I sent you a PM on a local install place in Toronto, with a Lexus IS friendly and trusted shop that knows exactly how to do coil overs on the IS F...if and when you need it.

While you wait, at similar prices discussed.


Digger08

 

Thanks all for the great responses. Thanks for telling me about that shop Digger, I had no idea who to use.

So roughly the "bang for buck" plan is..

1) BC Racing with 16K?/12k?, possibly lowered a touch for more camber.
- Are Swift springs a measurable upgrade?
- Any idea what stock spring rates are for comparison? I couldn't find them.
- If the rear wheel will lift under cornering, I'm guessing the stock sway bar will be fine

2) Mega arms, bushings, adjustable swaybars

3) Chassis bracing?

4) Probably need caliper dust seals and other things at this point, upgrade rotors and pads.

Spring upgrade seems like a halfway solution that might be impossible to get right, as lobux mentioned, the valving would not match the new springs and you are stuck if you want to adjust the dampening. Since I don't have tools to compress coils, that would be $600 total vs $1000 and do the BCs myself.

The coilover spring rates needs some clarification, without knowing the stock spring rates, it is hard to get a bearing on what is right front or back. 16k/12k seems good for ERDoc, and if 12k is still livable on the street, that may fix the wheel lifting issue. Is there any way to adjust camber a little without new arms?

I'm jealous ERDoc, that seems like all the stuff I want!

 

Spring upgrade did seem like a halfway solution which is one reason I went with coilovers... and though BCR's are a "cheaper" solution than KW's etc, they seem to have a low problem rate and if they do need service you just swap out a $100 cartridge vs removing and sending in your KW's to someplace to get serviced while your car sits on blocks...
Many people have been running 16/12K BCR's with good results... you should give FIGS (Mike) a call and pick his brain. I have talked to him several times and he is ALWAYS friendly and helpful in figuring dilemas like yours out... He would point you in the right direction. There is very little camber adjustment in the rear IIRC with stock setup and none in the front. One way to get more negative cameber is by lowering the car which is why getting the BCR's helps you in 3 areas... (1. more neg camber, 2. adjustable 3. better quality and lighter than OEM)

IDK about caliper dust seals.....

good luck!

 

I know about caliper dust seals.

 

Ah, more good points. The easy service of the BC vs KW makes it a clear choice even if I had the money for KWs. Is the Swift spring upgrade for the BCs worth it? I'm not sure if it would be a measurable improvement, but adding a helper spring may be worth while.

Caliper dust seals seem to fail pretty easily on these brembos. I may start changing them with the rotors, or at least have spares on hand. Look at Lobux's pics.