID

    WNY-HYBRID Member

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    I don't ever use the priuschat search feature. Go on google.com- search for what you want and add "priuschat " at the end. Much more efficient

    Mike
     
    #4 WNY-HYBRID, Jun 3, 2014
  5. Daves09prius

    Daves09prius Active Member

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    I had 205/60r 15 Altimax tires before and I loved them. I went back to the 185/65's because they were cheaper - next year when I need new tires I'll be spending the extra $15 and go back to the 205/60. I plan on swapping out the front sway bar too! -- I guess it's all just time and money. I have to find the time, and save up the money to get it done... I'm hoping in the next 6 months or so... of course I've been planning this mod when I bought my prius in 2010, so well see if it gets done finally...
     
    #5 Daves09prius, Jun 3, 2014
  6. Daves09prius

    Daves09prius Active Member

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    #6 Daves09prius, Jun 3, 2014
  7. Daves09prius

    Daves09prius Active Member

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    These are the websites I found for suspension upgrades.

    Looks like the only options are H&R with a 1.4” front and 0.7” rear drop, or the B&G for a 1” drop all around. And KYB Struts

    If anyone knows of other brand springs and struts that are still in production please let me know and provide weblinks. Thanks!



    Toyota Prius Lowering Springs, Suspension Lowering Kit


    Lowering Prius - raked or level? - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com


    Discounted Shocks & Struts Free Shipping | Autoplicity


    Prius Strut Tower Bar - Prius Strut Brace - Improve Prius Handling


    2009 Toyota Prius Parts - TRDParts.com


    KYB Americas | Catalog


    KYB Online Parts Catalog
     
    #7 Daves09prius, Jun 3, 2014
  8. 69shovlhed

    69shovlhed Surly tree hugger

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    if you want to trip down to sterling, I will be happy to help you install the front sway bar. I don't have a lift, but I have air tools, compressor and stands. you will love it. I promise.
     
    #8 69shovlhed, Jun 3, 2014
    Daves09prius likes this.
  9. Agent J

    Agent J Hypoliterian

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    I was happy with my H&Rs till i replaced them with my current coilovers. much happier now. I just have them sitting in the garage. If only you weren't halfway across the world, i'd sell them to you really cheap.
     
    #9 Agent J, Jun 4, 2014
    Daves09prius likes this.
  10. Daves09prius

    Daves09prius Active Member

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    Thanks Agent J. Yeah it's too bad we're on opposite ends of the world!
     
    #10 Daves09prius, Jun 4, 2014
  11. Daves09prius

    Daves09prius Active Member

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    That sounds awesome, its about 66 miles or just over an hour, to sterling. That's like my daily drive to work, which isn't too far for me to drive. Do you think we could do it on a weekend? what parts do I need to get? It might be a little while as in a couple of weeks, to get $$$ for parts. What do you think?
     
    #11 Daves09prius, Jun 4, 2014
  12. 69shovlhed

    69shovlhed Surly tree hugger

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    you'll need the sway bar of course, and make sure they send the brackets and bushings with it. and bring metric sockets if you have any. i have some but most of my metrics are at work.
    I do have a set of prothanes I'd sell you if you want em, but the reason I never used em is cause justdidit used them and they squeak. the oe bushings actually seem to be pretty firm. I bought my corolla bar from ebay. '03-'08 I think will fit.
    weekend is definitely gonna be best, cause it will take a couple hours depending on how many bolts are seized up. (hopefully none...) you can help me stick my ac unit in the garage window when you come down-- probly gonna be hot out.
    after we're done we can have that drag race we talked about last year.:D
     
    #12 69shovlhed, Jun 4, 2014
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  13. Daves09prius

    Daves09prius Active Member

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    Yeah that's what I was thinking too "We can finely have that race we talked about so long ago..."

    Do you think the corolla bar or matrix would be best? I was looking at JustDidIt 's signature and he used a 2006 Matrix bar. Found the parts on RockAuto RockAuto Parts Catalog

    2006 TOYOTA MATRIX 1.8L L4
    [​IMG]Suspension : Stabilizer Bar AssemblyRelated Parts
    DORMAN Part # 927600 {#48811AB011}
    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] FRONT; FWDA
    $77.79
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]Suspension : Stabilizer Bar BushingRelated Parts
    RAYBESTOS Part # 5501587 Pack Of 2 Professional Grade
    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] Front To FrameB
    $19.29
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]Suspension : Stabilizer Bar BracketRelated Parts
    DORMAN Part # 928314 {#4881502100, 4882406020}
    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] FrontC
    $12.07
    [​IMG]
    Subtotal$109.15

    Shipping from 3 locations:
    Shipping Location C Priority Mail (2 to 6 business days) (You should receive by June 16)$5.87
    Shipping Location B First Class Mail (1 to 6 business days) (You should receive by June 16)$2.47
    Shipping Location A Ground (2 to 3 business days) (You should receive by June 11)$15.27
    Total$132.76
     
    #13 Daves09prius, Jun 5, 2014
    Last edited: Jun 5, 2014
  14. Daves09prius

    Daves09prius Active Member

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    I searched ebay, and found one with the busings and brackets for $70, but it looks like it's been laying around in the dirt for years and has multiple rust spots. (they couldn't have wiped it down before taking the picture?) I think I'd rather spend the $132 and order new from Rock Auto. Parts are ordered and on the way. Thx 69shovlhed

    PM me your contact info and I'll send you mine and we can figure out a weekend to get this done.
     
    #14 Daves09prius, Jun 5, 2014
    Last edited: Jun 5, 2014
  15. Daves09prius

    Daves09prius Active Member

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    #15 Daves09prius, Jun 5, 2014
  16. 69shovlhed

    69shovlhed Surly tree hugger

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    I'm not sure, but I thought the matrix and corolla used the same bar? the corolla is 24mm; way stiffer than the oe prius. is the trd bar different than typical corolla? I hope its not too stiff. I have my oe bar in the garage, so we can compare them before starting the swap.
     
    #16 69shovlhed, Jun 5, 2014
  17. Daves09prius

    Daves09prius Active Member

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    The 2006 Matrix part# is: 48811AB010
    The 2006 US Corolla Pt#: 48811AB010

    So that's good news that its both the same part so no worries there. I bought the OEM 2006 matrix bar from TRDparts.com because they sell OEM parts at a discount (not as good as a body-shop discount - but it's still a discount).
    So the sway bar I bought should exactly match what you have.
     
    #17 Daves09prius, Jun 6, 2014
    Last edited: Jun 6, 2014
  18. Daves09prius

    Daves09prius Active Member

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    #18 Daves09prius, Jun 13, 2014
  19. Justdidit

    Justdidit LVNPZEV

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    Really depends on your driving style...

    $300
    Toyota Prius 08 03 09 Suspension Kit Strut Assemblies Absorbers KYB Excel G | eBay

    with either

    $215 -1.4" Front/ -.7" Rear drop(great springs but no adjustable height-stuck with what you get)
    H R Sport Springs 04 09 Toyota Prius Hybrid 29062 1 | eBay

    or

    $153 -1"Front/ -1"Rear drop (great springs but no adjustable height-stuck with what you get)

    B&G Suspension S2 Sport Springs TOYOTA PRIUS


    or

    $385 completely adjustable - can raise the car higher than stock or drop it as much as a -3" drop Front/Rear (find what height works best for your driving style) Most aggressive spring rate 8.2kg Front/ 6kg Rear Spring rate
    Ground Control 8070.01 Coilover Kit

    The reason my 2nd time around I choose to stick with the KYB/GC sleeves is because with my driving habits, it offered the most aggressive spring rate of any complete coil-over kit available on the market. Best bang for the buck!! Yes, my car isn't soft like OEM but I also didn't want just a lowered car, I wanted it to handle better than just a lowered car. From what I have heard (complete hearsay because I'm not aware of the spring rates) Both H&R and B&G kits are a tad bit stiffer than OEM - but not much.

    If your looking to keep the ride similar to stock but just lower the car, I would choose a spring set based off lowering height. However if your wanting a ride that handles much stiffer/sportier AND have the flexibility of choosing your own ride height, I'd go with a complete kit based off spring rate.

    $850 Megan Coilover setup (4kg/4kg spring rate approximately OEM ride quality)
    Megan Racing Street Coilovers Shocks Springs Toyota Prius 04 09 | eBay

    ~$1000 D2 Racing Sports RS Coil-overs and XYZ Racing Super Sport (SS) coil-over systems - Both around $1k and 7kg/6kg spring rates.
    XYZ Sport coilover 03 09 Prius 2WD 30 Step Adjustable Suspension Coilovers Set | eBay

    D2 Racing RS coilover 04 09 Prius 36 Step Adjustable Suspension Coilovers Set | eBay
     
    #19 Justdidit, Jun 18, 2014
  20. Daves09prius

    Daves09prius Active Member

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    #20 Daves09prius, Jun 18, 2014
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