Wanting to go 1" lower. Spring recommendations?

[Kiwi-Corolla]

Hey guys,

I want my AE100 Corolla to sit about 1-inch lower than it currently is, but am unsure which springs will give me any more of an additional drop than my current Jamex springs provide.

Not interested in coilovers as I don't want to get it certed and the car won't be seeing the track for quite some time, so I'm basically looking for recommendations as to which brands go the lowest. I've heard that Lovells Super Lows and Dobi Super Lows make the car pretty low, but from the photos I've seen of other Corollas on the net they sit at about the same height as mine currently does.

Please note that my desire to go lower is purely based on looks, and I understand that dropping it to the ground would make it handle like a bag of turd, so I'm only wanting to go a smidgen lower to make it look better. I'm willing to sacrifice a bit of comfort to achieve this result

Wheels are 17" and tyres are 205/40/17, rolled guards and plenty of space to turn left and right within the front guards.

Here's a pic of how it looks now vs how I want it to look. Suggestions welcomed. If you can provide a photo of what yours looks like with other springs fitted that'd be even better, even if it's an AE92, AE101 Levin/Trueno/FX-GT etc as they all use the same springs:

[Dell'Orto]

Might need to look at super low King/Cobra...yours looks like its about the same height as my Levin with Dobi springs. You'll likely need to get your shocks shortened to keep them captive though.

[iOnic]

How low is the lowest structural component though? Going below the legal limit will sorta moot the point of keeping your spring/shock combo as certing will be required.

[Kiwi-Corolla]

Might need to look at super low King/Cobra...yours looks like its about the same height as my Levin with Dobi springs. You'll likely need to get your shocks shortened to keep them captive though.

Thanks for the suggestions. Super Low King Springs were something I had in mind as they occasionally pop up on TradeMe secondhand every now and then. Am I right in saying that Cobra springs can be ordered through Repco? Also, any idea how much it would approximately cost to get the shocks shortened? The two front ones are factory but the rears are Monroe GT Gas Reflex.

How low is the lowest structural component though? Going below the legal limit will sorta moot the point of keeping your spring/shock combo as certing will be required.

The crossmember is fairly high off the ground, although in saying that I have to jack up one side of the car first before I can get my trolley jack under the front jacking point, lol. Pretty sure I'm way away from the 100mm mark though but I'll check that tomorrow. Thanks for bringing that up

[XSVWGN]

I have owned a few corollas over the years and have had many different spring setups. The dobis handled better than the jamex as i felt the jamex were soft. Best option would be as stated, shorten the shocks.

Matt

[Kiwi-Corolla]

I have owned a few corollas over the years and have had many different spring setups. The dobis handled better than the jamex as i felt the jamex were soft. Best option would be as stated, shorten the shocks.

Matt

Thanks Matt. That's good to know. Which brand do reckon lowered it the most? Looks like getting shortened shocks will definitely be on the cards. I'm not too knowledgeable when it comes to the suspension side of things so would you recommend getting my current shocks shortened or going for some new off-the-shelf shocks which have been shortened already? And by shortening the shocks would that mean that I would no longer need a different brand of springs to go lower, or would I still need to go for something like SL King Springs to achieve my desired height? Cheers.

[Dell'Orto]

Correct, you can order the Cobra (and King) springs through Repco. Shortening shocks shouldnt cost too much, would pay to talk to some suspension tech places up your way to get an idea.
You'll still need lower springs, shortening the shock just keeps them captive.

[XSVWGN]

I had my shocks shortened by an engineer years ago. I waas running dobis at the time i think. I will try find some pictures for you

Matt

[Kiwi-Corolla]

Correct, you can order the Cobra (and King) springs through Repco. Shortening shocks shouldnt cost too much, would pay to talk to some suspension tech places up your way to get an idea.
You'll still need lower springs, shortening the shock just keeps them captive.

Got ya' . I'll check out some places up here that offer such a service and see how much it's going to cost me. In regards to the springs, as of right now, King Springs seem to be the way to go, based on the drop of the some of the Levins I've seen on TradeMe.

I had my shocks shortened by an engineer years ago. I waas running dobis at the time i think. I will try find some pictures for you

Matt

That'd be awesome mate. Cheers

[wde_bdy]

If you need to shorten the shocks to keep the springs captive technically you need to cert it anyway. Personally I would go custom wound from Chamberlains.

Callum

[Bazda]

Lowering alot on stock shocks = arse ride.

IMO Teins are give you the best ride and handling. But they dont go super low. Stock shocks aren't designed to sit that low and are not designed to run stiff springs.

To keep it all legal I would suggest pulling the shocks out from the struts and using Koni yellow inserts.
This way you prob dont need a cert, but its alot of mucking around to get it right. At the end of the day coilovers are the easier option .

[XSVWGN]

mmm couldnt find many pictures as it was so long ago but here are a few.




(no engine etc)


shortened shocks with superlow dobis. Mechanics etc never noticed the ride height and never asked questions

Matt

[1I1]

My Corolla was fractionally lower than your car is currently and would smack bumpstops when there was a surface change on the road (ie bridges). It was really annoying. Just something to be wary of using stock shocks.

[h8wrxs]

get a $24 grinder form bunnings and chop springs to suit

[Kiwi-Corolla]

If you need to shorten the shocks to keep the springs captive technically you need to cert it anyway. Personally I would go custom wound from Chamberlains.

Callum

Hmm, good to know. Fortunately I don't take my car to VTNZ for WOF's so I shouldn't get asked any questions, but that's definitely some food for thought.

Lowering alot on stock shocks = arse ride.

IMO Teins are give you the best ride and handling. But they dont go super low. Stock shocks aren't designed to sit that low and are not designed to run stiff springs.

To keep it all legal I would suggest pulling the shocks out from the struts and using Koni yellow inserts.
This way you prob dont need a cert, but its alot of mucking around to get it right. At the end of the day coilovers are the easier option .

Yeah a lot of guys I know in the US are running Tein S-Techs in their Corollas, but they appear to only drop it about as much as my car. Have heard great things about how they handle though, but at the moment for me making it look better comes before making it handle better since there's not much of an overwhelming urge to throw it around corners with the 5A-FE under the hood . The Koni inserts are a good suggestion. I remember seeing a guy do that on another Toyota forum a few years back. Just worried that it'd be more trouble than it's worth to go that way. Probably be cheaper to chuck some 205/50/17's on to fill up the gap instead, lol.

shortened shocks with superlow dobis. Mechanics etc never noticed the ride height and never asked questions

Matt

Thanks a lot for the photos Matt. I just realised that you're the guy who was selling the Dobi Super Lows on TradeMe a couple of years back. I remember asking for a photo of how low the car sat with them installed and you put up the shot of your Corolla on the back of the trailer . Shame I didn't buy them right then and there.

My Corolla was fractionally lower than your car is currently and would smack bumpstops when there was a surface change on the road (ie bridges). It was really annoying. Just something to be wary of using stock shocks.

Damn, that used to happen to my brother's old Starlet Glanza V. So would I risk that happening even if I had the factory shocks shortened? Or do you mean that it'd be better to run some pre-shortened shocks from the get go?

get a $24 grinder form bunnings and chop springs to suit

Haha, I've got one of those $24 angle grinders from Bunnings and as tempting as that sounds, I think I'd rather spend a bit more and do the job properly

[Mr Revhead]

I think you will find that underneath you are very low. Trying to go an inch lower than that safely it will be struggle to retain suspension travel. If you do manage 'o get it that low I put money on you hating how it rides

[rollaholic]

if its hitting bump stops, you need shorter bumpstops

[Rob_GTZ]

If you are only interested in appearance & not performance than I would suggest having your current springs compressed & your shocks shortened to suit if required.
Quick, easy & cheap.

Photo is of my friends AE101 FX-GT, tucking 18s up under the back guards

[duddley]

Two or three bags of sand in the boot will do the trick or a chubby chick in the passenger seat will work too

[tsoob]

I may be selling the springs and shocks that are in my corolla in the next few months..