Hey everyone,

I need some help in deciding what kind of Coilover to get for my 98 Ls400. I picked her up about a month ago and absolutely love it. I know keeping stock is ideal, but after seeing some of the Ls on Instagram, I have been inspired to begin the modification process. However, I am new to this so I do not know what I am doing 😭. I did look up some videos on youtube about car modifications but (low key) I still don't know what to get. To be specific, I am stuck in the spring rate portion and whether or not ima need to buy control arms for the fitting. My budget is fairly in the middle, but I am not trying to make a huge hole in my wallet. This will be my first car being modified, so any recommendations or advice from the OGs would be helpful.

Thanks in advance,
AP

 

I'm currently on Function & Form type 2's. They'll go fairly low but the soft spring rate hinders going super low. It's smooth enough to put my wife asleep. I don't bang control arms, I don't scrape on anything but my garage entrance. I can't do the stiff suspension anymore so being in the middle ground of gangster and oem is where I'm happy. Too many race cars with solid engine mounts, metal subframe bushings, and heim jointed control arms to want anything that resembles that in my street car.

I highly recommend the F&Ftype 2's for a street car that you actually intend to drive on a somewhat daily basis. Sure, they're cheaper, but they've been my favorite street coilovers for daily use for about 10 years now. My drift cars got HKS, Buddy Clubs, Stance Gr+, etc.

Then again, it'll all depend on how low you want to go.

 

Hey WhiteUCF are you able to go any lower than the pictures and what size rims are those? Looks great!

 

I can go another inch front and rear before it's maxed out. If needed, the collars could be turned down another couple of inches but that effectively ruins the damper by shortening the travel which will lead to blown coilovers. The wheels are 18x10 +18 up front 18x11 +17 out back. All fenders/quarters are rolled and ever so slightly pulled.

 

as whiteUCF stated, yes it will depend on how low you want to go! all the IG LS400s are likely slammed to the ground which will necessitate higher spring rates = uncomfortable ride. or even air suspension! whiteUCF painted a perfect middle ground with decent results, looking great! if that's what you are aiming for then follow his lead.

i ran BC racing coilovers but went the air route = more money and more advanced for beginners but it's entire possible if you're willing to put in the time to learn. you can check my air suspension thread here:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...tup-ucf20.html

 

Why turn a luxury cruiser into some type of sports car? That's not what the LS400 was designed to do. I think you'd be happier getting like a WRX or 350Z and making modifications to those.

 

Because for some of us, it's more than the car. It's the hours spent making something that suits your style. If I want a luxury car, it won't be a borderline antique Lexus. It'll be a Bentley Continental, which, coincidentally, there's a Cypress Flying Spur on BAT right now that has my eye. I'm planning to repaint my Lexus that color so a matching couple of Bentleys wouldn't hurt either.

Plus, WRX's are unreliable and 350z's sound like teenage angst.

Now, don't get me wrong. I love my Lexus more than most things. My wife is number 1, then the 3rd kid, then my Lexus, then my brother, then my mother-in-law, then the other kids, then my other family. That's a joke but take that as you will.

 

I see. I guess I just don't understand. I've never dabbed in all the aftermarket, souping up cars. I'm the kind of person who values a clean, smooth, quiet and comfortable cruiser. Case in point: after buying my 2002 LS I swapped out the 17's that were on it for 16's. I'm going to look into redoing window seals and I plan to purchase sound-proofing material to get it even quieter. So I'm the opposite of you I guess. Lol

 

I'm trying to change. I only have one modified car at the moment.. I love a nice plush ride. I daily drove an '03 Town Car Cartier to high school. My Lexus, even on coilovers, rides like '04 Escalade. My back can't handle rough vehicles anymore, even at the ripe old age of 29. I just like to fix and build things. My Lexus is currently getting restored in a resto-mod kind of fashion. Everything interior and exterior wise that I can buy from Lexus (that I need) has been ordered. My car is only suspension and wheels away from being 100% original. I just want to add my flair to it. I refuse to take cars too far to return to original. I have a '62 impala that was a full frame off restoration. As much as I want to put it on air ride and swap to a modern engine, I can't do it. We're not too different, I thoroughly appreciate everything you want in your car. I'm in the market for another diamond white '98-00 just to have as a normal, quiet, functional driver. I love pure, stock, well maintained vehicles. That's why I keep my wife's RX full of oem parts that no one will ever see. I know it's right, I know it's better.

Thread-jacking here.. I'm sorry OP.
xjokerz, what sound deadening are planning to use?

 

Those LS400's were something else. When I see one, whether it's a 90 or a 2000, I'll just admire it for as long as I can. I didn't know that about coilovers. I figured that they make a ride really harsh and bouncy. Great for handling of course but will knock fillings out of your teeth going over bumps.

I'm not sure what kind of material I'll use. It's not a priority right now, just something I've thought about doing. Don't get me wrong. It's the quietest car I've ever had. My previous was a 2010 ES 350 and this was just built to a much higher standard.

 

Meant to thank you for the info earlier! Your car is the exact fitment and ride I have been searching for. Until this I was thinking I would have to bite the bullet on some Furtune Autos for a smooth ride( Local from RVA so why not support em) but seeing as your F&F's have been reliable i'll save myself some money for now. Maybe when I have the car all put together we can meet up, i'm in the shortpump area. Cheers

 

I love Fortunes! Everyone is on that BC train but I'm not sold on them. I've had 4 sets of F&F's so far on my street driven s13's and while they're not track coilovers, they're so nice on the street. They tend to be too soft and cause understeer on the track.. For the Lexus, I don't really know if I'd pick anything else. I've been debating changing setups but after 4 years, they're still on my car. I honestly can't recommend anything else for a good street car that's actually functional.

When I get mine back together, I'd be down to take the girls shopping and meet up with ya! I'm about 2 hours away from you. I'm from the Staunton-ish area.

 

Hey WhiteUCF,



I really appreciate your input and recommendation! I definitely don’t want to go super low because the streets here in New York City is something else. However, the LS will be my daily from work to home and from time to time I long drives (like more than 3 hours driving), so a low but also comfortable setup is what I am looking for. But I’m not going to lie, your setup is on point, especially the wheels.

I hardly see many LS400 in Brooklyn that are modified, perhaps I haven’t been hard enough. But I am curious and would like to ask if you decided to raise your car, would you be able to?

Overall thank you again for your input and apologies for the late response.

 

Hey Timmy0tool,


Thank you for your input regarding the spring rate. That is definitely something I was struggling and you gave me a perfect picture of how to go about with my decision. I guess the question for myself is how low I want her 😂.

As for Air suspension, I don’t think I am there yet, but I am curious about how the drive quality is, and whether or not there is a major difference between the BC coils and the air suspension you’re on.

I will definitely check out your thread during my lunch break. Once again thank you for your input and apologies for the late response.

 

I love your set up and I'm considering the F&F coil overs. What setting do you have them on in your pics?