Disapointed with tanabe springs - ucf20

Hi all, 
I fitted some Tanabe springs and 18" wheels at the weekend and although the fitment seems pretty good I'm not at all happy with the look. The arches still look huge and the wheels like half the size they should be.

I have only got one pic but please bear in mind that the boot is still full of the old wheels so is being weighted down. I'm running a 225/40/18 tyre all round I know this is smaller than what I should be... is this creating the problem or something else??

Dan

[img]http://www.autobitzonline.co.uk/dan_t/ls400.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.autobitzonline.co.uk/dan_t/ls400_2.jpg[/img]

lowering springs will never get a big body down low enough on 18's.....:(

are you still using the stock shocks?

yeah stock oem shocks. when looking around for pics i found loads of LSs that sat real nice on tanabe springs. that's why I got them. mainly looking at the wheel setup thread on clublexus. mista808 was one car that come to mind.

[QUOTE=dan_t;302510]yeah stock oem shocks. when looking around for pics i found loads of LSs that sat real nice on tanabe springs. that's why I got them. mainly looking at the wheel setup thread on clublexus. mista808 was one car that come to mind.[/QUOTE]


well i maybe wrong....hopefully i am.. same wheel size on the other cars?"

Hmm most do seem to be running a 19" wheel I guess...

This car is running the same tyre size and same springs...
 
[img]http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i171/LP_yang/vbgarage.jpg[/img]
 
Maybe there is diffrence in arch gaps with the UCF10's ans 20's?

Same car again, same wheel size and me and same springs 
 
[img]http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i171/LP_yang/LPLS400SCRIMS2.jpg[/img]

I think if you paired it with aftermarket struts designed to drop the car (ex: h&r)  you will get a much more significant drop.

also springs take some time to settle into their lowest drop, in a month or two i think youll notice it sits lower.

I've never heard of replacing shocks to lower the car more? Are they actually a shorter bodied shock? Or maybe just softer?

Im not an expert when it comes to springs, but most people ive seen with aftermarket springs get struts to pair them with,  I can tell you for a fact that the car youve posted does not have stock struts, and yes i believe most are shorter bodied and stiffer.

your thread on clublexus will likely yield a more accurate answer.

after looking at those  examples, they dont look much lower than yours...lol  Granted the springs have to settle down, and you may get an inch or a half out of them over a few months..

Bilstein HD struts are what you're looking for.

[url]http://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls400/259772-bilstein-hd-struts-for-2nd-gen.html[/url]

also your tires are way too small.  You needs more meats if your gonna keep that size wheel.

i believe mista808 had tanabe's on dead struts and his 19's poked a little giving it a different look....if your offsets are around +35 to +45 its going to definately look smaller cuz they're sunk in...just buy megans and be done with it...you will need new struts anyway.

has a lot to do with the UCF1x and UCF2x use different DF210s, 2 different part numbers.  but, they lower the car more after they settle, which generally takes 3-4 weeks for maximum effect.

I'm running 18x9.5 +20 on the rear so deffinatelty got some poke there. The fronts are 18x8 +20 and are around flush. I'm not wanting to spend a lot on coilovers as it'll cost more than I paid for the car by the time they are shipped + vat tax.
 
Here is to hoping they settle some more!
 
Will look into some different tyre sizes... just have to be carefull on the rear as I'll need to keep a stretch.

Did I just read someone post to change to SHOCKS for a maximum drop:pat: really? You need to rethink that....... SHOCKS have nothing to do with height!!! The reason people change the shocks when they put on new springs is cause their old ones are wore out......
If you are happy with the ride but just want to be lower and you don't want to change to coilovers then get a Youzealand SS kit... its a bracket that attaches to the lower control arm and lowers the car.... here's a ebay link [URL]http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LEXUS-LS-400-JDM-VIP-YOUZEALAND-SS-KITS-CELSIOR-JAPAN_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem359896a743QQitemZ230193276739QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories[/URL]

I like the idea but its still quite a hit on the wallet! The ride is fine, I have another car for going fast :)
 
Cheers for all the idea's - keep em coming!

[QUOTE=dan_t;302748]I'm running 18x9.5 +20 on the rear so deffinatelty got some poke there. The fronts are 18x8 +20 and are around flush. I'm not wanting to spend a lot on coilovers as it'll cost more than I paid for the car by the time they are shipped + vat tax.
 
Here is to hoping they settle some more!
 
Will look into some different tyre sizes... just have to be carefull on the rear as I'll need to keep a stretch.[/QUOTE]

The rears are not even close to "poke"ing.  you'll need another ~15mm or more to get close to flush.  the fronts are closer, maybe a 10mm-ish.

[QUOTE=20sburning;302755]Did I just read someone post to change to SHOCKS for a maximum drop:pat: really? You need to rethink that....... SHOCKS have nothing to do with height!!! The reason people change the shocks when they put on new springs is cause their old ones are wore out......
If you are happy with the ride but just want to be lower and you don't want to change to coilovers then get a Youzealand SS kit... its a bracket that attaches to the lower control arm and lowers the car.... here's a ebay link [/QUOTE]

The Bilstein HD shocks have an adjustable lower shock perch, giving you up to 1/2-3/4" extra drop at the expense of shock preload.  my old LSportline suspension setup used a shock based off a revalved and recut (4perch) Bilstein shock.

What do you call poke then??

excuse the poor pic quality but its dark out... here is the fitment I have right now...
 
Rear:
 
[IMG]http://www.autobitzonline.co.uk/dan_t/ls_wheels/IMAG0033.jpg[/IMG]
 
 
[IMG]http://www.autobitzonline.co.uk/dan_t/ls_wheels/IMAG0034.jpg[/IMG]
 
[IMG]http://www.autobitzonline.co.uk/dan_t/ls_wheels/IMAG0035.jpg[/IMG]
 
[IMG]http://www.autobitzonline.co.uk/dan_t/ls_wheels/IMAG0036.jpg[/IMG]
 
[IMG]http://www.autobitzonline.co.uk/dan_t/ls_wheels/IMAG0037.jpg[/IMG]
 
[IMG]http://www.autobitzonline.co.uk/dan_t/ls_wheels/IMAG0038.jpg[/IMG]
 
Front:
 
[IMG]http://www.autobitzonline.co.uk/dan_t/ls_wheels/IMAG0039.jpg[/IMG]
 
[IMG]http://www.autobitzonline.co.uk/dan_t/ls_wheels/IMAG0040.jpg[/IMG]

you're forgetting at the ride height you want you're going to have a few degrees of negative camber.

wait to see what the springs do...then cut em'

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esXGmblNBwg[/url]

[B]4:04[/B]

Had the same problem with mine installed springs and it made the  car look a little lower it still had like a 3 finger gap so I said screw it I ended up cutting 1 coil off the front and 2 coils off the back and now it sits really nice no gap whatsoever and the ride was the same. It does bottom out a lot tho but the look makes it worth it!

Well its been a couple of weeks now and still not happy! :( 
 
Aristo93 did you cut a whole coil off? Any pics of the springs or the stance??
 
some pics I took today...
 
[img]http://www.autobitzonline.co.uk/dan_t/ls_wheels/IMAG0030.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.autobitzonline.co.uk/dan_t/ls_wheels/IMAG0031.jpg[/img]

why are you considering cutting coil when you have another lowering option!!:pat:


[QUOTE=EXE.UCF10;302538]Bilstein HD struts are what you're looking for.

[URL]http://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls400/259772-bilstein-hd-struts-for-2nd-gen.html[/URL][/QUOTE]


edit: sounds like you shouldve put some more thought into this buddy

[QUOTE=Brandicus;305287]why are you considering cutting coil when you have another lowering option!!:pat:[/QUOTE]

because I'm sure the shocks ain't free! I don't want to spend much more on this.

I'm not about to spend more on suspension than I paid for the car lol.

I cut I believe one coil in the front, and two coils in the rear of my old ones.  It sat pretty good after that.  But......I still ended up buying megans.

nobody here mentioned his rubber band tire size contributing to his wheel gap :runcoold:

[QUOTE=dan_t;305349]I'm not about to spend more on suspension than I paid for the car lol.[/QUOTE]

damn how much did you get your LS for?

$400?

lemme get at that

[QUOTE=genetic;305699]damn how much did you get your LS for?
 
$400?
 
lemme get at that[/QUOTE]
 
No £800 or $1200 but you get the idea lol

I HAD tanabe springs with a half of coil cut in the front and one full coil in the rear with the youzealand ss kit and sat like this on 20's =)
[IMG]http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab302/ViPCeo50/My%20UCF10/myls4002.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab302/ViPCeo50/My%20UCF10/myls4001.jpg[/IMG]

Any without the youzealand kit??

Where did you get your springs from buddy?

[QUOTE=dan_t;306386]Any without the youzealand kit??[/QUOTE]

I think i do, let me try and find them.....

[QUOTE=Lex-Ed;306488]Where did you get your springs from buddy?[/QUOTE]
 
Umm just the cheapest supplier on Ebay...

Getting a little better after I "modified" the springs. 
 
Sorry for pic quality.
[IMG]http://www.autobitzonline.co.uk/dan_t/ls_wheels/IMAG0046.jpg[/IMG]

Nice, what did u end up doing??

[QUOTE=dan_t;309772]Getting a little better after I "modified" the springs. 
 
Sorry for pic quality.
[IMG]http://www.autobitzonline.co.uk/dan_t/ls_wheels/IMAG0046.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]

'modified' meaning you cut the springs?:shrug:

1 coil at the front and 2 at the rear :)
 
Free mods win :)

[QUOTE=dan_t;309911]1 coil at the front and 2 at the rear :)
 
Free mods win :)[/QUOTE]

hows the ride now? bottoming out?

looks good and yea most likely its going to bottom out because im running the same springs cut and i bottom out alot..

its firmer than it was but no its not bottoming out. It's a little bit harsh over bumpy roads but smooth enough otherwise. feels no different to my s14 running tein lowering springs.

Yeah my super streets didnt even go as low as i wanted