BennyJ

iTrader: (5)

Its been a long time since ive modded a car, ive been driving a truck for the last 3 years, lol. Anyhow, i just picked up a 98 ES300 to play with and have been working on generally getting it cleaned up. Car has alot of miles (170k) but it runs and drives like new, no problems with it at all.

So my question here is on wheel fitment. I just bought some 18x8.5 +41 offset wheels. I know the size will work, its the offset im not sure about. I was thinking about running either a 10mm or 15mm spacer and shaving the inner fender wells. I havent decided on suspension just yet, i was trying to find what drop springs lower the car the most possible so i can have the flush fitment look on the car.

Ive done alot of searching on the forum and i find alot of posts about wheel fitment and suspension setups..... but hardly anyone posts pictures!! lol. Ill make sure and get some pictures of the new project before i do anything to it, so i can post its progress.

Anyhow, any advice on how to get this car low and flush would be geat!

Here is a picture of my last lexus about 5 years ago...

01LEXPL

iTrader: (10)

Yeah those are specs are spot on for this look:

Mind you this is an ET40 on 18x8 [225/40/18]


So your 10mm spacer will reduce it to ET 31, and that would be close to flush on this car [the rear] The ET 40 in the front is flush enough for my liking, there is still room for a 5-10mm spacer... but not on these wheels and it needs lowering before that !

Damn. There was a guy on here that was slammed and had 18" Work Euroline DH's with an ET25 and it was sticking out a little... Can't seem to find the link anymore

So with that ET31, you should be good to go, clearing the rear strut, but you have to roll/cut your fender lip to run that width/offset.

*very picky cars*

*****
Very nice IS300! I love the 1st gen. IS's

-Mike

PlatES300

iTrader: (1)

Benny -

You're on Houston Imports no? Hit up Alleykat on there and he can help out out a ton. As far as offsets go, the wheels you picked up will not clear the rear struts. The fronts will clear but the rears will rub. I can't remember the number but for an 8.5 wheel, you need it to be +38 offset or lower to clear the rears. Alleykat had 8.5 wide wheels with a 25 offset and it was pretty darn close to flush. If you're on coilovers, it should be pretty flush. I wouldn't bother with springs unless you're really concerned with comfort.

BennyJ

iTrader: (5)

yep, thats me. I figured the rears would rub, but i think using a 15mm spacer should put me just at perfect. Ive been trying to get a hold of coilovers for the car, but dont have 1000 bucks to slap down on some right now, lol. Wondering which springs will provide the lowest ride possible until i can get some coilovers.

PlatES300

iTrader: (1)

I think the intrax springs drop it 2 inches but you would have to get aftermarket shocks. You're limited to either KYB gr2's or tokico blues. With a 2 inch drop, the gr2's will wear out very fast (I had them on a 1.8 inch drop and they were shot after 6 months). The tokicos will probably hold up longer as they are a bit stiffer than the gr2's but they are much more expensive. A shock/spring combo will run close to 600 or 700 not including mounts. Not sure if your stock mounts need replacing or not, but thats another 250 or so just for mounts. IMO, just save and get the coils lol.

BennyJ

iTrader: (5)

thats why i was hoping you still had those jic's, i PM'ed the guy here selling them too, but he hasnt gotten back to me on it.

PlatES300

iTrader: (1)

you could go and get a set of d2's or ksports. They're not as expensive as JIC and Tein but I'm not too sure of the ride comfort or quality on them.

01LEXPL

iTrader: (10)

Smitty on here had teims initially and i remeber his thread... Anywyas he was complainig about them being too stiff so he switched up to ksports and said they were far more comfortable amd better adjuatments.

PlatES300

iTrader: (1)

I'm pretty sure he had ksports and they were ultra stiff from what I remember. He got the same batch I did (faulty seals leading to blown struts) and I did not like them at all. Super stiff and there are no brackets to hold the brake lines. The JIC coils I had rode better than the ksports and the Tein SS coilovers ride pretty close to stock.