Coilovers questions - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

thrawnis · 01-09-2009, 02:14 PM

Hey everyone, I did several searches and couldn't find answers to some of my questions in the forums. In the next few months I hope to get coilovers (probably Megan coilovers because that's what everyone on the forum seem to like). Couple of questions:

1. I live in Orange County, California. Any suggestions on a good shop I can go to that has reasonable prices?

2. What can I expect to spend for the coilovers and related parts and how much for labor (obviously just looking for estimates)?

3. Besides for an alignment, what else needs to be done to the car when installing coilovers?

4. Unfortunately I am not very knowledgeable in the area of lowering cars, but my understanding from what I read on the forums is that you can adjust the ride height and stiffness somewhat with the Megan coilovers. Is there some way to automate this without spending a ton of money? Meaning, is there a kit that I can purchase that would allow me to electronically (using a control panel of some kind inside the car) adjust the coilovers or would I have to lift the car and adjust something manually?

Thanks for any help you guys can give!

moky-tron · 01-09-2009, 02:40 PM

i'll answer the questions on which is not location based (price will differ per state/province)

besides an alignment, depending on how low you are going, you might need to roll your fenders, pull or shave.

there is no way to automate adjusting height on coilovers. you will need to manually jack up the car and remove each wheel. you might want to check on air suspensions for electronically adjusting height, but those things will run you thrice the price of coilovers, for a decent kit. (UAS). plus, most people using airbags, they drive high because they are on stock shocks, and just park low. if you do a bag/coil hybrid setup like what im thinking, then you can drive low, and adjust the height from the inside because of the bags, and this is going to run you around 3k for the parts, about a week to install and i dont know how much shops in your area will charge for installation.

if you want more info on bag-overs (airbags over coilover setups), send me a pm

gene112601 · 01-09-2009, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thrawnis

Hey everyone, I did several searches and couldn't find answers to some of my questions in the forums. In the next few months I hope to get coilovers (probably Megan coilovers because that's what everyone on the forum seem to like). Couple of questions:

1. I live in Orange County, California. Any suggestions on a good shop I can go to that has reasonable prices?

2. What can I expect to spend for the coilovers and related parts and how much for labor (obviously just looking for estimates)?

3. Besides for an alignment, what else needs to be done to the car when installing coilovers?

4. Unfortunately I am not very knowledgeable in the area of lowering cars, but my understanding from what I read on the forums is that you can adjust the ride height and stiffness somewhat with the Megan coilovers. Is there some way to automate this without spending a ton of money? Meaning, is there a kit that I can purchase that would allow me to electronically (using a control panel of some kind inside the car) adjust the coilovers or would I have to lift the car and adjust something manually?

Thanks for any help you guys can give!

1 i can do a Install for u ( 2~3hrs to finish the JOB )
2 Coilover cost around 750~900 , Labor to Install will be $250 ( Discounted Price to TN members )
3 u will just need a Aligment + Corner Balance ( $225 at West End Aligment with my Discount )
4 There is no way to Adjust Inside the Car with Electric Stuff u will have to do by Manual ( front pop the hood , rear Removing ur Back Seats )

* i can Adjust the Ride Height and Stiffness but i cant do a Balancing u must brg to Profecional Place and i know that Place

gene112601 · 01-09-2009, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moky

i'll answer the questions on which is not location based (price will differ per state/province)

besides an alignment, depending on how low you are going, you might need to roll your fenders, pull or shave.

there is no way to automate adjusting height on coilovers. you will need to manually jack up the car and remove each wheel. you might want to check on air suspensions for electronically adjusting height, but those things will run you thrice the price of coilovers, for a decent kit. (UAS). plus, most people using airbags, they drive high because they are on stock shocks, and just park low. if you do a bag/coil hybrid setup like what im thinking, then you can drive low, and adjust the height from the inside because of the bags, and this is going to run you around 3k for the parts, about a week to install and i dont know how much shops in your area will charge for installation.

if you want more info on bag-overs (airbags over coilover setups), send me a pm

ah! Mokytron.....

moky-tron · 01-09-2009, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gene112601

ah! Mokytron.....

lol what's up gene-in-a-bottle?

thrawnis · 01-09-2009, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moky

i'll answer the questions on which is not location based (price will differ per state/province)

besides an alignment, depending on how low you are going, you might need to roll your fenders, pull or shave.

there is no way to automate adjusting height on coilovers. you will need to manually jack up the car and remove each wheel. you might want to check on air suspensions for electronically adjusting height, but those things will run you thrice the price of coilovers, for a decent kit. (UAS). plus, most people using airbags, they drive high because they are on stock shocks, and just park low. if you do a bag/coil hybrid setup like what im thinking, then you can drive low, and adjust the height from the inside because of the bags, and this is going to run you around 3k for the parts, about a week to install and i dont know how much shops in your area will charge for installation.

if you want more info on bag-overs (airbags over coilover setups), send me a pm

Thanks for the advice! I didn't realize that there was an option of coilovers with air bags, but for $3k, no way I can afford that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gene112601

1 i can do a Install for u ( 2~3hrs to finish the JOB )
2 Coilover cost around 750~900 , Labor to Install will be $250 ( Discounted Price to TN members )
3 u will just need a Aligment + Corner Balance ( $225 at West End Aligment with my Discount )
4 There is no way to Adjust Inside the Car with Electric Stuff u will have to do by Manual ( front pop the hood , rear Removing ur Back Seats )

* i can Adjust the Ride Height and Stiffness but i cant do a Balancing u must brg to Profecional Place and i know that Place

Thanks for the info! Do you have a shop and where is it located?

What do you mean by balancing? What would need to be balanced (besides the wheels/tires)?

moky-tron · 01-09-2009, 03:41 PM

it's because there are coilovers, there are airbags on stock shocks, and there are full air suspensions.
there are minimal options for coils WITH airbags installed that are already being sold readily.

what some of the vip guys do to be able to run low all the time and park lower, is they buy a good set of coilovers, like tein, and right when they are about to install the coils on the car, they buy the airbags from UAS or easy street, and then take apart the coils, removing the springs and replacing it with the airbags (with all accompanying hardware to inflate/deflate the bags). this gives them the ability to drive low, and raise or lower the car when they need to because most air bag setups come with gauges and controls inside the cabin (whether digital or analog controls)

gene112601 · 01-09-2009, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thrawnis

Thanks for the advice! I didn't realize that there was an option of coilovers with air bags, but for $3k, no way I can afford that.

Thanks for the info! Do you have a shop and where is it located?

What do you mean by balancing? What would need to be balanced (besides the wheels/tires)?

its at 2320 W Olympic Blvd Los Angeles C.A 90006 is my work but im doing all the work here since i close my shop..

Balance for the Coilover mean = tunning ur CoilOver they balance each side on top of the Scale so when u are making full right or left turn its all balanced for better cornering its very Recomended For Coilover user

willt · 01-09-2009, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thrawnis

Hey everyone, I did several searches and couldn't find answers to some of my questions in the forums. In the next few months I hope to get coilovers (probably Megan coilovers because that's what everyone on the forum seem to like). Couple of questions:

1. I live in Orange County, California. Any suggestions on a good shop I can go to that has reasonable prices?

just bring it to gene his a good guy and great price

Gellenole · 01-09-2009, 04:16 PM

damn I'd so go over and get it installed -- too bad I live up in norCAL and not socal...

gene112601 · 01-09-2009, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gellenole

damn I'd so go over and get it installed -- too bad I live up in norCAL and not socal...

if u are Close by a Davis i can do a install when i go there to visit my brother
last of JAN and FEB so if u are ok ill do the install at that time haha

Gellenole · 01-09-2009, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gene112601

if u are Close by a Davis i can do a install when i go there to visit my brother
last of JAN and FEB so if u are ok ill do the install at that time haha

haha sounds good -- I need to get the coils first... not too sure when... i'll let you know =D PM me when you get up to Nor cal and i'll see if I can get the coils by then. hehe ksport GT's adjustable ride height...