To Lower Or Not To Lower...?

[Tx2]

Just bought me a new IQ2, and I'm considering having it lowered. DO I have to have this done by Mr T or can I have it done elsewhere?

Bearing in mind the vehicle is brand new and under warranty, I don't want to invalidate that!

If I went to Mr T, what sort of price could I expect to pay to have my IQ lowered?

[João Cabrita]

Hi there!

I had the same question about the lowering.. The thing is, the roads here in Portugal are not the best and since the fuel tank is right underneath the driver's seat I have doubts :P

Anyway, I've mailed Toyota's dealer asking the prices and this is what I get:

On the left is the model (1.0 / 1.33 / 1.4) and translation= Molas de Rebaixamento = Lowering Springs

first price column is Product + Instalation and the last column is Product + Installation + VAT taxes

Greetings

João Cabrita

[tarquin]

Just bought me a new IQ2, and I'm considering having it lowered. DO I have to have this done by Mr T or can I have it done elsewhere?

Bearing in mind the vehicle is brand new and under warranty, I don't want to invalidate that!

If I went to Mr T, what sort of price could I expect to pay to have my IQ lowered?

Hi there, when i first bought my car in June of this year, I bought from MR T a set of lowering springs (they only do one type). They are 25mm. They cost me to buy over the spares counter £155 including vat. I was going to get my local garage to do it to save on labour costs but when I went through the procedure with them for doing the fronts, they said it might be a bit beyond them. So got MR T to do it. Think I got carried along with the new car thing. Anyway they charges me 2hrs labour and was about £150. It actually took them 4hrs because they broke their spring compressor whilst doing it so had to fabricate one. Hope that helps

P.S there are 35mm ones out there that people have fitted. But I think you would have to either fit them yourself or a local garage

David

[sweet-dentist]

Just bought me a new IQ2, and I'm considering having it lowered. DO I have to have this done by Mr T or can I have it done elsewhere?

Bearing in mind the vehicle is brand new and under warranty, I don't want to invalidate that!

If I went to Mr T, what sort of price could I expect to pay to have my IQ lowered?

Putting the new springs on the front MacPhierson's is a bit of a tricky handling for the Toyota machanic's ... It can be done in an easier way than the Toyota Dealer does... my SmartCar Specialist said, when he looked at the front springs... Sorry .. but I do not know how... he looked at is and was very content that it was a rather simple thing...

Anyways...

First thing is:

What is your intention to do so...

If its the looks... then fine...

But if its for a better car handling in corners (roadability) ... then..

Someone on the forum said... that putting on wider tires and different alloy wheels (16# or 17#) made a much more improvement in better car handling an roadability... than lowering the car...

I myself are going to put rubber bands in the rear springs... so the car will not be so soft in the handling. Photos in a short time (due to be done tomorrow at the appointment with the SmartCar Specialist) ...

It was not possible to get stronger springs with the same height / and or to get better shocks... They do not exist for the iQ, and the Aygo stuff does not fit (it's European made and not Japanese)

[tarquin]

I put 18x 35x215's the day after i got it and the handling was excellent. A week later i had it lowered and WoW. i had to put the originals on because i had to have one of the 18's repaired (kerb scrape). The handling was still impresive. If fact the ride was nice and comfy. But the things we do for vanity!!

David

[SallyIQ]

My partner fitted mine in the drive but he is quite confident with that sort of thing and has done pretty much everything himself on mine and his previous cars.

[sweet-dentist]

Just bought me a new IQ2,

I myself are going to put rubber bands in the rear springs... so the car will not be so soft in the handling. Photos in a short time (due to be done tomorrow at the appointment with the SmartCar Specialist) ...

I have made a new thread... for the "coil spring assister and raiser" thing...

[Tx2]

Thanks for all the replies - I couldn't do it myself, that's for sure, and if it is going to cost me £300 just for a better look, which is what I am after, (my motoring is usually 15 - 20mph through city traffic, so handling isn't really a factor!), then I shan't really bother.

[mr ben]

You surely must realise that any work done by any garage will be mininal of £200 to £300

[Tx2]

You surely must realise that any work done by any garage will be mininal of £200 to £300

No, why would I if I have no idea how long such a job would take, which is why I asked here, to get an idea. Before you answer, bear in mind that all my cars since 2002 have been covered by warranty or maintenance plans, so I haven't had to pay direct costs per se. Prior to that, I drove company vehicles.

So, no, I don't "surely realise" anything.

Hope that clarifies my position?

[chezwot]

Hi there!

I had the same question about the lowering.. The thing is, the roads here in Portugal are not the best and since the fuel tank is right underneath the driver's seat I have doubts :P

Anyway, I've mailed Toyota's dealer asking the prices and this is what I get:

On the left is the model (1.0 / 1.33 / 1.4) and translation= Molas de Rebaixamento = Lowering Springs

first price column is Product + Instalation and the last column is Product + Installation + VAT taxes

Greetings

João Cabrita

Hi João,

I am also in Portugal, Coimbra area and have had my iQ just over a week. I certainly would not lower my iQ as it is as low as an MX5 I owned which I was forever grounding when visiting certain establishments with steep entrances over pavements. One thing I would like to do is install the rear bumper skirt but my email to Caetano Toyota did not get a reply, if you have the time, you could do me a big favour if you would you ask your dealer how much it would cost to supply and fit the part.

Regards

Chez

[forrestt]

What's so hard about putting springs on? Isn't it just a case of getting spring compressors on Then undoing the dampers (basically) that's what I had to do on my other car..

Is it different on the iq? And how do I do the rear ones? My other car has struts on the rear too.

[mr ben]

Yes spring compressors for puting on your new springs, just follow the toyota chart how to remove and replace the dampers and you should be ok. the rear is easy no prob there

It just takes time and make sure you put things back as they came off

[Soeley]

Just brought this thread up from the depths

Does any one know if the Toyota springs are uprated as well as being lower i.e. stiffer?

I know some of the after market ones say they are 20% stiffer.

[s44gtw]

Sorry not an answer to your question, ask the suppliers for that,

they most likely do not have a clue.

Here is a simplifiction.

(NOT TOTALLY ACCURATE BUT ENOUGH TO MAYBE GIVE YOU AN IDEA.

I do not include stuff about progressive springs etc, iQ ones are too short and too cheap probably to bother about all that.)

Coil springs are basically the same as an old fashioned 'torsion bar' all colied up into aractical package.

When a coil spring is compressed the coils move closer together,

if you have less coils in that spring the spring will be stiffer.

If springs are the same length and the same material but one has more coils it will be softer.

If the springs are the same length with the same amount of coils the spring with thinner wire will be softer.

i think you will find that for the iQ the shorter springs are the same material but less coils in the shorter length hense stiffer.

http://www.motorsportworld.co.uk

They actually know about springs and other stuff they sell, unusual in Vehicle Perfomance part suppliers i find.

george

[tarquin]

Sorry not an answer to your question, ask the suppliers for that,

they most likely do not have a clue.

Here is a simplifiction.

(NOT TOTALLY ACCURATE BUT ENOUGH TO MAYBE GIVE YOU AN IDEA.

I do not include stuff about progressive springs etc, iQ ones are too short and too cheap probably to bother about all that.)

Coil springs are basically the same as an old fashioned 'torsion bar' all colied up into aractical package.

When a coil spring is compressed the coils move closer together,

if you have less coils in that spring the spring will be stiffer.

If springs are the same length and the same material but one has more coils it will be softer.

If the springs are the same length with the same amount of coils the spring with thinner wire will be softer.

i think you will find that for the iQ the shorter springs are the same material but less coils in the shorter length hense stiffer.

http://www.motorsportworld.co.uk

They actually know about springs and other stuff they sell, unusual in Vehicle Perfomance part suppliers i find.

george

Hi Mate

I can't tell you about the composition of the Toyota springs but i can telll you mine have made a world of difference in handling

David

[Soeley]

George:

Thanks for the answer, concise but very informative

David:

Did you fit your springs before you changed you wheels or at the same time? Just wondering as your lower profile tyres will make a difference also

[Soeley]

Just ordered some Eibach springs from the link George gave, they happen to be on offer - £40 off

[tarquin]

George:

Thanks for the answer, concise but very informative

David:

Did you fit your springs before you changed you wheels or at the same time? Just wondering as your lower profile tyres will make a difference also

I had the car for about 3 days before i changed the wheels. They did make a difference less roll because of the rubber. But personally the bigger difference was the lowering.I wished I had gone for 35mm but didn't have anyone i could trust to fit them

David

[mr ben]

How much where the Eibach springs?

Mr Ben

[s44gtw]

Eibach, Lowering F 25mm, R 30mm are £121.97

Pi, Lowering F 30mm, R 30mm are £99.51

george

[JordaniQ]

Getting my H&R 35mm's fitted on Friday. Can't wait.

Jordan

[mr ben]

The H&Rs should be £110 for a set of 4

Mr Ben

[JordaniQ]

The H&Rs should be £110 for a set of 4

Mr Ben

Yep more or less. Just over plus post and package.

Jordan

[mr ben]

HRs are good springs . i put my ones on my self. should be no probs