Which would be more noticeable?

[Synomenon]

Ok, so I have an el-cheapo Toyota Yaris. For those of you who don't know it's Toyota's econo-car.

I have three choices here. I can get the TRD shocks, TRD lowering springs or TRD rear sway bar for it.

Which would have the most noticeable change in how the car feels and drives? The shocks, lowering springs or rear sway bar?

If I get the TRD shocks, I'd be using the car's stock springs w/ the TRD shocks until I have money for the TRD lowering springs.

If I get the lowering springs now, I'll have to cut the stock bump stops in half unless I pay even more for an available bump stop kit that's supposed to be used with the TRD lowering springs.

So which of the three should I get?

I've seen posts on other forums that none of these suspension / handling upgrades won't make a difference unless I have upgraded shocks. Is that true?

 

[Jumpem]

Why dump money into an econobox? Just drive it from point A to point B.

 

[Synomenon]

I'm not dumping money into it. I won a big gift certificate from my dealer's parts department that's going to be used on one of the three.

 

[EightySix Four]

Originally posted by: IsLNdbOi
I'm not dumping money into it. I won a big gift certificate from my dealer's parts department that's going to be used on one of the three.

In that case, the shocks make the most since.

 

[Synomenon]

I'll take the shocks then. Is it true though that other suspension / handling upgrades won't make much of a difference unless I have upgraded (TRD shocks) first?

 

[EightySix Four]

Originally posted by: IsLNdbOi
I'll take the shocks then. Is it true though that other suspension / handling upgrades won't make much of a difference unless I have upgraded (TRD shocks) first?

The shocks will make the biggest difference, and they are likely a week link, so that would make sense.

 

[SSSnail]

If you can, change out both matching shocks and springs, they kinda go together.

 

[Black88GTA]

If you use lowering springs with stock shocks, you will probably blow out the stock shocks. TRD shocks with the stock springs will be OK (as in, you won't break things), but you probably won't notice too much difference unless you get the springs too.

The rear sway bar will only make a noticeable difference if you've upgraded the other suspension components. The stock shocks and springs will reach their limit before effects from an upgraded sway bar will be noticeable.

So, of the 3 choices, I'd get the shocks first, and then upgrade springs as soon as you have the money for it. Do the bar last.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Black88GTA
TRD shocks with the stock springs will be OK (as in, you won't break things), but you probably won't notice too much difference unless you get the springs too.

Are you kidding? Ever DRIVEN a car with much stiffer shocks?

The difference between my car with stock shocks and Tokico blues (which are far from the stiffest) was night and day. My cornering drastically improved.

...of course, compliance goes down quite a bit at the same time...

 

[Black88GTA]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Black88GTA
TRD shocks with the stock springs will be OK (as in, you won't break things), but you probably won't notice too much difference unless you get the springs too.

Are you kidding? Ever DRIVEN a car with much stiffer shocks?

The difference between my car with stock shocks and Tokico blues (which are far from the stiffest) was night and day. My cornering drastically improved.

...of course, compliance goes down quite a bit at the same time...

Both times I've done shocks + springs on my own cars, I've replaced them as a package. And yes, it was a night and day difference - I put Tokico blues w/ Tokico red springs on my Prelude, this past summer, in fact. All I am saying, is that the shocks by themselves won't be nearly as effective as they would be with the appropriate springs installed as well. Adding to this would be the fact that OP's Yaris probably still has few miles on it, so the factory shocks are probably still in decent shape. If you don't mind me asking - how many miles were on your shocks when you replaced them? 10k mile shocks are night-and-day compared to otherwise identical shocks with 150k on them. Most shock absorbers are basically worthless after 60 - 75k.

And keep in mind that TRD are Toyota factory upgrade components - these will be noticeably stiffer than the non-TRD parts, but will still be fairly compliant, compared to most of the aftermarket parts that are out there. There are very few who would put up with truly stiff shocks in a new car from the factory, even if they did opt for the "TRD handling upgrade package." And I'd be willing to bet that almost 100% of customers that would accept a bone-jarring ride in exchange for excellent handling would not go anywhere near Toyota's current lineup.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Black88GTA

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Black88GTA
TRD shocks with the stock springs will be OK (as in, you won't break things), but you probably won't notice too much difference unless you get the springs too.

Are you kidding? Ever DRIVEN a car with much stiffer shocks?

The difference between my car with stock shocks and Tokico blues (which are far from the stiffest) was night and day. My cornering drastically improved.

...of course, compliance goes down quite a bit at the same time...

Both times I've done shocks + springs on my own cars, I've replaced them as a package. And yes, it was a night and day difference - I put Tokico blues w/ Tokico red springs on my Prelude, this past summer, in fact. All I am saying, is that the shocks by themselves won't be nearly as effective as they would be with the appropriate springs installed as well. Adding to this would be the fact that OP's Yaris probably still has few miles on it, so the factory shocks are probably still in decent shape. If you don't mind me asking - how many miles were on your shocks when you replaced them? 10k mile shocks are night-and-day compared to otherwise identical shocks with 150k on them. Most shock absorbers are basically worthless after 60 - 75k.

And keep in mind that TRD are Toyota factory upgrade components - these will be noticeably stiffer than the non-TRD parts, but will still be fairly compliant, compared to most of the aftermarket parts that are out there. There are very few who would put up with truly stiff shocks in a new car from the factory, even if they did opt for the "TRD handling upgrade package." And I'd be willing to bet that almost 100% of customers that would accept a bone-jarring ride in exchange for excellent handling would not go anywhere near Toyota's current lineup.

Well, I admit that I don't know what the current crop of TRD shocks are like. The reports I hear about the MR2 options are that they are/were fairly stiff. But then again, that's a sports car, and he has a Yaris--I'm kind of surprised that Toyota Racing Development makes anything for the Yaris. But I guess people do buy it!

Point is, you're right that the Yaris shocks won't be as big of a difference as my upgrade. And yes, my shocks were kind of old, I admit. The car still had less body roll most of the newer non-sports cars that my friends owned, but I probably still would have noticed a difference just going to new stock shocks.

But I still say that replacing stock shocks with much stiffer ones is instantly obvious to the driver, even without the matching springs.

...we're probably just arguing over semantics at this point.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Edit-Get the shocks.

 

[zerocool84]

Aren't all TRD stuff warrantied???

 

[StageLeft]

Sway bar, that way you can spend this gift certificate and not feel compelled to spend money saving up for another part later. Upgrading the Yaris with any of your own money makes me want to cut myself. Not to dog on your car, but it is what it is and should be kept as is, imo :0

 

[Synomenon]

Yeah, it's an econo-car and I really don't want to put much into it other than the stuff I already have. I guess I'll go with the sway bar. Might help with the hyper-miling technique I use where I coast to my next turn and make the turn w/o using brakes.