Should I replace shocks or consider coilovers? If it is coilovers, it would probably be: https://www.rd-tanabe.com/tanabe/en/...stec/pro_zt40/

Mark

 

Ever since I bought mine the aftermarket suspension parts have brought nothing but trouble for me and the car, kept it off the road. Granted I bought mine from (pardon my French) a jackass. In my personal experience I’d avoid them.
-Bo

 

My car reached the age where it's time for me to replace my shocks and struts. I finally decided on bilstein b8 shocks and struts and h&r or tein h tech springs. I actually like the factory ride so I just hope I don't regret my decision.

 

Coilovers have their advantages but I would never put them on a street car again. They just aren’t durable enough for a car that sees potholes and poor road quality everyday.

Been there done that (one two separate cars).

For a toy car or race car, coilovers all day. For a street car, coil springs and good quality shocks/struts

good luck

 

Thank you for the feedback about coilovers. I honestly appreciate it. I also own a Porsche 996 and do not want to rebuild coilovers to keep this car running. What appeals to me about the Tanabe units is they are KYB shocks with springs built in. It appears they won't need constant rebuilding. I am wrong?
https://www.evasivemotorsports.com/s...-jzs161-98-05/

BayAreaLex I live in San Jose and work in Redwood City. Are we talking about the same Bay Area?

 

There's nothing about coilovers that make them inherently more prone to failure than OEM-style struts, other than the fact that so many companies use worse quality dampers than OEM.

 

Im shocked nobody is asking the question what the OP is looking for.
If you’re looking to retain that Lexus ride quality then get quality shocks. If you want height adjustability then get coilovers. If you want both then there are a couple coilovers that will give you a nice ride as well but they’re pricey. I have no personal experience with Tanabe.

 

I’m on the east bay (Pleasanton)

 

I perosnally went with stock shocks (stock stock, not even the low bilstein shocks) and got set of H&R lowered coils. The stance of the car is really nice considering it is just coils (about 1 finger gap front and 2 finger gap rear on stock wheels). This was also a factory option with the L-tuned package, but lexus used Tein instead of H&R. I also installed the front RCA kit.
On the ride quality, you will feel the difference but in my opinion it is nothing terrible, my old mazda had stock suspension that was about the same ride quality as my lexus with lowered springs.
This is my daily driver and I am happy how it turned out, I can still get decently smooth ride quality without having to deal with sea sickness on twisty roads.

Keep in mind, that when you lower the car, you will check on the suspension components more often becase they will wear out quicker.