Lowering springs: best ones for comfort and installation/pricing?

Lowering only 1 inch plus wanting a comfortable ride... I think your best bet is the TRD Plus Springs. They lower the car an inch and Toyota wouldn't be selling anything to make the ride of their product suffer. I'm sure others with the springs can attest better to the ride quality of them. Usually springs are around $200 and most shops should install them for $150 to $200.

 

This pretty much sums it up.

Here is a pic. The left Prius (mine) has H&Rs. The middle (F8L's) & the right (wotcher's) Prius have TRDs.

 

That picture makes me wish I had lined the cars up straight. The angles mat your car look long and wotcher's car look short. lol

 

Hey sfv41901 is the ride on your H&R's the same as on the TRD's?

Does the same hold true if I'm putting 'em on a Gen2 Prius? Availability of TRD for Gen2 seems pretty limited and I might have to go with something else...

 

Here is another pic I have on my phone. It goes TRD, H&R, TRD

I cannot comment if the ride between the H&R & TRDs are the same. I haven't driven or been in a Prii with TRDs.

When I had my gen2, there were only 2 choices: TRD or H&R. Eibachs have been discontinued.

 

Did your freeway ride get less smoothe, more smoothe, stayed the same when you switched to different springs?

 

My freeway handling got better but a lil more bouncy.....nothing that isn't too unmanageable.

 

Same for me with the TRD springs.

 

Nice. It wouldn't hurt to put some springs on.

Something me & F8L noticed is that the TRD springs lower the rear a lil more vs the H&Rs whereas the H&Rs lower the front a lil more than the TRDs.....so TRDs leave the Prii level & H&Rs give it a stance.

If u don't want to go that route, u can always get a tire with more sidewall so the fender gap is reduced.

 

I don't think you NEED to lower it. Obviously it would look better with springs but if you are super worried about comfort then run it stock and wait for a set if springs to go on super sale like I did.

Looks good!

 

I don't think you need to as well. But, it would look a lot better if you do. I would go with Eibach springs. I had them and it had a level look to them. I hated how the TRD springs made the rear end lower than the front. The ride was a little better than the float without the springs. The bumps in the road were a shorter tighter. Performance wise it made a huge difference. The car would stay flat through the corners.

 

I'm lowering my Gen III on Friday. H&R springs, Drag DR9 wheels. Pics on Saturday if all goes well. I hope I didn't make a mistake on the wheel size 16 X 7. Your car looks great with the new shoes. I would wait a while and let the stance of the car grow on you. If it doesn't, you will know what to do. I picked up the H&R springs for $200.00 from tire rack. A local guy is doing the install and alignment for $250.00.

 

That's a pretty good price with alignment. But, I would wait on the springs to settle before getting the alignemnt.

 

You can use the same body kit on the Prius Plus kit since everything is the same. But, it will just make your car look more lifted. The money is better spent on a drop IMO. Your wheels do look nice though, I was thinking of those same ones.

 

I asked the same question to my mechanic and he said to go ahead and get the alignment done at the same time. I really wouldn't know if he is right or wrong. I'm just trusting the guy.

 

The car needs to be driven a bit for the suspension to settle before aligning it. Especially if the springs are brand new.