kaldES98

I want to lower my car just a tinyyyy bit... but i dont really have money to buy nicer rims then the stock 15s on my es300.. I know that if you lower a car with springs and don't change the shocks it's really bad for them.. but would it hurt the shocks much if im not dropping that much anyway? does a 98 es look stupid when it is lowered a little on stock rims?i just want to improve the stance a little so it looks a bit more aggressive but i dont want to spend much.

if anyone is good at photoshop and can help me visualize my es with a one inch or less drop on stock rims i would appreciate it very greatly.

llcoolpass

the struts won't care that much, but your struts are probably very old units that need replacing anyway. often, peple recommend using stock type struts up to about a 1 inch drop.

if you make the car too agressive then you risk making it not a luxury car... which begs the question....

and how much you want to lower it? there are different spring kits, and a stickied thread about suspension modifications.

i think there is a seperate section for people requesting photoshoping. plus, I think you can find other people took pictures of their cars after doing this on their own cars. maybe, one of them will post something here for you.

good luck!

Parker Gen

It won't look stupid lowered on the stock wheels. You have a very clean looking ES, and it does need the drop to make it look even cleaner. You can use the same struts it's not a problem, it just relates to how much of a drop in springs you get. If you go super low, than maybe new struts is a good idea because they won't support the car the same way, and especially if they are worn out. They shouldn't be too bad on your model ES.

llcoolpass

well parker the struts don't exactly support the car

kaldES98

Thanks guys. I'm happy to know i'm not the only one that thinks my car needs to be a little lower. I know I am sacrificing the luxury but I don't mind. Most people say "Well if you wanted to do stuff like that you shouldnt have gotten a lexus and if you had to you shouldve gotten an IS" but they don't understand that this is all thats available to me really my parents wont let me get anything else so im trying to make the best of it(im only 17) so I just want to make it a little more teenager oriented but not rice.

So i thought maybe give it a little drop not bigger than an inch, or enough to make it so the front doesnt seem like its sitting higher then the back... you know? a friend told me there are spring kits that lower the front a little and just stiffen the back.. thats what i want on my ES. I'm guessing anything more than an inch drop will not look so great on the stock rims... and i would need to change shocks too which cost a lot(to me)..

But my main question was answered about the possibility of hurting the stock shocks so i appreciate that. this forum is great! I really enjoy it.

any extra help is greatly appreciated.


edit: about the suspension sticky... do the second gen springs on there work with the 3rd gen?

llcoolpass

" edit: about the suspension sticky... do the second gen springs on there work with the 3rd gen? "

Yes the 1992-2002 sedans are supposed to be cross compatible. And still check out the suspension thread for ideas and so forth.

kaldES98

so i heard installing them will cost probably double what the actual springs cost... is this true?