Does My Is300 Have Sport Suspension?

[Nick1881]

Hi guys, I want to lower it but how do I know if I already have the lower sports suspension?

It's a 2004 IS300 on 18" wheels, I measured the gap between the top of the tyre and the wheel arch.

Front 40 - 60 mm (Dont think my drive is level)

Rear 50 mm

I'm thinking about Eibach springs having had them on 2 previous cars I love them, they quote a 30 mm drop, will I see this much?

I did look at Tein but was put off by reviews.

Any help would be great, thanks.

[Jimxms]

You probably wont see very much with a 30mm drop, and I doubt passers by will notice that its been dropped at all.

Have a look at the Apex springs, they will give you a 40mm drop iirc. Or there are some 50mm ones floating about eBay but not sure of the long term quality.

[Nick1881]

Apex is not a brand I would go for to be honest and 50mm would be too low for me, I'd worry about the stock shocks too and ruining the ride. The Eibachs will firm it up slightly without altering the ride comfort. 35mm would be about the max I'd go on stock shocks as claimed by tein but reviews said they are very soft and sag badly.

I'm going to give Eibach a call on Monday and check the price.

If I already have sport suspension my drop will only be 15 mm right?

[Nick1881]

I called Eibach today, seems their springs are discontinued for the IS200/300 :(

Others I looked at are H&R and Tanabe but they are both very expensive, £250.

I don't know what to do now.

[Jimxms]

I called Eibach today, seems their springs are discontinued for the IS200/300 :(

Others I looked at are H&R and Tanabe but they are both very expensive, £250.

I don't know what to do now.

I've seen Eibach for sale on eBay? Could grab some from there.

TBH I'm in the same situation as you, and after evaluating all of the springs and the benefits of each I've come to realise that they are all pretty much pointless.

I mean, if you go for EiBach. That's about £150+ for the springs, £200 for fitting and alignment....all for a 1.5cm drop!

Apex are a little better in that you can pick up the springs for £100 and they will give you a 2cm drop, but still fitting and alignment is the killer.

So...I think I'm just goign to save for a half decent set of coilovers.They may be more expensive, but I can adjust them to my tastes and they should also be cheaper/easier than springs to fit.

[Nick1881]

I can fit them myself with the help of my dad so I save loads there. Coilovers would be too harsh for me, I'm too old for that lol.

The H&R kit looks nice but very expensive, as is the Tanabe kits.

I have emailed Apex to enquire about the spring force of their kits, will see what they say. For the money it could be worth a go.

[Jimxms]

I can fit them myself with the help of my dad so I save loads there. Coilovers would be too harsh for me, I'm too old for that lol.

The H&R kit looks nice but very expensive, as is the Tanabe kits.

I have emailed Apex to enquire about the spring force of their kits, will see what they say. For the money it could be worth a go.

Yeah, I've yet to drive a car with coilovers so I'm not sure how they fair on long journeys where comfort is a priority. However, reading around the USA forums a lot of IS300 owners seem to be going for aftermarket shocks + lowering springs. I'll have to dig out the actual parts they are using, but most swear they are a better route than coilovers - lowering the car 50-60mm, without sacrificing ride quality or risking killing the OEM shocks.

[Hank B]

Just wanted to say, I had the Tein S-tech springs on my old IS200 and they were great, they didn't compromise comfort but made it hold the road much better in corners, very very little body roll. And they did give plenty of a drop. I had them on that for about 2 years before I got rid of the car and never had any complaints whatsoever. I am defenitely getting them for my IS300.

Also I'd watch with aftermarket shocks, make sure you get adjustable ones, non adjustables tend to be very harsh (remember the roads in the USA are like snooker tables compared to UK roads). I had a big set of GAB mono shocks, on my Impreza and they were adjustable but even on their softest setting they were rock solid, you actually got winded if you hit a pot hole, no joke, like seriously, no joke! Thats half the reason I got rid of the Scooby and came back to Lexus ownership

Here's a pic of how low my old 200 sat on the Tein's

[Nick1881]

I just replied in the other thread lol, thanks for the review on the teins, look like they are a good shout, back on my list now.

When do you plan on fitting them to your IS300?

[Hank B]

I just replied in the other thread lol, thanks for the review on the teins, look like they are a good shout, back on my list now.

When do you plan on fitting them to your IS300?

As soon as I can afford them (just bought the car this month so I'm skint for now ) :duh:

[Nick1881]

Ah ok, I'm hoping to sort mine in the next couple of weeks.

I'll get some pics up once its done.

[Nick1881]

Well after hours of searching and comparing I have finally ordered some springs. I have gone for H&R, they should come next week.

In case it helps anyone else here are the spring rates I managed to find.

Make         Front  Rear lb/in

Stock         245   210
Tein S-Tech   274   212
Eibach        285   239
Hotchkis      265   186
Megan         300   250
Tanabe NF210  296   234
Tanabe GF210  342   262
Tanabe DF210  269   216
H&R           353   279

I'm quite worried that the H&R are very hard compared to the others but I'm also sure they won't have messed it up.

I'll report back with pics and a review once they are fitted.

[Igino Cazzola]

Make		Front (lbs/in)	Rear (lbs/in)	Front (kp/mm)	Rear (kp/mm)

OEM			245		210		4.4		3.8
Eibach			285		239		5.1		4.3
H&R			353		279		6.3		5.0
Hotchkis		265		186		4.7		3.3
Megan			300		250		5.4		4.5
Tanabe DF210		269		216		4.8		3.9
Tanabe GF210		342		262		6.1		4.7
Tanabe NF210		296		234		5.3		4.2
TEIN S-Tech		274		212		4.9		3.8

Make		Front (lbs/in)	Rear (lbs/in)	Front (kp/mm)	Rear (kp/mm)

OEM			245		210		4.4		3.8
Hotchkis		265		186		4.7		3.3
Tanabe DF210		269		216		4.8		3.9
TEIN S-Tech		274		212		4.9		3.8
Eibach			285		239		5.1		4.3
Tanabe NF210		296		234		5.3		4.2
Megan			300		250		5.4		4.5
Tanabe GF210		342		262		6.1		4.7
H&R			353		279		6.3		5.0

Make		Front (lbs/in)	Rear (lbs/in)	Front (kp/mm)	Rear (kp/mm)

Motion Ratio, both front and rear, is ~ 0.7

[Nick1881]

Ah thanks, I think I might have used the wrong conversion. Here are what Eibach and H&R gave me.

Eibach F = 50 N/mm R = 42 N/mm

H&R F = 62 N/mm R = 49 N/mm

[Igino Cazzola]

Make		Front (lbs/in)	Rear (lbs/in)	Front (kp/mm)	Rear (kp/mm)	Front (N/mm)	Rear (N/mm)

OEM			245		210		4,4		3,8		43		37
Eibach			285		239		5,1		4,3		50		42
H&R			353		279		6,3		5,0		62		49
Hotchkis		265		186		4,7		3,3		46		33
Megan			300		250		5,4		4,5		53		44
Tanabe DF210		269		216		4,8		3,9		47		38
Tanabe GF210		342		262		6,1		4,7		60		46
Tanabe NF210		296		234		5,3		4,2		52		41
TEIN S-Tech		274		212		4,9		3,8		48		37

Make		Front (lbs/in)	Rear (lbs/in)	Front (kp/mm)	Rear (kp/mm)	Front (N/mm)	Rear (N/mm)

OEM			245		210		4,4		3,8		43		37
Hotchkis		265		186		4,7		3,3		46		33
Tanabe DF210		269		216		4,8		3,9		47		38
TEIN S-Tech		274		212		4,9		3,8		48		37
Eibach			285		239		5,1		4,3		50		42
Tanabe NF210		296		234		5,3		4,2		52		41
Megan			300		250		5,4		4,5		53		44
Tanabe GF210		342		262		6,1		4,7		60		46
H&R			353		279		6,3		5,0		62		49

Make		Front (lbs/in)	Rear (lbs/in)	Front (kp/mm)	Rear (kp/mm)	Front (N/mm)	Rear (N/mm)

Motion Ratio, both front and rear, is ~ 0.7