I imagine the shocks/struts have to be replaced at that age. They are probably blown, causing the body roll. Changing the springs only won't help. Also check the sway bars if you have them to see if they are connected and operating properly.

 

Thank you for the reply. I think I'm just not used to how it drives/corners. It only has 78k original miles. I purchased from a one owner elderly person who maintained it. I even have the original sticker. Just before I purchased it the ball joints were replaced along with bushings, tie rods and alignment. The shocks seem fine, no noise appear to work as they should under load. I want to just tighten up the handling.

I'm just trying to find out if anyone has used corolla or yaris springs on an echo..

 

This doesn't answer your question, but once you find your answer on lowering springs, you might also want to consider installing a strut bar. The lowering will lower the center of gravity which in itself will lessen body roll. A strut bar will also reduce the body flexing during cornering. Or so I'm told. I'm not a race team chief, but I play one on TV.

I wonder if you know
How they live in Tokyo
If you seen it, then you mean it
Then you know you have to go

 

Thanks for the reply.

I ordered the Tein lowering springs specific for the echo. A strut bar is a great idea and I looked after you posted but I'm having a hard time finding one for a 2000 echo.

The echo is pretty old but you wouldn't know it. I love this car. My neighbor had one with I think the last time he told me before he moved it had 414k miles on it. I always thought it was fugly but after I drove his a few times and realized the crazy gas mileage he was getting I started searching endlessly to find one.

I have an old v6 tacoma that is rock solid except for the frame which is a different story but it gets terrible gas mileage. The echo is the essence of simplicity and fuel saving. Anyway if anyone knows where I can get a strut bar for the echo at a decent price let me know I'd try that too. Thanks for the replies.

 

Be really super extra nice to your neighbor. Try to get them to add you to their will . . .

lol...No, in all serousness ask your neighbor what they plan to do if/when they ever get rid of their echo. Express an interest in it and tell them to let you know if they ever want/need to part with it. BAM, there is your donor/parts car...oh wait they moved...nm

I think I saw some on ebay. TRD used to make one for the echo but it's no longer available. Try doing some google searches for 'strut bar toyota echo/vitz made in japan or "ncp12" "strut bar". You're gonna be looking for a while b/c I can see the pickings are slim. I have no idea about brand name quality/performance:TRD, cusco, beatrush, no clue. But I'd go for made In Japan.

If possible try to find a rear bar too.

Tanabe Sustec Strut Tower Bar Front - NCP13 SCP10 NCP58G NCP25 NCP12 - RHDJapan

Tanabe Sustec Strut Tower Bar Front - NCP13 SCP10 NCP58G NCP25 NCP12. Buy direct with global shipping to your door from Osaka, Japan. We speak English and all email queries are responded to promptly!

www.rhdjapan.com

Dammit, that fast and furious song is stuck in my head now.

 

He will never give up his old echo. It was hilarious how he was. It was a stick shift and he would pull out putt that car along and yell at me in the driveway telling me his gas mileage which was usually around 45 mpg. He would call it the old school prius. Honestly the guy was awesome in his late 70s and mostly rode his road bike everywhere cause he was so earth conscious.

I'm glad I found mine although I wish it was a 4 door. I have another friend with a 2003 who is getting rid of it. It doesn't run because it got flooded in hurricane with 278k miles. I really need to try and help her get it started. The fan motor got crushed by water/waves. She started it and I think she overheated not knowing the fan was shot. She did shut it off right when the radiator started to bubble up. I did score head rests from it so far. I might get it from her but thats just a car sitting in driveway. Probably lots of parts to use from 2003 to 2000..not sure.

I didn't realize the Vitz was a Toyota Echo. I'll do more research on strut bars. Its 25 years old. The car is so narrow beside all the newer Toyotas it just looks like a really old japanese import.

I did score some 14 inch Miata rims with brand new tires for $200. I'm not sure the name of them I think their from the 1999 to 2000 year. I was getting new tires and found the Miata rims on Craigslist, same price as replacing tires. Luckily the fit perfect. Here are some pictures. The last one is most important.

 

Take care of her. 80k miles? You'll be the one in the future who will be 70+ years old still driving her. These cars or more reliable than most marriages. Good find! Great pics.

On your friend's flooded one, it might be worth doing a compression check if you get get it to turn over and see if the overheating did any damage.

 

Yes I could not believe the mileage. Complete score for only 2k. I was tripped out the owner had the original sticker from dealer, keys and books. The sticker states total price was $14,318. Being 25 years old it's interesting to read.

I put a new battery in my friends echo. It won't turn over. I assume it won't since the radiator fan is broke? I haven't done research. If the fan motor isn't working and fan is broke would that not keep it from turning over? She is not sure she wants to spend money on it. It has dents some minor body rust terrible paint obviously smells from flooding but surprisingly enough no frame rust.

 

Turning over is strictly mechanical provided there is juice from the battery to the starter <and relays>. Assuming timing chain isn't broken. No idea if busted fan/circuit would interfere with starting circuit. It could. Many elec things could be shorted out from the flood. But don't worry about fuel delivery, etc. If you look at it again, try to probe voltage around starter/battery and applicable relays <I say applicable b/c I'm not sure which ones>. If you get NOTHING when you turn key, no crank, no click, hell not even any dash light, then something low level elec. short going on.Check fuseable links, etc.

As far as I know, and this is prob not 100% correct, but fan motor is tied to temp sensor and a/c. I dunno if it would be tied to starting circuit.

 

Thanks for the reply regarding the other echo. Honestly the person hasn't been much of a friend so I'm not sure I will help anymore. It's hard to see the car waste away though. I thought I'd post a picture of the Tein springs installed on my echo since there is none that I know of pictured. I was worried about how it might change the ride but it feels much better then the old springs over bumps etc... I was pleasantly surprised. It's just right imo. Not stupid low looking.

 

Very clean! wish mine still had paint on it. Roof and trunk paint is about gone, The orig. window tint wasn't done very well b/c bubbled up all over prob. due to being a black car and absorbing heat. Yours looks damn good.I love the prefacelift echos 2000-2002 esp the 2 doors.